Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) Issues FY 2026 Earnings Guidance

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) updated its FY 2026 earnings guidance on Friday morning. The company provided EPS guidance of 4.990-5.040 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of 4.950. The company issued revenue guidance of -.

Verizon Communications Trading Up 2.6%

Shares of VZ traded up $1.15 on Friday, reaching $44.97. 7,559,882 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 28,959,504. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $45.39 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $46.20. Verizon Communications has a 12 month low of $38.39 and a 12 month high of $51.68. The stock has a market capitalization of $187.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 0.26. The company has a current ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.38.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 24th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.30 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.27 by $0.03. Verizon Communications had a net margin of 12.46% and a return on equity of 19.25%. The business had revenue of $34.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $35.16 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.22 EPS. Verizon Communications’s quarterly revenue was down .6% compared to the same quarter last year. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.990-5.040 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Verizon Communications will post 4.98 earnings per share for the current year.

Verizon Communications Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 3rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 10th will be given a dividend of $0.7075 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 10th. This represents a $2.83 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.3%. Verizon Communications’s dividend payout ratio is 69.02%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Scotiabank decreased their target price on shares of Verizon Communications from $54.50 to $51.50 and set a “sector outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 15th. Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their target price on Verizon Communications from $48.00 to $46.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on Verizon Communications from $49.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 28th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Verizon Communications in a report on Friday, May 29th. Finally, Freedom Capital raised Verizon Communications to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, June 12th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eleven have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $50.03.

Verizon Communications News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Verizon beat earnings expectations, reporting $1.30 EPS versus $1.27 expected, while also improving from $1.22 a year ago. Verizon Press Release
• Positive Sentiment: The company raised full-year FY 2026 EPS guidance to $4.99-$5.04, above the prior outlook and Wall Street expectations, which supports confidence in future profitability.
• Positive Sentiment: Subscriber gains were stronger than expected, including 184,000 postpaid phone net additions and more than 550,000 total mobility and broadband net additions, suggesting improved competitive momentum.
• Positive Sentiment: Verizon also lifted forecasts for adjusted profit, cash flow, and free cash flow, helped by new unlimited 5G plans and rewards programs that are reducing dependence on heavy promotions. Reuters article on raised forecasts
• Positive Sentiment: Verizon announced a deal with Google worth more than $1 billion to provide dark fiber connectivity for Google data centers, adding a meaningful enterprise revenue opportunity. Reuters article on Google deal
• Neutral Sentiment: Revenue declined 0.6% year over year, showing that top-line growth is still modest even as profit and subscriber trends improve.
• Neutral Sentiment: Some reports noted profit pressure from joint-venture costs, which tempers the otherwise upbeat earnings picture. WSJ article on JV costs

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Verizon Communications

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Quattro Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Verizon Communications during the 4th quarter worth about $30,000. Imprint Wealth LLC bought a new stake in Verizon Communications during the 3rd quarter valued at $40,000. Wilkerson Advisory Group LLC acquired a new position in Verizon Communications during the fourth quarter worth $56,000. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd bought a new position in shares of Verizon Communications in the third quarter valued at $57,000. Finally, Kemnay Advisory Services Inc. bought a new position in shares of Verizon Communications in the fourth quarter valued at $63,000. 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.