Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) Shares Up 1.3% on Analyst Upgrade

Key Points

• Citigroup upgraded Verizon, raising its price target from $50 to $55 and keeping a buy rating, helping lift VZ about 1.3% intraday amid a consensus "Moderate Buy" and a $50.32 average target.
• Verizon increased its quarterly dividend to $0.7075 (annualized $2.83), implying a 5.6% yield, payable May 1 with an ex-dividend date of April 10.
• Verizon beat Q4 estimates with $1.09 EPS versus $1.06 expected and $36.38B in revenue, and issued FY2026 guidance of EPS $4.90–$4.95.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ - Get Free Report) was up 1.3% during trading on Monday after Citigroup raised their price target on the stock from $50.00 to $55.00. Citigroup currently has a buy rating on the stock. Verizon Communications traded as high as $50.75 and last traded at $50.6530. Approximately 26,275,336 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 21% from the average daily volume of 33,098,398 shares. The stock had previously closed at $49.98.

Other analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Barclays initiated coverage on shares of Verizon Communications in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. They issued an "equal weight" rating and a $43.00 target price for the company. William Blair upgraded shares of Verizon Communications to an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on shares of Verizon Communications from $47.00 to $49.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Oppenheimer lifted their price objective on shares of Verizon Communications from $50.00 to $56.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 11th. Finally, Evercore upped their price objective on shares of Verizon Communications from $48.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $50.32.

Insider Activity at Verizon Communications

In other Verizon Communications news, EVP Joseph J. Russo sold 9,579 shares of Verizon Communications stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.88, for a total value of $429,905.52. Following the transaction, 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 position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, 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 transaction, the senior vice president owned 43,782 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,189,100. This trade represents a 16.37% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold a total of 218,148 shares of company stock worth $10,780,356 in the last 90 days. 0.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Verizon Communications News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: MarketBeat highlights Verizon as a momentum + income leader — cites Q4 subscriber gains, 5.5% yield, $25B buyback and strong institutional inflows as reasons investors are rotating into VZ. 5 High-Yield Stocks to Shield Your Portfolio From the Storm
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst price‑target increase: a published note raised VZ’s target to $55.00 — a direct catalyst that can lift sentiment and buy ratings. Verizon Communications NYSE: VZ Price Target Raised to $55.00
• Positive Sentiment: Coverage/upgrades: another note reported Verizon trading higher after an analyst upgrade — short‑term buying and coverage changes are supporting the rally. Verizon Communications NYSE: VZ Trading 1.2% Higher After Analyst Upgrade
• Positive Sentiment: Macro/high‑yield narratives (247WallSt): in a market where rate‑cut hopes are fading, analysts push high‑yield “safety” plays — a backdrop that supports demand for VZ’s 5%+ dividend. Interest Rate Cut Hopes Are Over: Buy These Safe 5% High Yield Kings Now
• Neutral Sentiment: Customer marketing: Verizon announced multiple promotions giving customers chances to win FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets — positive for brand/engagement but limited near‑term revenue impact. All the ways Verizon customers can win free tickets to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ this spring
• Neutral Sentiment: General high‑yield lists (The Motley Fool, MarketBeat themes): several income‑focused lists include or reference Verizon as a dividend option — supports investor interest but is a thematic rather than company‑specific earnings catalyst. 3 High-Yield Stocks That Could Help Set You Up for Life
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks flags business‑segment pressure: business revenues have dipped amid rising costs and competition; while new 5G and enterprise solutions could help, execution risk leaves near‑term margins and growth under scrutiny. Can Verizon's Business Segment Portfolio Generate Future Profit?
• Negative Sentiment: Competitive pressure: coverage of Lumen’s strengthening NaaS/PCF and fiber deals signals rising enterprise competition — could pressure Verizon’s enterprise growth and pricing over time. Is Momentum in NaaS and PCF Strengthening Lumen's Growth Prospects?

Institutional Trading of Verizon Communications

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of VZ. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC grew its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 490.0% in the 4th 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 during the period. TruNorth Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Verizon Communications by 95.3% during the 3rd quarter. TruNorth Capital Management LLC now owns 625 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 305 shares during the period. Holos Integrated Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Verizon Communications in the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Verizon Communications in the 3rd quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, EQ Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Verizon Communications in the fourth quarter valued at $29,000. 62.06% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Verizon Communications Stock Up 1.3%

The company has a quick ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $46.39 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $43.03. The stock has a market capitalization of $213.64 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.51, a PEG ratio of 2.09 and a beta of 0.31.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 30th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.06 by $0.03. Verizon Communications had a return on equity of 19.03% and a net margin of 12.43%.The company had revenue of $36.38 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $36.20 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.10 earnings per share. The business's revenue was up 2.0% on a year-over-year basis. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.900-4.950 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 4.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Verizon Communications Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 1st. Investors of record on Friday, April 10th will be issued a dividend of $0.7075 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 10th. This represents a $2.83 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.6%. This is an increase from Verizon Communications's previous quarterly dividend of $0.69. Verizon Communications's payout ratio is 69.88%.

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.

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.