Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) Stock Price Up 1.1% After Analyst Upgrade

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ)’s share price was up 1.1% during mid-day trading on Thursday after Freedom Broker upgraded the stock from a hold rating to a buy rating. Freedom Broker now has a $55.00 price target on the stock, up from their previous price target of $53.00. Verizon Communications traded as high as $44.46 and last traded at $43.6450. Approximately 22,188,202 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 19% from the average daily volume of 27,424,543 shares. The stock had previously closed at $43.18.

A number of other analysts have also weighed in on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their target price on shares of Verizon Communications from $46.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a report on Monday, July 27th. Barclays cut their price target on shares of Verizon Communications from $46.00 to $44.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday. Sanford C. Bernstein reduced their price target on shares of Verizon Communications from $47.00 to $45.00 in a research report on Tuesday, October 13th. Moffett Nathanson upped their price target on shares of Verizon Communications from $49.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, September 22nd. Finally, Arete Research lowered their price objective on Verizon Communications from $71.00 to $62.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 1st. Thirteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seventeen have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Verizon Communications currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $50.82.

Insider Buying and Selling at Verizon Communications

In other news, CEO Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $43.00, for a total transaction of $47,300.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 98,866 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,251,238. This trade represents a 1.10% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 11,000 shares of company stock worth $516,373. Company insiders own 0.03% of the company’s stock.

Key Verizon Communications News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Raised 2026 outlook: Verizon increased its 2026 guidance, reinforcing confidence in postpaid subscriber growth, earnings and free-cash-flow performance. Verizon raises 2026 guidance
• Positive Sentiment: Dividend appears cash-funded: Verizon used approximately 49% of free cash flow to fund its dividend, supporting the sustainability of its roughly 6.6% yield despite elevated leverage. Verizon dividend cash flow analysis
• Positive Sentiment: Debt-management action: Verizon launched offers to repurchase up to $500 million of five note series for cash, a move that could help manage its debt profile, although the immediate financial impact is limited. Verizon note tender offers
• Positive Sentiment: Broker support: Freedom Broker upgraded Verizon to “buy” and raised its price target to $55, citing potential upside from current levels. Freedom Broker Verizon upgrade
• Neutral Sentiment: Satellite competition: CEO Dan Schulman said SpaceX would likely need years and substantial capital to become a full wireless competitor. Verizon remains open to selective Starlink cooperation but will not support arrangements that directly strengthen a rival. Verizon and SpaceX competition
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst caution: Morgan Stanley, TD Cowen, Citi, Barclays, Daiwa, BNP Paribas Exane and Goldman Sachs all lowered expectations or price targets, underscoring concerns about Verizon’s growth outlook and valuation.
• Negative Sentiment: Insider selling: CEO Kyle Malady sold $47,300 of Verizon stock under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. The transaction was small relative to his remaining holdings, but repeated scheduled sales may weigh modestly on sentiment. Verizon CEO stock sale

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Verizon Communications

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of VZ. Bank of America Corp DE boosted its stake in Verizon Communications by 15.4% in the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 62,101,021 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $3,117,471,000 after buying an additional 8,289,877 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC grew its position in Verizon Communications by 14.1% during the second quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 41,173,226 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $1,743,274,000 after acquiring an additional 5,075,794 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 20.8% during the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 38,164,982 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $1,915,882,000 after acquiring an additional 6,580,820 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 6.4% during the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 32,734,998 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $1,643,339,000 after acquiring an additional 1,972,634 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Deutsche Bank AG lifted its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 6.7% in the 2nd quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 20,882,074 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $884,147,000 after acquiring an additional 1,305,471 shares during the last quarter. 62.06% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Verizon Communications Trading Up 1.1%

The stock has a market capitalization of $181.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 0.26. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $47.24 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $46.69. 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 Monday, October 26th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.31 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.27 by $0.04. Verizon Communications had a net margin of 11.64% and a return on equity of 19.48%. The company had revenue of $34.31 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $34.77 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.21 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 1.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts forecast that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 5.04 EPS for the current year.

Verizon Communications Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 9th will be paid a dividend of $0.7075 per share. This represents a $2.83 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 9th. Verizon Communications’s dividend payout ratio is 73.70%.

About Verizon Communications

Verizon Communications Inc is a telecommunications company that provides wireless communications, broadband, and digital connectivity services. Through its consumer business, Verizon offers mobile voice and data plans, smartphones and other connected devices, home internet, fixed wireless access, and fiber-optic broadband services under the Fios brand.

Verizon also serves businesses, government agencies, and other organizations with wireless connectivity, private networks, internet and data services, managed communications, cloud and security solutions, and Internet of Things services.