Western Wealth Management LLC Boosts Stake in Verizon Communications Inc. $VZ

Key Points

• Western Wealth Management doubled its Verizon stake by 101.8% in the first quarter, ending with 113,719 shares valued at approximately $5.7 million. Institutional investors collectively own 62.06% of Verizon’s stock.
• Verizon exceeded quarterly EPS expectations with $1.30 versus $1.27 projected, but revenue fell 0.7% year over year to $34.25 billion and missed estimates. The company’s quarterly dividend remains $0.7075 per share, producing an annualized yield of about 6.1%.
• Analyst sentiment is mixed but includes recent price-target increases, with the consensus rating at Hold and a $50.84 target. Potential growth from fiber and AI infrastructure is balanced by concerns over limited revenue growth and possible competition from SpaceX’s satellite-to-mobile service.

Western Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ - Free Report) by 101.8% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 113,719 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock after acquiring an additional 57,378 shares during the quarter. Western Wealth Management LLC's holdings in Verizon Communications were worth $5,709,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Lam Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of Verizon Communications in the first quarter worth approximately $28,000. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC raised its stake in Verizon Communications by 490.0% in the fourth quarter. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC now owns 649 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 539 shares in the last quarter. EQ Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Verizon Communications during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Sarver Vrooman Wealth Advisors lifted its position in Verizon Communications by 173.0% during the fourth quarter. Sarver Vrooman Wealth Advisors now owns 707 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 448 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Quattro Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Verizon Communications in the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 62.06% of the company's stock.

Key Headlines 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 Stock Down 2.3%

Shares of NYSE VZ opened at $46.12 on Friday. Verizon Communications Inc. has a one year low of $38.39 and a one year high of $51.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.36, a current ratio of 0.60 and a quick ratio of 0.57. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $45.35 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $46.44. The stock has a market capitalization of $192.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.01, a PEG ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 0.26.

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

Verizon Communications Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 3rd. Investors of record on Friday, July 10th will be given a $0.7075 dividend. This represents a $2.83 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.1%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 10th. Verizon Communications's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 73.70%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have recently commented on VZ. Dbs Bank lowered shares of Verizon Communications from a "moderate buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 7th. Scotiabank lifted their price objective on shares of Verizon Communications from $51.50 to $52.50 and gave the stock a "sector outperform" rating in a report on Monday. Freedom Capital upgraded shares of Verizon Communications to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, June 12th. TD Cowen increased their target price on Verizon Communications from $54.00 to $56.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Verizon Communications from $49.00 to $52.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, April 30th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $50.84.

About Verizon Communications

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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