Mutual Advisors LLC Increases Stock Holdings in Verizon Communications Inc. $VZ

Key Points

• Mutual Advisors LLC raised its stake in Verizon by 16.6% to 182,525 shares (about $7.43M), adding to broad institutional ownership which stands at 62.06%.
• Verizon beat Q1 EPS estimates ($1.28 vs. $1.21) with revenue up 2.7% year‑over‑year but slightly below consensus, and set FY2026 guidance of $4.95–$4.99 EPS (analysts’ consensus ~$4.96).
• Company insiders sold a total of 218,148 shares (~$10.78M) in the past three months, and analysts flag elevated post‑Frontier acquisition debt and leverage as a key investor concern that could pressure dividend safety.

Mutual Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ - Free Report) by 16.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 182,525 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock after buying an additional 25,979 shares during the quarter. Mutual Advisors LLC's holdings in Verizon Communications were worth $7,434,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in Verizon Communications by 1.5% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 379,402,347 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock worth $15,453,058,000 after purchasing an additional 5,497,598 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its position in shares of Verizon Communications by 3.5% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 215,490,064 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock worth $9,470,788,000 after acquiring an additional 7,276,809 shares in the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 1.2% in the 3rd quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 45,265,695 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock worth $1,989,427,000 after purchasing an additional 557,576 shares during the last quarter. Legal & General Group Plc lifted its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 4.5% in the 3rd quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 28,188,066 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock worth $1,238,866,000 after purchasing an additional 1,203,445 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 2.9% in the 3rd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 22,592,460 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock worth $992,939,000 after purchasing an additional 646,537 shares during the last quarter. 62.06% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Verizon Communications Stock Up 3.0%

VZ opened at $48.01 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.38, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a current ratio of 0.64. The stock's fifty day moving average is $48.94 and its 200-day moving average is $44.00. Verizon Communications Inc. has a one year low of $38.39 and a one year high of $51.68. The company has a market capitalization of $200.69 billion, a PE ratio of 11.71, a P/E/G ratio of 0.98 and a beta of 0.29.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Monday, April 27th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.28 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates 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 the consensus estimate of $34.82 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.19 EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.950-4.990 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 4.96 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Verizon Communications

In other news, EVP Joseph J. Russo sold 9,579 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Monday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.88, for a total transaction of $429,905.52. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 44,045 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,976,739.60. The trade was a 17.86% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Director Hans Erik Vestberg sold 200,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.61, for a total value of $9,922,000.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 145,069 shares in the company, valued at $7,196,873.09. This trade represents a 57.96% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold 218,148 shares of company stock valued at $10,780,356 over the last three months. Company insiders own 0.03% of the company's stock.

Key Headlines Impacting Verizon Communications

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

• Positive Sentiment: Q1 results and management messaging show a clear turnaround: adjusted EPS beat estimates and Verizon reported first-quarter postpaid phone subscriber gains — the core operational signal investors are rewarding. Verizon CEO Claims Turnaround Is Officially Underway
• Positive Sentiment: JPMorgan raised its price target on VZ (from $49 to $52) while keeping a neutral rating — the lift in target provides a near‑term valuation tailwind and helps support the stock. Price Target Raise Coverage
• Positive Sentiment: Inclusion in industry research on the North America/Europe video telematics market highlights Verizon’s presence in a growing commercial-vehicle camera/telemetry market — a longer-term growth exposure beyond core wireless. North America and Europe Video Telematics Market Research Report 2026
• Neutral Sentiment: Partner recognition (Cydcor named Verizon’s 2025 ACD Wireless Agent of the Year) is positive for channel relations but unlikely to move near-term fundamentals materially. Cydcor Earns Verizon's 2025 ACD Wireless Agent of the Year Award
• Neutral Sentiment: Industry moves: a former Verizon executive joining OXIO is notable for talent flow in telecom but not directly material to Verizon’s near-term earnings. OXIO Appoints Former Verizon Executive Jeremy Bolton
• Negative Sentiment: Debt and leverage remain investor concerns: analysis warns that elevated post‑Frontier acquisition debt could pressure income investors and dividend safety if leverage or interest costs rise. The Ticking Time Bomb That Could Force Income Investors to Sell Verizon Stock
• Negative Sentiment: An analyst at Erste Group slightly trimmed FY2027 EPS forecasts for Verizon, reflecting modest downside to consensus and signaling that some firms remain cautious on near‑term earnings traction. MarketBeat Verizon Coverage

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have issued reports on VZ shares. William Blair upgraded Verizon Communications to an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated a "market perform" rating and set a $48.00 price target on shares of Verizon Communications in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Barclays boosted their price target on Verizon Communications from $43.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 31st. Citigroup boosted their price target on Verizon Communications from $50.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, March 20th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Verizon Communications from $49.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Verizon Communications presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $50.59.

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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