Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) Trading 1.2% Higher – Time to Buy?

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) was up 1.2% during trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $47.81 and last traded at $47.3510. Approximately 22,996,561 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 21% from the average session volume of 29,195,646 shares. The stock had previously closed at $46.81.

Key Headlines Impacting Verizon Communications

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

• Positive Sentiment: Verizon is supporting communities affected by Washington wildfires by waiving calling, texting, and data charges through August 31 for consumer, small-business, and prepaid customers. The company also deployed a connectivity vehicle, reinforcing Verizon’s network reliability and customer-service reputation, although the direct financial benefit is likely limited. Verizon Helps Families Stay Connected During Washington Wildfires
• Neutral Sentiment: Some telecom executives have argued that satellite services are unlikely to materially disrupt their core businesses because terrestrial networks offer greater capacity and reliability in populated areas. However, Starlink’s existing infrastructure could make it a meaningful competitor in rural locations, during outages, and for customers seeking nationwide coverage. SpaceX’s Starlink Threat Sends Telecom Stocks Lower Premarket
• Neutral Sentiment: Verizon continues to attract attention for network expansion and growth within the communications sector, but the available report provides no specific new financial guidance or operating update. Why Is Verizon Watching Network Growth in the S&P 500?
• Negative Sentiment: SpaceX executives said Starlink Mobile intends to win customers from Verizon and other major carriers, and the planned 2027 launch adds a longer-term competitive risk to Verizon’s wireless business. The news triggered weakness across wireless stocks as investors weighed potential effects on market share, pricing, and subscriber growth. Verizon Faces a New Threat as SpaceX Plans a Mobile Network

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price target on Verizon Communications from $46.00 to $47.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a report on Monday, July 27th. TD Cowen boosted their price objective on Verizon Communications from $54.00 to $56.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, July 27th. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Verizon Communications from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, July 27th. Moffett Nathanson lowered their price target on shares of Verizon Communications from $56.00 to $49.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, July 20th. Finally, BNP Paribas Exane reduced their price objective on shares of Verizon Communications from $46.00 to $44.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Verizon Communications has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $50.84.

Verizon Communications Stock Down 1.1%

The firm has a market cap of $192.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 0.25. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $45.27 and its two-hundred day moving average is $46.60. The company has a current ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.36.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) last issued its earnings results on Friday, July 24th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.30 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.27 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $34.25 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $35.16 billion. Verizon Communications had a net margin of 11.64% and a return on equity of 19.48%. The business’s quarterly revenue was down .7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.22 earnings per share. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.990-5.040 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 5.03 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Verizon Communications Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, August 3rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 10th were issued a dividend of $0.7075 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, July 10th. This represents a $2.83 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.1%. Verizon Communications’s payout ratio is currently 73.70%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Verizon Communications

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of VZ. RKL Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 4.3% in the first quarter. RKL Wealth Management LLC now owns 5,338 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $268,000 after buying an additional 218 shares during the period. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL lifted its position in Verizon Communications by 8.6% in the 4th quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 2,765 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $113,000 after acquiring an additional 219 shares in the last quarter. Frazier Financial Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Verizon Communications by 32.7% in the 1st quarter. Frazier Financial Advisors LLC now owns 888 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $45,000 after purchasing an additional 219 shares during the period. FAS Wealth Partners Inc. increased its holdings in Verizon Communications by 1.2% during the 1st quarter. FAS Wealth Partners Inc. now owns 18,421 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $925,000 after purchasing an additional 223 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sumitomo Life Insurance Co. increased its holdings in Verizon Communications by 0.7% during the 4th 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. 62.06% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.