Verizon Communications Inc. $VZ Stock Holdings Trimmed by Berkeley Capital Partners LLC

Berkeley Capital Partners LLC lowered its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) by 18.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 48,117 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock after selling 11,054 shares during the period. Berkeley Capital Partners LLC’s holdings in Verizon Communications were worth $1,960,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in VZ. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC raised its stake in Verizon Communications by 490.0% during the 4th 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. Holos Integrated Wealth LLC bought a new stake in Verizon Communications during the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC bought a new stake in Verizon Communications during the 3rd quarter valued at $29,000. EQ Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Verizon Communications during the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, Daytona Street Capital LLC bought a new stake in Verizon Communications during the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. Institutional investors own 62.06% of the company’s stock.

Verizon Communications Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE VZ opened at $47.19 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.38. The stock has a market capitalization of $197.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.51, a PEG ratio of 1.01 and a beta of 0.24. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $48.64 and its 200 day simple moving average is $44.41. Verizon Communications Inc. has a 52-week low of $38.39 and a 52-week high of $51.68.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) last issued its earnings results on Monday, April 27th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.21 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $34.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $34.82 billion. Verizon Communications had a return on equity of 19.25% and a net margin of 12.46%.The company’s quarterly revenue was up 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.19 EPS. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.950-4.990 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 4.96 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

VZ has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Scotiabank upgraded Verizon Communications from a “sector perform” rating to a “sector outperform” rating and lifted their price target for the company from $50.25 to $54.50 in a research report on Monday, March 9th. Citigroup lifted their price target on Verizon Communications from $50.00 to $55.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, March 20th. Williams Trading set a $54.00 price target on Verizon Communications in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on Verizon Communications from $49.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 28th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Verizon Communications from $49.00 to $52.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 30th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating and eleven have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Verizon Communications currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $50.59.

Key Stories Impacting Verizon Communications

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

• Positive Sentiment: Verizon’s year-to-date gains have been supported by improving wireless subscriber trends, lower customer churn, and continued fiber expansion, which are helping the company’s growth outlook. Verizon Shares Rise 17.7% YTD: How Should You Play the Stock?
• Neutral Sentiment: Verizon also held a presentation at MoffettNathanson’s Media, Internet & Communications Conference, which may have reinforced investor focus on its strategy and outlook, but there was no clear new catalyst in the transcript headline alone. Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) Presents at MoffettNathanson’s Media, Internet & Communications Conference Transcript
• Negative Sentiment: One article warned that Verizon’s latest phone plan changes could drive away consumers, adding to worries about customer retention after the company reportedly lost more than 2.25 million customers over the past three years. Verizon’s latest phone plan change may drive away consumers
• Negative Sentiment: Verizon’s debt exchange and tender offers may improve its capital structure over time, but they also highlight the company’s large debt load and ongoing refinancing/integration risk following major acquisition activity. Verizon Debt Moves Reshape Capital Structure And Investor Risk Profile

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, SVP Mary-Lee Stillwell sold 8,569 shares of Verizon Communications stock in a transaction on Monday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.00, for a total value of $428,450.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 43,782 shares in the company, valued at $2,189,100. The trade was a 16.37% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director Hans Erik Vestberg sold 200,000 shares of Verizon Communications stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.61, for a total value of $9,922,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 145,069 shares in the company, valued at $7,196,873.09. The trade was a 57.96% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders own 0.03% of the company’s stock.

Verizon Communications 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.