Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) Receives Consensus Rating of “Hold” from Brokerages

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) has received a consensus rating of “Hold” from the twenty brokerages that are covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Twelve analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and eight have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $50.90.

VZ has been the topic of several research reports. Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Verizon Communications in a research report on Wednesday, August 26th. TD Cowen lifted their price target on Verizon Communications from $54.00 to $56.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, July 27th. Scotiabank dropped their price target on Verizon Communications from $52.50 to $51.50 and set a “sector outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 2nd. Freedom Capital raised Verizon Communications to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, June 12th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price objective 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.

Key Verizon Communications News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Verizon’s improving customer trends, broadband expansion and potential AI-infrastructure opportunity could provide growth beyond its mature wireless business. VZ Shares Fall 6.5% in Six Months: What’s the Next Move for Investors?
• Positive Sentiment: A reseller agreement with SKYBOXE will make Verizon Business data plans available to additional U.S. business customers, offering a potential incremental boost to enterprise connectivity sales. SKYBOXE Enters Reseller Partnership to Offer Verizon Business Data Plans to Business Customers
• Positive Sentiment: Verizon’s planned satellite-connectivity venture with AT&T and T-Mobile could reduce coverage gaps, improve rural service and strengthen the long-term value of its network. Can VZ’s Satellite Connectivity Venture With T & TMUS Spur Growth?
• Neutral Sentiment: Investors are focused on Verizon’s next earnings report, scheduled for October 26. The release should clarify whether customer additions, broadband momentum and full-year guidance can offset slower revenue growth. Should You Buy Verizon Communications Stock Before Oct. 26?
• Neutral Sentiment: Verizon remains attractive to income investors because of its higher dividend yield than AT&T, but comparisons emphasize that the larger yield reflects market concerns and should be evaluated alongside growth, balance-sheet strength and payout sustainability. AT&T (T) vs Verizon (VZ): Which is a Better Stock to Buy?
• Negative Sentiment: Competition in wireless and broadband, combined with Verizon’s debt burden, remains a key risk to earnings growth and dividend flexibility. VZ Shares Fall 6.5% in Six Months: What’s the Next Move for Investors?
• Negative Sentiment: Higher Treasury yields—reported at levels not seen since 2002—make government-backed income more competitive with Verizon’s dividend and can reduce demand for high-yield telecom stocks. Dividend Income vs a Guaranteed Rate: Which One Belongs in Your Retirement Plan

Verizon Communications Stock Up 0.2%

NYSE:VZ opened at $45.92 on Friday. 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 has a twelve month low of $38.39 and a twelve month high of $51.68. The company has a market cap of $190.80 billion, a PE ratio of 11.96, a P/E/G ratio of 1.56 and a beta of 0.26. The company’s 50 day moving average is $48.31 and its two-hundred day moving average is $47.16.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 24th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.30 earnings per share (EPS) 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 business had revenue of $34.25 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $35.16 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.22 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was down .7% on a year-over-year basis. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.990-5.040 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Verizon Communications will post 5.03 EPS for the current year.

Verizon Communications Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, October 9th will be given a $0.7075 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 9th. This represents a $2.83 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.2%. Verizon Communications’s dividend payout ratio is currently 73.70%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Verizon Communications news, CEO Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $46.40, for a total transaction of $51,040.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 103,266 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,791,542.40. This trade represents a 1.05% 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 6,600 shares of company stock valued at $322,597. 0.03% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Verizon Communications

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. USS Investment Management Ltd raised its holdings in Verizon Communications by 4.6% in the 1st quarter. USS Investment Management Ltd now owns 713,156 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $35,790,000 after buying an additional 31,354 shares during the period. Cornerstone Capital Inc. boosted its stake in Verizon Communications by 8.6% during the second quarter. Cornerstone Capital Inc. now owns 317,284 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $13,434,000 after buying an additional 25,156 shares during the period. Cibc World Market Inc. boosted its stake in Verizon Communications by 15.3% during the fourth quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 2,382,975 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $97,059,000 after buying an additional 316,854 shares during the period. University of Texas Texas AM Investment Management Co. increased its position in shares of Verizon Communications by 127.0% during the second quarter. University of Texas Texas AM Investment Management Co. now owns 184,170 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $7,798,000 after acquiring an additional 103,046 shares during the last quarter. Finally, CPC Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Verizon Communications by 76.4% during the first quarter. CPC Advisors LLC now owns 123,287 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $6,189,000 after acquiring an additional 53,405 shares during the last quarter. 62.06% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.