Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) Stock Price Down 1.2% - Should You Sell?

Key Points

• Verizon Communications' stock has decreased by 1.2%, trading at approximately $43.75, with a notable 75% decline in trading volume compared to its average session volume.
• Brokerages have issued mixed ratings on Verizon's stock, with a consensus target price of $47.35 and a current rating of Moderate Buy.
• The company has recently announced a quarterly dividend of $0.6775 per share, resulting in an annualized yield of 6.2%, while institutional investors hold over 62% of the company's stock.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ - Get Free Report) shares traded down 1.2% on Thursday . The company traded as low as $43.69 and last traded at $43.75. 5,395,633 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 75% from the average session volume of 21,192,053 shares. The stock had previously closed at $44.27.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have issued reports on VZ. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Verizon Communications from $42.00 to $43.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 10th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Verizon Communications from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, July 26th. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their target price on Verizon Communications from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 22nd. Bank of America raised their price objective on Verizon Communications from $45.00 to $49.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 22nd. Finally, Arete Research upgraded Verizon Communications to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 8th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have issued a Buy rating and eleven have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $47.35.

Verizon Communications Trading Down 0.9%

The firm has a market cap of $184.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.22, a P/E/G ratio of 3.39 and a beta of 0.36. The firm's 50-day moving average is $42.93 and its 200-day moving average is $43.19. The company has a current ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, July 21st. The cell phone carrier reported $1.22 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.19 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $34.50 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $33.47 billion. Verizon Communications had a net margin of 13.28% and a return on equity of 19.61%. The business's revenue was up 5.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.15 earnings per share. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2025 guidance at 4.636-4.728 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 4.69 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Verizon Communications Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 1st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, July 10th were paid a dividend of $0.6775 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, July 10th. This represents a $2.71 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.2%. Verizon Communications's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 63.17%.

Institutional Trading of Verizon Communications

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Bernard Wealth Management Corp. increased its stake in Verizon Communications by 81.0% in the 1st quarter. Bernard Wealth Management Corp. now owns 543 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 243 shares during the last quarter. Garde Capital Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Verizon Communications in the 1st quarter worth approximately $26,000. Cherry Tree Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 71.8% in the first quarter. Cherry Tree Wealth Management LLC now owns 584 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 244 shares in the last quarter. Bulwark Capital Corp purchased a new stake in shares of Verizon Communications during the second quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Finally, Advantage Trust Co lifted its holdings in Verizon Communications by 549.5% during the second quarter. Advantage Trust Co now owns 591 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 500 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 62.06% of the company's stock.

Verizon Communications Company Profile

Verizon Communications Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of communications, technology, information, and entertainment products and services to consumers, businesses, and governmental entities worldwide. It operates in two segments, Verizon Consumer Group (Consumer) and Verizon Business Group (Business).

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