Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) Shares Down 1.4% – Here’s Why

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ)’s share price fell 1.4% on Monday . The company traded as low as $50.36 and last traded at $50.4060. 28,986,316 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 14% from the average session volume of 33,808,539 shares. The stock had previously closed at $51.12.

Verizon Communications News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Scotiabank upgraded VZ to Outperform after meetings with management and lifted its price target to $54.50, calling shares “cheap” and highlighting momentum that could support upside. Scotiabank Lifts Verizon (VZ) to Outperform, Calls Shares “Cheap” at Current Levels
• Positive Sentiment: Oppenheimer raised its price target on Verizon to $56 and maintained an Outperform rating, which increases analyst-driven upside and institutional interest (represents notable upside from recent levels).
• Positive Sentiment: Short interest in VZ fell sharply (~23.5% decline through Feb 27), reducing potential downward pressure from short sellers and lowering the risk of adverse squeeze-driven volatility; current short interest is modest (~2.7% of float).
• Neutral Sentiment: Verizon presented at the Deutsche Bank Media, Internet & Telecom conference; investor takeaways from management commentary could provide incremental catalysts but most content was execution/strategy detail rather than new guidance. Verizon Presents at Deutsche Bank Conference (Transcript)
• Neutral Sentiment: Recent coverage is re-examining VZ’s valuation after share gains; themes focus on income yield vs. growth trade-offs — useful for long-term dividend investors but not an immediate catalyst. A Look At Verizon Communications (VZ) Valuation
• Neutral Sentiment: Macro debt-market activity: a large corporate bond deal from Amazon may affect overall corporate borrowing trends and credit-market spreads, a background factor for capital-intensive carriers like Verizon. Amazon Launches $37 Billion Bond Sale
• Neutral Sentiment: An Investor’s Business Daily/Fool-style piece on stocks sold this week may reflect broader investor rotation away from low-growth names; check the article to see if VZ is discussed specifically. 3 Stocks I Sold Last Week
• Negative Sentiment: A short market note flagged a recent intraday decline in VZ as broader market dynamics lifted other names; day-to-day selling pressure can occur despite positive analyst moves. Verizon Stock Sinks As Market Gains: Here’s Why

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently commented on VZ shares. Barclays assumed coverage on Verizon Communications in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. They issued an “equal weight” rating and a $43.00 price target for the company. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on Verizon Communications from $41.00 to $44.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Scotiabank raised Verizon Communications from a “sector perform” rating to a “sector outperform” rating and upped their target price for the stock from $50.25 to $54.50 in a report on Monday. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their target price on Verizon Communications from $44.00 to $48.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Verizon Communications from $47.00 to $49.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have issued a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $49.66.

Verizon Communications Trading Down 0.1%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.87. The company has a market cap of $213.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 0.31. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $44.80 and its 200 day moving average price is $42.67.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) last announced its earnings results on Friday, January 30th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.06 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $36.38 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $36.20 billion. Verizon Communications had a return on equity of 19.03% and a net margin of 12.43%.Verizon Communications’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.10 EPS. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.900-4.950 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 4.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Verizon Communications Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 10th will be given a dividend of $0.7075 per share. This represents a $2.83 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.6%. This is a positive change from Verizon Communications’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.69. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 10th. Verizon Communications’s dividend payout ratio is 69.88%.

Insider Activity at Verizon Communications

In other news, SVP Mary-Lee Stillwell sold 8,569 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $50.00, for a total value of $428,450.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president owned 43,782 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,189,100. The trade was a 16.37% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Joseph J. Russo sold 9,579 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $44.88, for a total transaction of $429,905.52. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 44,045 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,976,739.60. This represents a 17.86% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold 218,148 shares of company stock worth $10,780,356 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Verizon Communications

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL lifted its stake in shares of 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 purchasing an additional 219 shares during the period. Sumitomo Life Insurance Co. boosted its position in shares of 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 valued at $1,426,000 after purchasing an additional 227 shares in the last quarter. Blake Schutter Theil Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in Verizon Communications by 3.8% during the fourth quarter. Blake Schutter Theil Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 6,305 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $257,000 after purchasing an additional 233 shares during the period. Triton Wealth Management PLLC increased its holdings in Verizon Communications by 2.6% in the fourth quarter. Triton Wealth Management PLLC now owns 9,257 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $377,000 after purchasing an additional 234 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hudock Inc. increased its holdings in Verizon Communications by 0.6% in the second quarter. Hudock Inc. now owns 39,842 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $1,724,000 after purchasing an additional 238 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 62.06% of the company’s stock.

Verizon Communications Company 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.