Verizon Communications Inc. $VZ Shares Acquired by Pacer Advisors Inc.

Key Points

• Pacer Advisors Inc. increased its Verizon stake by 3.1% in the fourth quarter, adding 307,658 shares and bringing its total holdings to 10.3 million shares worth about $419.4 million.
• Several analysts have recently raised price targets on Verizon, and the stock currently carries a consensus rating of Moderate Buy with an average target price of $50.59.
• Verizon reported better-than-expected earnings of $1.28 per share for the latest quarter, though revenue slightly missed estimates; management also issued FY2026 EPS guidance of 4.950 to 4.990.

Pacer Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ - Free Report) by 3.1% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 10,297,784 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock after acquiring an additional 307,658 shares during the period. Verizon Communications accounts for approximately 1.1% of Pacer Advisors Inc.'s portfolio, making the stock its 13th biggest holding. Pacer Advisors Inc. owned 0.24% of Verizon Communications worth $419,429,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in VZ. Brighton Jones LLC boosted its stake in Verizon Communications by 61.2% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 43,986 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock worth $1,759,000 after buying an additional 16,704 shares during the last quarter. United Bank boosted its stake in Verizon Communications by 11.5% in the 2nd quarter. United Bank now owns 7,843 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock worth $339,000 after buying an additional 806 shares during the last quarter. Jump Financial LLC boosted its stake in Verizon Communications by 312.0% in the 2nd quarter. Jump Financial LLC now owns 23,639 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock worth $1,023,000 after buying an additional 17,901 shares during the last quarter. HUB Investment Partners LLC boosted its stake in Verizon Communications by 17.2% in the 2nd quarter. HUB Investment Partners LLC now owns 41,121 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock worth $1,779,000 after buying an additional 6,034 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vivaldi Capital Management LP boosted its stake in Verizon Communications by 5.2% in the 2nd quarter. Vivaldi Capital Management LP now owns 8,993 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock worth $389,000 after buying an additional 443 shares during the last quarter. 62.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have issued reports on VZ shares. Williams Trading set a $54.00 price target on Verizon Communications in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Raymond James Financial reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and issued a $56.00 price objective on shares of Verizon Communications in a research note on Thursday, March 12th. Scotiabank raised Verizon Communications from a "sector perform" rating to a "sector outperform" rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $50.25 to $54.50 in a research note on Monday, March 9th. Barclays lifted their price objective on Verizon Communications from $43.00 to $47.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 31st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Verizon Communications from $49.00 to $52.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, April 30th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating and eleven have assigned a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Verizon Communications has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $50.59.

Key Stories Impacting Verizon Communications

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

• Positive Sentiment: Verizon’s year-to-date gains have been supported by improving wireless subscriber trends, lower customer churn, and continued fiber expansion, which are helping the company’s growth outlook. Verizon Shares Rise 17.7% YTD: How Should You Play the Stock?
• Neutral Sentiment: Verizon also held a presentation at MoffettNathanson’s Media, Internet & Communications Conference, which may have reinforced investor focus on its strategy and outlook, but there was no clear new catalyst in the transcript headline alone. Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) Presents at MoffettNathanson's Media, Internet & Communications Conference Transcript
• Negative Sentiment: One article warned that Verizon’s latest phone plan changes could drive away consumers, adding to worries about customer retention after the company reportedly lost more than 2.25 million customers over the past three years. Verizon’s latest phone plan change may drive away consumers
• Negative Sentiment: Verizon’s debt exchange and tender offers may improve its capital structure over time, but they also highlight the company’s large debt load and ongoing refinancing/integration risk following major acquisition activity. Verizon Debt Moves Reshape Capital Structure And Investor Risk Profile

Insider Activity at Verizon Communications

In other Verizon Communications news, SVP Mary-Lee Stillwell sold 8,569 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.00, for a total value of $428,450.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president owned 43,782 shares in the company, valued at $2,189,100. This represents a 16.37% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Hans Erik Vestberg sold 200,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $49.61, for a total transaction of $9,922,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 145,069 shares of the company's stock, valued at $7,196,873.09. This trade represents a 57.96% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders own 0.03% of the company's stock.

Verizon Communications Stock Performance

NYSE VZ opened at $47.19 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $197.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.51, a P/E/G ratio of 1.01 and a beta of 0.24. Verizon Communications Inc. has a 1-year low of $38.39 and a 1-year high of $51.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.38, a current ratio of 0.64 and a quick ratio of 0.61. The business's 50-day simple moving average is $48.64 and its 200-day simple moving average is $44.41.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data 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. The business had revenue of $34.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $34.82 billion. Verizon Communications had a return on equity of 19.25% and a net margin of 12.46%.The company's revenue was up 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.19 EPS. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.950-4.990 EPS. Equities analysts predict that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 4.96 EPS for the current year.

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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