Verizon Communications Inc. $VZ Shares Sold by Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc.

Key Points

• Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. trimmed its Verizon stake by 9.2% in the fourth quarter, selling 21,408 shares and leaving it with 210,877 shares worth about $8.59 million.
• Verizon reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings, posting $1.28 EPS versus the $1.21 estimate, while revenue rose 2.7% from a year ago to $34.44 billion.
• Analysts remain cautiously optimistic: Verizon has a Moderate Buy consensus rating and a price target of $50.59, while recent insider sales by directors and executives added to investor focus on the stock.

Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. lessened its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ - Free Report) by 9.2% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 210,877 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock after selling 21,408 shares during the period. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc.'s holdings in Verizon Communications were worth $8,589,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC acquired a new position in Verizon Communications during the third quarter worth $29,000. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC grew its holdings in Verizon Communications by 490.0% during the fourth quarter. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC now owns 649 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 539 shares during the period. Holos Integrated Wealth LLC acquired a new position in Verizon Communications during the fourth quarter worth $28,000. EQ Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Verizon Communications during the fourth quarter worth $29,000. Finally, Richardson Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Verizon Communications during the third quarter worth $35,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.06% of the company's stock.

Verizon Communications Stock Up 0.1%

VZ opened at $47.80 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.38. The firm has a market cap of $199.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.66, a PEG ratio of 1.00 and a beta of 0.24. Verizon Communications Inc. has a 52 week low of $38.39 and a 52 week high of $51.68. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $48.26 and its 200 day simple moving average is $44.69.

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, beating analysts' consensus estimates 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 business's revenue for the quarter was up 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.19 earnings per share. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.950-4.990 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 4.96 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have weighed in on VZ. William Blair raised Verizon Communications to an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. KeyCorp reissued a "sector weight" rating on shares of Verizon Communications in a report on Monday, January 26th. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Verizon Communications from $49.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 28th. Barclays upped their target price on Verizon Communications from $43.00 to $47.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Tuesday, March 31st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Verizon Communications from $44.00 to $46.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 28th. One equities 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's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $50.59.

Insiders Place Their Bets

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

Verizon Communications News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Verizon highlighted stronger consumer traction in its latest earnings commentary, including postpaid phone growth and broadband gains, which supports the view that its core wireless business is stabilizing. Verizon Earnings Call Highlights Turnaround Momentum
• Positive Sentiment: Verizon, along with AT&T and T-Mobile, is advancing a satellite connectivity joint venture aimed at eliminating dead zones, a strategic move that could improve network coverage and long-term competitive positioning. Verizon to redeem debt securities on June 20, 2026
• Positive Sentiment: Verizon announced it will redeem about $1.3 billion of notes on June 20, signaling active debt management that may be viewed favorably by income-oriented investors. Verizon to redeem debt securities on June 20, 2026
• Neutral Sentiment: Verizon also announced the winner of its first Frontline App Developer Challenge, underscoring innovation in public safety and emergency response, but the near-term financial impact appears limited. Verizon champions the innovators of tomorrow, names winner of Verizon Frontline App Developer Challenge
• Neutral Sentiment: Verizon’s latest industry cybersecurity report drew attention to a surge in AI-driven social engineering and vulnerability exploitation, highlighting Verizon’s security expertise but not directly changing fundamentals. AI-related data breaches surpass stolen credentials in cyber incidents, Verizon report says

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.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.