Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) Stock Price Up 1.4% - Here's Why

Key Points

• Verizon shares rose about 1.4% to roughly $51.36 on Friday amid lighter volume, and several analysts raised targets (Oppenheimer $56) leaving a MarketBeat consensus of a Moderate Buy with an average target near $50.03.
• The company raised its quarterly dividend to $0.7075 ($2.83 annual), implying a ~5.5% yield and reinforcing its profile as a high-yield, dividend-safe stock with 20 consecutive years of payout increases.
• Verizon beat estimates in the quarter with $1.09 EPS (vs. $1.06 expected) and $36.38B revenue, and issued FY2026 guidance of $4.90–$4.95 EPS, though analysts note wireless service revenue may remain flat despite subscriber growth.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ - Get Free Report) shares were up 1.4% on Friday . The stock traded as high as $51.67 and last traded at $51.3560. Approximately 21,744,068 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 34% from the average daily volume of 33,044,656 shares. The stock had previously closed at $50.63.

More Verizon Communications News

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

• Positive Sentiment: MarketBeat profiles VZ as a dividend-safe haven: highlights strong free cash flow, a ~5% yield, 20 consecutive years of payout increases, big Q4 postpaid and broadband adds and limited Middle East exposure — a reason income-focused investors are buying. 2 Dividend Stocks Insulated From Middle East Conflict
• Positive Sentiment: Oppenheimer set a new $56 price target on VZ, signaling analyst confidence in Verizon’s mix of cash flow and dividend durability (supportive for price upside). Verizon Communications NYSE: VZ Given New $56.00 Price Target at Oppenheimer
• Positive Sentiment: Kodiak AI’s update notes expanded partnerships with Verizon — a signal of growing commercial/technology tie-ins (IoT/connected-vehicle opportunities) that could provide incremental revenue or strategic positioning over time. Kodiak AI’s Driverless Truck Milestone Versus Losses And Early Revenue Base
• Neutral Sentiment: Zacks: Verizon is adding postpaid and fixed wireless subscribers (momentum) but expects wireless service revenues to remain flat — a mixed near-term picture that limits revenue-driven upside until ARPU or service monetization improves. Verizon Rides on Solid Subscriber Growth: Will it Boost Revenue?
• Neutral Sentiment: Several finance outlets (Yahoo/InsiderMonkey) reiterate Verizon’s profile as a starter/safe stock due to U.S.-centric revenue and steady dividends — supportive for income investors but not a catalyst for aggressive rerating on its own. Is Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) One of the Best Safe Stocks to Buy for a Starter Stock Portfolio?
• Neutral Sentiment: Other coverage (e.g., dividend roundup and retail-focused pieces) keeps VZ in the high-yield conversation — helpful for demand from income funds but not an immediate growth trigger. 3 High-Yield Dividends Stocks To Buy Now And Forget About
• Neutral Sentiment: Leadership/industry moves — e.g., former Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg joining Consello — are largely peripheral but reflect the firm’s ongoing prominence in telecom leadership conversations. Consello Welcomes Former Verizon, Ericsson CEO Hans Vestberg as Senior Operating Advisor

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on VZ shares. Citigroup upped their price target on Verizon Communications from $48.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Raymond James Financial restated an "outperform" rating and set a $56.00 target price on shares of Verizon Communications in a research note on Thursday. Williams Trading set a $54.00 target price on Verizon Communications in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Barclays started coverage on Verizon Communications in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. They issued an "equal weight" rating and a $43.00 price target for the company. Finally, Evercore boosted their price target on Verizon Communications from $48.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have assigned a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $50.03.

Verizon Communications Stock Up 1.4%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.87. The business's fifty day moving average price is $45.19 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $42.78. The stock has a market capitalization of $216.60 billion, a PE ratio of 12.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.12 and a beta of 0.31.

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

Verizon Communications Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced 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. This represents a $2.83 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.5%. This is a positive change from Verizon Communications's previous quarterly dividend of $0.69. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 10th. Verizon Communications's dividend payout ratio is presently 68.15%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Verizon Communications news, SVP Mary-Lee Stillwell sold 8,569 shares of Verizon Communications stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $50.00, for a total transaction of $428,450.00. Following the completion of 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 sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Hans Erik Vestberg sold 200,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction 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 in the company, valued at $7,196,873.09. This trade represents a 57.96% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 218,148 shares of company stock worth $10,780,356. 0.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its holdings in Verizon Communications by 61.2% in the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 43,986 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock valued at $1,759,000 after acquiring an additional 16,704 shares during the period. United Bank grew its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 11.5% during the 2nd quarter. United Bank now owns 7,843 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock worth $339,000 after purchasing an additional 806 shares during the period. Bailard Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 1.6% during the 2nd quarter. Bailard Inc. now owns 77,691 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock valued at $3,362,000 after purchasing an additional 1,205 shares in the last quarter. Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jersey lifted its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 4.6% in the 2nd quarter. Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jersey now owns 641,593 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock valued at $27,762,000 after purchasing an additional 28,199 shares during the period. Finally, Hudock Inc. boosted its holdings in Verizon Communications by 0.6% during the second quarter. Hudock Inc. now owns 39,842 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock worth $1,724,000 after buying an additional 238 shares in the last quarter. 62.06% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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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