Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) Shares Down 2.7% – What’s Next?

Shares of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) fell 2.7% on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $46.14 and last traded at $46.5630. 27,421,830 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 4% from the average session volume of 28,470,361 shares. The stock had previously closed at $47.87.

Trending Headlines about Verizon Communications

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

• Positive Sentiment: Verizon declared its regular quarterly dividend of $0.7075 per share, reinforcing its appeal as a high-yield income stock and signaling confidence in cash generation. Verizon declares quarterly dividend on June 4, 2026
• Positive Sentiment: The dividend was kept unchanged from the prior quarter, which suggests management remains committed to returning capital to shareholders. Verizon declares quarterly dividend on June 4, 2026
• Neutral Sentiment: One article highlighted growing competition and a widening valuation gap, including concerns about Starlink and Verizon’s store backlash, but it was more commentary than a direct company announcement. Verizon Confronts Store Backlash And Starlink Threat As Valuation Gap Widens

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Dbs Bank cut shares of Verizon Communications from a “moderate buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 7th. Erste Group Bank reaffirmed a “hold” rating on shares of Verizon Communications in a research report on Tuesday, May 5th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of Verizon Communications from $44.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of Verizon Communications from $49.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, April 30th. Finally, Barclays boosted their price target on Verizon Communications from $43.00 to $47.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 31st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have issued a Buy rating and eleven have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Verizon Communications presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $50.59.

Verizon Communications Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.38, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 0.64. The company has a market cap of $189.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.10, a PEG ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 0.24. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $47.64 and a 200 day moving average price of $45.27.

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

Verizon Communications Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 3rd. Investors of record on Friday, July 10th will be issued a dividend of $0.7075 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 10th. This represents a $2.83 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.2%. Verizon Communications’s payout ratio is 69.02%.

Institutional Trading of Verizon Communications

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC grew its position 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 worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 539 shares during the last quarter. Holos Integrated Wealth LLC bought a new stake in shares of Verizon Communications during the fourth quarter worth about $28,000. Lam Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Verizon Communications in the first quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC bought a new position in Verizon Communications in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Finally, EQ Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Verizon Communications in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Institutional investors own 62.06% of the company’s stock.

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.