Stock Traders Buy High Volume of Call Options on Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ)

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) was the recipient of some unusual options trading activity on Thursday. Investors purchased 325,956 call options on the company. This represents an increase of approximately 300% compared to the typical volume of 81,424 call options.

Insider Activity at Verizon Communications

In related news, SVP Mary-Lee Stillwell sold 8,569 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $50.00, for a total value of $428,450.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president owned 43,782 shares in the company, valued at $2,189,100. This represents a 16.37% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Joseph J. Russo sold 9,579 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.88, for a total transaction of $429,905.52. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 44,045 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,976,739.60. This represents a 17.86% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold 218,148 shares of company stock worth $10,780,356 in the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Verizon Communications

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL boosted its position in Verizon Communications by 8.6% during the 4th quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 2,765 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $113,000 after acquiring an additional 219 shares during the period. Sumitomo Life Insurance Co. lifted its position in shares of Verizon Communications by 0.7% in the fourth quarter. Sumitomo Life Insurance Co. now owns 35,023 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $1,426,000 after purchasing an additional 227 shares in the last quarter. Blake Schutter Theil Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Verizon Communications by 3.8% in the fourth quarter. Blake Schutter Theil Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 6,305 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $257,000 after purchasing an additional 233 shares in the last quarter. Triton Wealth Management PLLC lifted its position in shares of Verizon Communications by 2.6% in the fourth quarter. Triton Wealth Management PLLC now owns 9,257 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $377,000 after purchasing an additional 234 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Clearstead Trust LLC increased its stake in Verizon Communications by 2.5% in the 4th quarter. Clearstead Trust LLC now owns 9,788 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $399,000 after buying an additional 240 shares during the period. 62.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Verizon Communications Trading Down 0.7%

Shares of VZ opened at $47.72 on Friday. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $49.26 and its 200 day moving average price is $43.60. The stock has a market capitalization of $199.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.78, a P/E/G ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 0.29. Verizon Communications has a 1-year low of $38.39 and a 1-year high of $51.68. The company has a current ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) last announced its earnings results on Friday, January 30th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.09 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.06 by $0.03. Verizon Communications had a net margin of 12.43% and a return on equity of 19.03%. The company had revenue of $36.38 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $36.20 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.10 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.0% on a year-over-year basis. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.900-4.950 EPS. Analysts expect that Verizon Communications will post 4.69 earnings per share for the current year.

Verizon Communications Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 1st. Investors of record on Friday, April 10th will be given a $0.7075 dividend. This is a boost from Verizon Communications’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.69. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 10th. This represents a $2.83 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.9%. Verizon Communications’s payout ratio is currently 68.15%.

Verizon Communications News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Verizon Communications this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Huge one‑day call buying: Traders bought roughly 325,956 VZ call options on Thursday (≈300% above average), which is a strong short‑term bullish flow that can lift the stock or signal expectation of upside catalysts.
• Positive Sentiment: Media/analyst praise and momentum: Commentary from Jim Cramer and articles highlighting Verizon’s recent outperformance, fiber expansion and bundle strategy reinforce investor confidence in upside from network investments. Jim Cramer Says “Verizon’s Actually Got Some Game Here”
• Positive Sentiment: Dividend appeal: Coverage in Barron’s / Yahoo highlights Verizon as a 5%-yielding, dividend-raising name — attracts income investors and supports base demand for the stock. These Companies Pay 5% Dividend Yields and Are Raising Them Too
• Positive Sentiment: Fundamental/strategy coverage: Analysts and outlets note Verizon’s fiber growth, the Frontier deal and bundling that helped VZ climb ~20% in recent months — supports a constructive medium‑term thesis even as margins face pressure. Verizon Shares Rise 20.6% in Three Months: How to Play the Stock
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst support: Erste Group nudged FY2027 EPS estimates slightly higher and keeps a Strong‑Buy stance, indicating some sell‑side conviction beneath the recent run. (Research note referenced 4/2)
• Neutral Sentiment: Advertising disclosure ruling: BBB’s NAD found Verizon’s pricing disclosures adequate in a challenge by T‑Mobile — removes a small regulatory/PR overhang but has limited price impact. NAD Finds Verizon Wireless Pricing Disclosures Adequate
• Neutral Sentiment: Market context: Macro/geopolitical caution pushes some investors toward dividends as a safety trade — this supports Verizon’s appeal but may also cap aggressive growth positioning. Geopolitical Risks Are Seriously High. Why I’d Shift to Dividends
• Negative Sentiment: DBS downgrade to Hold: DBS cut VZ from Buy to Hold and set a $52 target, citing the stock’s strong run and limited near‑term upside — this likely triggered some profit‑taking and selling pressure. DBS Bank Downgrades Verizon (VZ) to Hold
• Negative Sentiment: Short‑term pullback/price action: Several pieces note a recent pullback after a strong YTD run, and a report flagged the stock closing lower despite broader market gains — signaling profit‑taking and rotation out of the name. Verizon Communications (VZ) Stock Drops Despite Market Gains

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the company. Dbs Bank cut Verizon Communications from a “moderate buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday. Barclays lifted their price target on Verizon Communications from $43.00 to $47.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 31st. Scotiabank upgraded Verizon Communications from a “sector perform” rating to a “sector outperform” rating and lifted their price target for the company from $50.25 to $54.50 in a research report on Monday, March 9th. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price objective on Verizon Communications from $44.00 to $48.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Finally, Raymond James Financial restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $56.00 price objective on shares of Verizon Communications in a report on Thursday, March 12th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have assigned a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $50.56.

Verizon Communications Company Profile

Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE: VZ) is a major U.S.-based telecommunications company that provides a broad range of communications and information services. Its operations span consumer and business markets, with core offerings that include wireless voice and data services, fixed-line broadband and fiber-optic services, and enterprise networking solutions. Verizon is headquartered in New York City and operates a nationwide wireless network that supports consumer subscribers as well as business and government customers.

The company’s consumer products include mobile phone plans, unlimited data services, and Fios, its branded fiber-optic internet, television and voice service for homes and small businesses.