Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) Given Average Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

Shares of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) have been assigned an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty-two brokerages that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 12 month target price among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $50.5588.

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Sanford C. Bernstein restated a “market perform” rating and issued a $48.00 target price on shares of Verizon Communications in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Williams Trading set a $54.00 price target on Verizon Communications in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Dbs Bank downgraded Verizon Communications from a “moderate buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday. Scotiabank upgraded Verizon Communications from a “sector perform” rating to a “sector outperform” rating and upped their price objective for the company from $50.25 to $54.50 in a report on Monday, March 9th. 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.

Verizon Communications Stock Down 0.7%

Shares of Verizon Communications stock opened at $47.72 on Friday. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $49.26 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $43.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.87. The company has a market capitalization of $199.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.78, a PEG 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.

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

Verizon Communications Increases Dividend

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

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Joseph J. Russo sold 9,579 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.88, for a total value of $429,905.52. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 44,045 shares in the company, valued at $1,976,739.60. This represents a 17.86% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director Hans Erik Vestberg sold 200,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $49.61, for a total value of $9,922,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 145,069 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,196,873.09. This trade represents a 57.96% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 218,148 shares of company stock worth $10,780,356 over the last 90 days. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Verizon Communications

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. increased its position in Verizon Communications by 4.3% in the 3rd quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 335,856 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $14,761,000 after purchasing an additional 13,787 shares during the last quarter. Avanza Fonder AB boosted its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 5.6% during the 4th quarter. Avanza Fonder AB now owns 331,962 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $13,521,000 after acquiring an additional 17,495 shares in the last quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. boosted its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 14.0% during the 3rd quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. now owns 379,174 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $16,665,000 after acquiring an additional 46,699 shares in the last quarter. Econ Financial Services Corp boosted its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 23.5% during the 4th quarter. Econ Financial Services Corp now owns 78,172 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $3,184,000 after acquiring an additional 14,862 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wedbush Securities Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 18.4% during the 3rd quarter. Wedbush Securities Inc. now owns 140,981 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $6,196,000 after acquiring an additional 21,915 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.06% of the company’s stock.

Key Stories Impacting Verizon Communications

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

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.