Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) CEO Sells $51,040.00 in Stock

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) CEO Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $46.40, for a total value of $51,040.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 103,266 shares in the company, valued at $4,791,542.40. This represents a 1.05% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.

Kyle Malady also recently made the following trade(s):

• On Tuesday, September 22nd, Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares of Verizon Communications stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $47.65, for a total value of $52,415.00.
• On Tuesday, September 8th, Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares of Verizon Communications stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $49.98, for a total value of $54,978.00.
• On Tuesday, September 1st, Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares of Verizon Communications stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $50.50, for a total value of $55,550.00.
• On Tuesday, August 25th, Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares of Verizon Communications stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.06, for a total transaction of $55,066.00.
• On Tuesday, August 18th, Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares of Verizon Communications stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $48.68, for a total transaction of $53,548.00.

Verizon Communications Stock Performance

Shares of Verizon Communications stock opened at $45.91 on Friday. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $48.39 and its 200-day simple moving average is $47.24. Verizon Communications Inc. has a 12 month low of $38.39 and a 12 month high of $51.68. The stock has a market capitalization of $190.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.96, a PEG ratio of 1.56 and a beta of 0.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.36, a current ratio of 0.60 and a quick ratio of 0.57.

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

Verizon Communications Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced 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. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 9th. This represents a $2.83 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.2%. Verizon Communications’s dividend payout ratio is 73.70%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on VZ shares. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their price target on Verizon Communications from $46.00 to $47.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Monday, July 27th. Scotiabank lowered their target price on Verizon Communications from $52.50 to $51.50 and set a “sector outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Verizon Communications from $43.00 to $47.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, July 27th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Verizon Communications from $50.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, July 27th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Verizon Communications in a report on Wednesday, August 26th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Verizon Communications presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $50.90.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Greenwich Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 6.5% during the 2nd quarter. Greenwich Wealth Management LLC now owns 41,617 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $1,762,000 after purchasing an additional 2,544 shares during the period. QRG Capital Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 5.5% in the 2nd quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 836,939 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $35,436,000 after purchasing an additional 43,313 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 9.6% in the second quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 171,425 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $7,258,000 after purchasing an additional 14,974 shares during the period. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 1.7% in the second quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 13,110,356 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $555,091,000 after purchasing an additional 214,932 shares during the period. Finally, Security National Bank of Sioux City Iowa IA boosted its holdings in Verizon Communications by 33.2% during the second quarter. Security National Bank of Sioux City Iowa IA now owns 63,011 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $2,668,000 after buying an additional 15,714 shares in the last quarter. 62.06% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Key Verizon Communications News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Multi-year Versant renewal: Verizon reached a long-term distribution agreement with Versant, keeping channels including USA Network, CNBC, Golf Channel, E!, SYFY and Oxygen True Crime available to Fios customers. The agreement reduces near-term programming disruption risk and supports customer retention. Versant Reaches Multi-Year Distribution Renewal Agreement With Verizon
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst still sees upside: Scotiabank maintained its “sector outperform” rating, although it reduced its price target to $51.50 from $52.50. The revised target remains meaningfully above the recent trading level, suggesting the bank continues to view Verizon as undervalued. Scotiabank Verizon Price Target Update
• Positive Sentiment: Income appeal remains intact: Verizon’s quarterly dividend is $0.7075 per share, or $2.83 annualized, representing a yield of roughly 6%. Its low valuation and history of earnings surprises may provide support for income-oriented investors, although the payout ratio is elevated.
• Neutral Sentiment: Dead-zone partnership: Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile formed a joint venture aimed at improving wireless coverage in underserved areas. The initiative could strengthen service quality and reduce customer frustration, but it may also require additional investment and does not immediately change earnings expectations. AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Form Joint Venture
• Negative Sentiment: Fios lost Starz programming: Starz confirmed that Verizon Fios customers have lost access to its channels, on-demand content and app amid failed negotiations. The dispute could increase churn or lead to higher content costs if Verizon restores the service. Verizon Fios Customers Lose Access to Starz
• Negative Sentiment: Legacy-network regulatory risk: The FCC’s pause on Verizon’s planned copper-service shutdown in parts of New Jersey could delay modernization and prolong operating costs.

About Verizon Communications

Verizon Communications Inc is a telecommunications company headquartered in New York City and listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol VZ. The company was formed in 2000 through the merger of Bell Atlantic and GTE and has developed into one of the largest communications providers in the United States.

Verizon’s consumer business provides wireless voice and data services, smartphones and other connected devices, home internet, broadband, and related communications products.