Verizon Communications Sees Unusually Large Options Volume (NYSE:VZ)

Key Points

• Unusual options activity: Traders purchased 325,956 call options on Verizon on Thursday, about a 300% increase versus the typical daily call volume of 81,424.
• Dividend raised: Verizon increased its quarterly dividend to $0.7075 (annualized $2.83) for a yield near 5.9%, with an ex-dividend date of April 10 and payment on May 1.
• Earnings and guidance: Verizon reported $1.09 EPS (vs. $1.06 expected) and $36.38B revenue for the quarter, and issued FY2026 EPS guidance of $4.90–$4.95 compared with analysts' ~4.69 estimate.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ - Get Free Report) saw some unusual options trading activity on Thursday. Stock traders purchased 325,956 call options on the company. This represents an increase of 300% compared to the typical daily volume of 81,424 call options.

Verizon Communications Stock Down 0.7%

VZ traded down $0.32 during trading on Thursday, reaching $47.72. The company had a trading volume of 28,902,757 shares, compared to its average volume of 31,667,605. The company has a market cap of $201.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.78, a PEG ratio of 2.07 and a beta of 0.29. Verizon Communications has a 12 month low of $38.39 and a 12 month high of $51.68. 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 $49.10 and its 200 day moving average price is $43.57.

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

Verizon Communications Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 10th will be issued a $0.7075 dividend. This represents a $2.83 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.9%. This is a positive change from Verizon Communications's previous quarterly dividend of $0.69. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 10th. Verizon Communications's dividend payout ratio is presently 68.15%.

More Verizon Communications News

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

• Positive Sentiment: MarketBeat highlights Verizon as a defensive, dividend‑rich name that could lead a recovery because of its ~5.7–5.9% yield, Frontier fiber expansion, $9B cost cuts and a $25B buyback plan — all supportive of cash returns to shareholders. The War Won't Last Forever: 3 Stocks That Could Lead the Recovery
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks reports Verizon has gained ~20.6% over three months, driven by fiber expansion, the Frontier deal and bundling efforts — momentum that explains recent strength and underpins higher analyst attention. Verizon Shares Rise 20.6% in Three Months: How to Play the Stock
• Positive Sentiment: High‑profile media voice: Jim Cramer publicly called Verizon “got some game here,” citing the new CEO and momentum — a sentiment driver for retail flows. Jim Cramer Says “Verizon’s Actually Got Some Game Here”
• Positive Sentiment: Mainstream outlets (Barron’s / 247) highlight Verizon’s ~5%+ dividend yield and ongoing increases, reinforcing appeal to income investors amid market volatility. These Companies Pay 5% Dividend Yields and Are Raising Them Too
• Neutral Sentiment: Regulatory/advertising challenge: BBB National Programs found Verizon’s pricing disclosures adequate in a T‑Mobile challenge — removes a short‑term legal/PR overhang. NAD Finds Verizon Wireless Pricing Disclosures Adequate
• Neutral Sentiment: Valuation/discussion pieces note a recent pullback as a potential buying opportunity after strong YTD gains; these analyses keep both buyers and sellers engaged. Is Verizon Communications (VZ) Offering An Opportunity After Recent Share Price Pullback?
• Negative Sentiment: DBS Bank downgraded Verizon from Buy to Hold and set a $52 target, citing limited near‑term upside after the run — the downgrade is the clearest immediate catalyst pushing shares lower. DBS Bank Downgrades Verizon (VZ) to Hold
• Negative Sentiment: Macro/geopolitical jitters (articles urging a shift to dividend safety) are driving demand for defensive yield names but also causing market rotation and occasional profit‑taking in recent winners like VZ. Geopolitical Risks are Seriously High. Why I'd Shift to Dividends for Safety and Stability

Insider Buying and Selling at Verizon Communications

In other news, EVP Joseph J. Russo sold 9,579 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $44.88, for a total value of $429,905.52. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 44,045 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,976,739.60. This trade represents a 17.86% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Hans Erik Vestberg sold 200,000 shares of Verizon Communications stock in a transaction that occurred 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 approximately $7,196,873.09. This represents a 57.96% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last three months, insiders have sold 218,148 shares of company stock worth $10,780,356. Company insiders own 0.10% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Verizon Communications

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. TruNorth Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Verizon Communications by 95.3% in the third quarter. TruNorth Capital Management LLC now owns 625 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 305 shares in the last quarter. Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC bought a new stake in Verizon Communications during the 3rd quarter worth about $29,000. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC boosted its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 490.0% during the 4th quarter. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC now owns 649 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 539 shares during the last quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates boosted its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 739.5% during the 3rd quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates now owns 680 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 599 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Holos Integrated Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of Verizon Communications in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.06% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have commented on the stock. Raymond James Financial reiterated an "outperform" rating and set a $56.00 target price on shares of Verizon Communications in a research report on Thursday, March 12th. Citigroup lifted their price objective on Verizon Communications from $50.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, March 20th. William Blair upgraded Verizon Communications to an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Oppenheimer increased their target price on Verizon Communications from $50.00 to $56.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 11th. Finally, Dbs Bank cut Verizon Communications from a "moderate buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have assigned a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $50.56.

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.

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