Equities Analysts Offer Predictions for VZ Q2 Earnings

Key Points

• KeyCorp sees Verizon earning $1.22 per share in Q2 2026, while the broader consensus for the full year remains $4.98 per share. The firm also modeled continued EPS growth into 2027.
• Wall Street sentiment is still mixed: Verizon has a Hold consensus rating, with nine Buy ratings and twelve Hold ratings, and an average price target of $50.28. Several firms recently adjusted their views, including BNP Paribas Exane cutting its target to $44 and Wells Fargo starting coverage with a $43 target.
• Verizon shares were trading around $42.44, below both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, even as the company maintains a 6.7% dividend yield. The stock also looks relatively inexpensive on valuation metrics, but recent reports of layoffs and budget cuts add to investor caution.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ - Free Report) - Analysts at KeyCorp issued their Q2 2026 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Verizon Communications in a research note issued to investors on Sunday, July 5th. KeyCorp analyst B. Nispel expects that the cell phone carrier will earn $1.22 per share for the quarter. The consensus estimate for Verizon Communications' current full-year earnings is $4.98 per share. KeyCorp also issued estimates for Verizon Communications' Q3 2026 earnings at $1.30 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $1.20 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $1.38 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $1.39 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $1.27 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $5.40 EPS.

VZ has been the topic of several other research reports. BNP Paribas Exane lowered their price target on shares of Verizon Communications from $46.00 to $44.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday. Freedom Capital raised shares of Verizon Communications to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, June 12th. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of Verizon Communications from $49.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 28th. Wells Fargo & Company initiated coverage on Verizon Communications in a research note on Wednesday, July 8th. They issued an "equal weight" rating and a $43.00 price target for the company. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a "buy (b)" rating on shares of Verizon Communications in a research report on Friday, May 29th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $50.28.

Verizon Communications Trading Down 0.6%

Verizon Communications stock opened at $42.44 on Wednesday. Verizon Communications has a 12-month low of $38.39 and a 12-month high of $51.68. The firm has a market capitalization of $177.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.35, a P/E/G ratio of 1.04 and a beta of 0.26. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $45.90 and a 200 day moving average of $46.05. The company has a current ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.38.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 27th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.28 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.21 by $0.07. Verizon Communications had a return on equity of 19.25% and a net margin of 12.46%.The firm had revenue of $34.44 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $34.82 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.19 earnings per share. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.950-4.990 EPS.

Institutional Trading of Verizon Communications

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Verizon Communications by 1.5% during the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 379,402,347 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock valued at $15,453,058,000 after buying an additional 5,497,598 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its stake in Verizon Communications by 3.5% in the 4th quarter. State Street Corp now owns 222,951,399 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock worth $9,080,810,000 after acquiring an additional 7,461,335 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 5.3% during the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 116,570,816 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock worth $4,747,930,000 after acquiring an additional 5,851,715 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Verizon Communications by 0.9% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 102,632,509 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock valued at $4,168,080,000 after acquiring an additional 867,694 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE boosted its position in shares of Verizon Communications by 15.4% during the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 62,101,021 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock valued at $3,117,471,000 after acquiring an additional 8,289,877 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 62.06% of the company's stock.

Verizon Communications Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 3rd. Investors of record on Friday, July 10th will be paid a dividend of $0.7075 per share. This represents a $2.83 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 10th. Verizon Communications's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 69.02%.

Trending Headlines about Verizon Communications

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

• Positive Sentiment: Verizon is expanding its presence in connected vehicles through a new U.S. BMW Group and KDDI collaboration, bringing 5G and IoT connectivity into BMW cars for telematics and infotainment. The deal could support future revenue growth and highlights Verizon’s push into higher-value automotive services. Verizon (VZ) Expands Into BMW Connected Cars And Launches Gizmo Watch 4
• Positive Sentiment: Some commentary says Verizon may still look inexpensive on earnings, pointing to solid returns and suggesting the stock could be undervalued relative to its fundamentals and cash-generation profile. Verizon (VZ) Stock Looks Like A Bargain On Earnings While Returns Stay Strong
• Neutral Sentiment: Investor interest in Verizon remains elevated ahead of upcoming earnings, which can keep the stock active but does not by itself change the fundamentals. Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) is Attracting Investor Attention: Here is What You Should Know
• Neutral Sentiment: Verizon also launched the Gizmo Watch 4, a kid-focused wearable that adds to its consumer ecosystem and may help retention, though the near-term stock impact is limited. Meet the Gizmo Watch 4: Verizon’s new kid-friendly smartwatch
• Negative Sentiment: Verizon was hit by reports of another round of layoffs and roughly $5 billion in budget cuts, which signals cost pressure and a more cautious operating outlook. VZ Stock Slips As Verizon Reportedly Plans New Round Of Layoffs
• Negative Sentiment: Wall Street sentiment has also softened, with BNP Paribas Exane lowering its price target and keeping a neutral rating, while broader telecom fears tied to Starlink continue to weigh on the sector. SpaceX's Starlink threat causes Bernstein to cut Verizon, AT&T, Comcast PTs

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.

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