Employees Retirement System of Texas Has $5.45 Million Stake in Verizon Communications Inc. $VZ

Key Points

• Employees Retirement System of Texas cut its Verizon stake by 62% in the fourth quarter, selling 217,927 shares and leaving it with 133,689 shares worth about $5.45 million.
• Several Wall Street firms recently raised price targets on Verizon, and the stock now carries a consensus rating of Moderate Buy with an average target price of about $50.59.
• Verizon reported better-than-expected EPS of $1.28 for the latest quarter and is also getting attention from a proposed satellite direct-to-device venture that could improve coverage and emergency communications.

Employees Retirement System of Texas reduced its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ - Free Report) by 62.0% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 133,689 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock after selling 217,927 shares during the period. Employees Retirement System of Texas' holdings in Verizon Communications were worth $5,445,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Blake Schutter Theil Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Verizon Communications by 3.8% during the 4th quarter. Blake Schutter Theil Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 6,305 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock worth $257,000 after acquiring an additional 233 shares during the period. Triton Wealth Management PLLC grew its holdings in Verizon Communications by 2.6% during the 4th quarter. Triton Wealth Management PLLC now owns 9,257 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock worth $377,000 after acquiring an additional 234 shares during the period. Clearstead Trust LLC grew its holdings in Verizon Communications by 2.5% during the 4th quarter. Clearstead Trust LLC now owns 9,788 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock worth $399,000 after acquiring an additional 240 shares during the period. CWS Financial Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Verizon Communications by 1.7% during the 4th quarter. CWS Financial Advisors LLC now owns 14,891 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock worth $607,000 after acquiring an additional 246 shares during the period. Finally, Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV grew its holdings in Verizon Communications by 0.9% during the 4th quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV now owns 27,471 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock worth $1,119,000 after acquiring an additional 248 shares during the period. 62.06% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, SVP Mary-Lee Stillwell sold 8,569 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated 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 of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,189,100. This trade represents a 16.37% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.03% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have weighed in on VZ. Evercore increased their price target on Verizon Communications from $48.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of Verizon Communications from $49.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, April 30th. Scotiabank raised shares of Verizon Communications from a "sector perform" rating to a "sector outperform" rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $50.25 to $54.50 in a research report on Monday, March 9th. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued a "market perform" rating and set a $48.00 price objective on shares of Verizon Communications in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, Oppenheimer increased their price objective on shares of Verizon Communications from $50.00 to $56.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 11th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating and eleven have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Verizon Communications has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $50.59.

Verizon Communications Price Performance

Shares of NYSE VZ opened at $48.30 on Thursday. Verizon Communications Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $38.39 and a fifty-two week high of $51.68. The stock has a market cap of $201.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.78, a PEG ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 0.24. 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 firm's 50-day simple moving average is $48.01 and its 200 day simple moving average is $44.99.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results 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. Verizon Communications had a net margin of 12.46% and a return on equity of 19.25%. The business had revenue of $34.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $34.82 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.19 EPS. The firm'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. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 4.96 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Verizon Communications News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Verizon is part of a proposed satellite direct-to-device venture with AT&T and T-Mobile, a move that could help expand coverage, reduce dead zones, and improve emergency communications capabilities. T-Mobile Joins Rivals On Satellite Venture With Shares Below Targets
• Positive Sentiment: Investor attention remains elevated after Verizon’s last earnings report, where the company beat EPS estimates, supporting confidence in its cash generation and wireless business. Why Is Verizon (VZ) Up 2.7% Since Last Earnings Report?
• Neutral Sentiment: Verizon continues to show up on trader screens and stock-watch lists, suggesting the market is still focused on its upcoming catalysts rather than any single major new development. Here is What to Know Beyond Why Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) is a Trending Stock
• Neutral Sentiment: Sector commentary around 5G, AI connectivity, and telecom infrastructure may be giving Verizon some broader support, but these themes are more long-term than immediate stock-moving news. AI Can’t Reach the Real World Without These 3 Stocks
• Neutral Sentiment: Articles discussing a broader fleet-telematics market expansion are not specific to Verizon, so any stock impact is likely indirect at best. Fleet Telematics Market Forecast

Verizon Communications 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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