Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) Stock Price Up 1.4% – Still a Buy?

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ)’s stock price was up 1.4% during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $43.08 and last traded at $42.5740. 58,861,405 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 101% from the average daily volume of 29,310,371 shares. The stock had previously closed at $41.99.

Key Stories Impacting Verizon Communications

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

• Positive Sentiment: Verizon announced a new global connectivity joint venture with BT that will serve more than 3,000 enterprise customers across 180+ countries, targeting demand tied to cloud, AI, and compliance services. The deal could expand Verizon’s international reach and improve its enterprise growth profile. Verizon (VZ) Sees Severance Charge from Headcount Reductions
• Positive Sentiment: Wall Street expects Verizon’s next quarterly report to show a single-digit profit increase, suggesting the company may still be delivering modest earnings growth ahead of its July results. What to Expect From Verizon Communications’ Next Quarterly Earnings Report
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts and media coverage continue to frame Verizon as a high-yield dividend stock with solid fundamentals, but this is more of a valuation reminder than a new catalyst. Pfizer vs Verizon Communications: Which High-Yielding Dividend Stock Is the Better Buy?
• Negative Sentiment: Verizon disclosed that ongoing transformation efforts will hit Q2 results with a $350 million to $450 million severance charge plus $200 million to $300 million in asset-rationalization costs, underscoring near-term margin pressure. Verizon (VZ) Sees Severance Charge from Headcount Reductions
• Negative Sentiment: New commentary on SpaceX’s satellite ambitions is adding to investor concern that wireless carriers like Verizon could face longer-term competitive threats, especially if satellite-to-phone service improves. SpaceX Threat Wipes Out $46B in Market Value From ‘Big Three’ Telecoms—And the Pain May Not Be Over

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have weighed in on VZ. Raymond James Financial reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $56.00 price target on shares of Verizon Communications in a research report on Thursday, March 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of Verizon Communications from $49.00 to $52.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, April 30th. Citigroup boosted their price target on Verizon Communications from $50.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, March 20th. Freedom Capital upgraded Verizon Communications to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, June 12th. Finally, Oppenheimer raised their price objective on Verizon Communications from $50.00 to $56.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 11th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating and twelve have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $50.59.

Verizon Communications Stock Performance

The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $46.71 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $45.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.38, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 0.64. The stock has a market capitalization of $177.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.38, a PEG ratio of 1.03 and a beta of 0.24.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) last posted its earnings results on Monday, April 27th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.28 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.21 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $34.44 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $34.82 billion. Verizon Communications had a return on equity of 19.25% and a net margin of 12.46%.The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.19 earnings per share. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.950-4.990 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 4.98 EPS for the current year.

Verizon Communications Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 3rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 10th will be issued a $0.7075 dividend. This represents a $2.83 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 10th. Verizon Communications’s dividend payout ratio is currently 69.02%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Verizon Communications

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC grew its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 490.0% in the fourth quarter. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC now owns 649 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 539 shares in the last quarter. Robinswood Financial LLC bought a new stake in Verizon Communications in the 1st quarter valued at about $27,000. Holos Integrated Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of Verizon Communications during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Lam Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of Verizon Communications during the first quarter worth approximately $28,000. Finally, Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Verizon Communications during the third quarter worth approximately $29,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.06% of the company’s stock.

About Verizon Communications

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.