Orographic Financial Advisors LLC Takes Position in Verizon Communications Inc. $VZ

Key Points

• Orographic Financial Advisors purchased 24,161 Verizon shares worth approximately $1.21 million in the first quarter, while institutional investors collectively own 62.06% of the company.
• Verizon reported quarterly EPS of $1.30, beating estimates, but revenue fell 0.7% year over year and missed expectations. The company maintains an attractive 6.1% dividend yield, though analysts’ consensus rating remains “Hold.”
• Analysts have raised several price targets on expectations for earnings, fiber expansion and potential AI-infrastructure growth, but a possible SpaceX entry into the U.S. wireless market remains a major competitive risk.

Orographic Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ - Free Report) in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 24,161 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock, valued at approximately $1,212,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Paragon Private Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 18.8% in the first quarter. Paragon Private Wealth Management LLC now owns 17,190 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock valued at $863,000 after purchasing an additional 2,723 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE increased its position in Verizon Communications by 15.4% during the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 62,101,021 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock worth $3,117,471,000 after acquiring an additional 8,289,877 shares during the period. Alexander Labrunerie & CO. Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Verizon Communications in the first quarter valued at approximately $241,000. Financial Insights Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Verizon Communications in the first quarter valued at approximately $313,000. Finally, Oddo BHF Asset Management Sas grew its position in Verizon Communications by 31.6% during the first quarter. Oddo BHF Asset Management Sas now owns 14,791 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock worth $743,000 after buying an additional 3,548 shares in the last quarter. 62.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Key Stories Impacting Verizon Communications

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

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts continue to raise their expectations for Verizon. Morgan Stanley lifted its price target to $52, while TD Cowen raised its target to $56; Verizon also received an analyst upgrade. These actions reflect confidence in the company’s earnings outlook and recent operating performance. Verizon analyst upgrade
• Positive Sentiment: Verizon’s investment case is being supported by fiber expansion and emerging AI infrastructure demand. Bain Capital and Tillman Global Holdings announced a $1.5 billion investment in Eaton Fiber to accelerate broadband deployment, while a separate analysis cited a potential $1 billion-plus Google dark-fiber deal and data-center retrofits as possible sources of higher-margin growth beginning in the second half of 2026. Bain Capital and Tillman Global Holdings fiber investment
• Neutral Sentiment: Verizon remains viewed as inexpensive relative to telecom peers, trading at a significant forward-earnings discount while offering a dividend yield above 6%. However, investors are debating whether the discount represents value or reflects limited revenue growth. Recent earnings showed an EPS beat, but revenue declined year over year and missed expectations.
• Negative Sentiment: The primary pressure on VZ is concern that SpaceX could enter the U.S. wireless market by acquiring spectrum or participating in next year’s federal auction. A direct-to-mobile satellite service with dense urban coverage could intensify competition for Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile, prompting a broad telecom selloff. SpaceX direct mobile threat

Verizon Communications Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:VZ opened at $46.12 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $192.59 billion, a PE ratio of 12.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 0.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.36, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a current ratio of 0.60. Verizon Communications Inc. has a 52 week low of $38.39 and a 52 week high of $51.68. The firm's fifty day moving average is $45.35 and its 200-day moving average is $46.44.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 24th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.30 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.27 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $34.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $35.16 billion. Verizon Communications had a return on equity of 19.48% and a net margin of 11.64%.The business's revenue was down .7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.22 EPS. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.990-5.040 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 5.03 earnings per share for the current year.

Verizon Communications Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 3rd. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 10th will be given a dividend of $0.7075 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 10th. This represents a $2.83 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.1%. Verizon Communications's dividend payout ratio is 73.70%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "buy (b)" rating on shares of Verizon Communications in a report on Friday, May 29th. Dbs Bank lowered shares of Verizon Communications from a "moderate buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Verizon Communications from $49.00 to $52.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, April 30th. Freedom Capital raised shares of Verizon Communications to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, June 12th. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on Verizon Communications from $50.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Monday. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Verizon Communications presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $50.84.

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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