Verizon Communications Inc. $VZ Shares Purchased by Beverly Hills Private Wealth LLC

Beverly Hills Private Wealth LLC grew its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) by 12.3% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 165,980 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock after purchasing an additional 18,160 shares during the period. Verizon Communications comprises 1.3% of Beverly Hills Private Wealth LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 14th largest holding. Beverly Hills Private Wealth LLC’s holdings in Verizon Communications were worth $7,295,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in Verizon Communications by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 373,904,749 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $16,433,114,000 after purchasing an additional 1,117,733 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 2.1% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 208,213,255 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $9,009,388,000 after purchasing an additional 4,205,449 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Verizon Communications by 1.1% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 100,326,792 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $4,322,700,000 after buying an additional 1,101,504 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Verizon Communications in the second quarter valued at about $2,504,150,000. Finally, California Public Employees Retirement System grew its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 21.5% in the second quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 21,159,040 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $915,552,000 after buying an additional 3,743,892 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 62.06% of the company’s stock.

Insider Transactions at Verizon Communications

In related news, EVP Joseph J. Russo sold 9,579 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.88, for a total transaction of $429,905.52. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 44,045 shares in the company, valued at $1,976,739.60. This trade represents a 17.86% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Trending Headlines about Verizon Communications

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

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts are generally constructive: brokerages’ consensus is an average “Moderate Buy,” supporting demand from institutional investors. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) Receives Average Rating of “Moderate Buy” from Brokerages
• Positive Sentiment: Dividend narrative remains a tailwind for income investors; Verizon is featured among dividend stalwarts attracting retirees seeking yield and stability. That investor demand can buoy the stock. Retirees Are Winning Big in 2026: 3 Popular Dividend Stocks Are Soaring
• Positive Sentiment: Comparisons after the recent dividend hike highlight Verizon as a yield play vs. peers, reinforcing long-term income investor interest. Verizon vs Johnson & Johnson: Which Dividend Hike Winner Is the Better Buy?
• Positive Sentiment: Operational momentum in the Consumer segment (postpaid phone adds and subscriber trends) is cited as a near-term growth driver, supporting revenue stability. Verizon Rides on Strength in Consumer Segment: Will it Sustain?
• Neutral Sentiment: Valuation debate: coverage asks whether the recent share rebound now correctly prices Verizon’s long‑term value — useful for investors considering entry points but not a catalyst by itself. Is Verizon (VZ) Pricing Reflect Long Term Value After Recent Share Price Rebound
• Neutral Sentiment: Management will present at the Barclays Communications & Content Symposium on Feb. 24 — an upcoming event where guidance clarity or strategic color could move the stock. Verizon to speak at Barclays Communications and Content Symposium on February 24
• Negative Sentiment: Leadership change in the Consumer unit — the CEO exit and an interim appointment — raises execution risk during a transformation, which can pressure investor confidence. Did Verizon’s Consumer CEO Exit and Interim Shift Just Reframe Its Transformation Story (VZ)?
• Negative Sentiment: Concerns about Verizon’s $55 billion capital-return plan: analysts flag trade-offs between buybacks and dividend flexibility, adding uncertainty around how buybacks will be executed. That risk can cap upside. Uncertainty Clouds Verizon’s $55 Billion Capital Return Plan as Buybacks and Dividends Face Flexibility and Risk Trade-Offs
• Negative Sentiment: Relative performance risk: recent reports note Verizon underperformed peers on a given trading day, a reminder that sector rotations can weigh on the stock. Verizon Communications Inc. stock underperforms Wednesday when compared to competitors

Verizon Communications Price Performance

VZ opened at $48.62 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $205.07 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.01, a PEG ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 0.33. The company has a 50-day moving average of $42.26 and a 200-day moving average of $42.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a current ratio of 0.91. Verizon Communications Inc. has a 1-year low of $38.39 and a 1-year high of $50.24.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) last posted its quarterly earnings results 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. Verizon Communications had a return on equity of 19.03% and a net margin of 12.43%.The business had revenue of $36.38 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $36.20 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.10 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.900-4.950 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 4.69 EPS 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. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 10th will be issued a $0.7075 dividend. This is a positive change from Verizon Communications’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.69. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 10th. This represents a $2.83 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.8%. Verizon Communications’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 68.15%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts recently commented on VZ shares. KeyCorp reissued a “sector weight” rating on shares of Verizon Communications in a research report on Monday, January 26th. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on shares of Verizon Communications from $47.00 to $49.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their target price on shares of Verizon Communications from $44.00 to $48.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. Williams Trading set a $54.00 price target on shares of Verizon Communications in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of Verizon Communications from $41.00 to $44.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have given a Buy rating and eleven have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $49.02.

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.