Advanced Portfolio Management LLC Acquires Shares of 12,649 Verizon Communications Inc. $VZ

Advanced Portfolio Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor purchased 12,649 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock, valued at approximately $515,000. Verizon Communications accounts for about 1.6% of Advanced Portfolio Management LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 22nd biggest position.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Align Financial LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Verizon Communications in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $314,000. American Trust increased its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 3.7% in the fourth quarter. American Trust now owns 8,697 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $354,000 after purchasing an additional 314 shares during the period. Redwood Park Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 222.9% in the fourth quarter. Redwood Park Advisors LLC now owns 2,790 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $114,000 after purchasing an additional 1,926 shares during the period. Bank OZK increased its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 3.2% in the fourth quarter. Bank OZK now owns 31,583 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $1,286,000 after purchasing an additional 989 shares during the period. Finally, Polar Asset Management Partners Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Verizon Communications in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $10,002,000. Institutional investors own 62.06% of the company’s stock.

Key Verizon Communications News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Verizon unveiled simpler wireless plans, eliminated activation and upgrade fees, and launched a new loyalty program that could improve customer retention and reduce churn. Reuters article on Verizon simpler plans and fees
• Positive Sentiment: Verizon completed the expiration and final results process for its note exchange and tender offers, a debt-management step that may be viewed as supportive of balance-sheet flexibility. Verizon private exchange offers result article
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts and market commentary said Verizon may be undervalued based on its share price versus earnings and cash-generating telecom operations, but this was more valuation commentary than a fresh catalyst. Yahoo Finance undervalued article
• Negative Sentiment: Despite the new customer initiatives, Verizon’s stock has lagged the broader market in recent trading, with investors possibly worried that heavier competition and fee cuts could pressure profitability. Yahoo Finance falls more steeply article

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Scotiabank upgraded shares of Verizon Communications from a “sector perform” rating to a “sector outperform” rating and raised their price target for the company from $50.25 to $54.50 in a research note on Monday, March 9th. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Verizon Communications from $43.00 to $47.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 31st. Oppenheimer raised their price target 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. Freedom Capital upgraded shares of Verizon Communications to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, June 12th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Verizon Communications from $44.00 to $46.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 28th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have issued a Buy rating and twelve have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $50.59.

Verizon Communications Trading Down 1.9%

Verizon Communications stock opened at $45.86 on Thursday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $47.03 and a 200 day moving average price of $45.63. Verizon Communications Inc. has a 52 week low of $38.39 and a 52 week high of $51.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.38, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 0.64. The firm has a market capitalization of $191.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.19, a P/E/G ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.24.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 27th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.28 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.21 by $0.07. Verizon Communications had a net margin of 12.46% and a return on equity of 19.25%. The firm had revenue of $34.44 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $34.82 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.19 EPS. The company’s revenue was up 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.950-4.990 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 4.97 EPS for the current year.

Verizon Communications Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 3rd. Investors of record on Friday, July 10th will be paid a $0.7075 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 10th. This represents a $2.83 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.2%. Verizon Communications’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 69.02%.

Verizon Communications 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.