Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) Receives Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” from Analysts

Shares of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) have received a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty-two analysts that are covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Twelve research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $50.5938.

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on VZ shares. Erste Group Bank restated a “hold” rating on shares of Verizon Communications in a report on Tuesday, May 5th. Citigroup upped their target price on Verizon Communications from $50.00 to $55.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, March 20th. Oppenheimer raised their price target on Verizon Communications from $50.00 to $56.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 11th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Verizon Communications from $44.00 to $46.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 28th. Finally, Scotiabank raised shares of Verizon Communications from a “sector perform” rating to a “sector outperform” rating and upped their price objective for the company from $50.25 to $54.50 in a research note on Monday, March 9th.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Verizon Communications

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of VZ. Ballast Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Verizon Communications in the first quarter valued at approximately $65,000. MTM Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Verizon Communications in the first quarter valued at $235,000. Sapient Capital LLC lifted its holdings in Verizon Communications by 29.2% in the 1st quarter. Sapient Capital LLC now owns 18,584 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $933,000 after buying an additional 4,198 shares in the last quarter. Southern Financial Group LLC lifted its holdings in Verizon Communications by 2.1% in the 1st quarter. Southern Financial Group LLC now owns 19,321 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $970,000 after buying an additional 405 shares in the last quarter. Finally, S&A Financial Services Inc. purchased a new position in Verizon Communications in the 1st quarter valued at about $379,000. 62.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Verizon Communications Stock Up 3.1%

VZ opened at $46.78 on Wednesday. Verizon Communications has a 52 week low of $38.39 and a 52 week high of $51.68. The firm has a market cap of $195.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.41, a PEG ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 0.24. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $46.89 and its 200 day simple moving average is $45.77. The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.38.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) last released its earnings results on Monday, April 27th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.28 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.21 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $34.44 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $34.82 billion. Verizon Communications had a net margin of 12.46% and a return on equity of 19.25%. Verizon Communications’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.19 EPS. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.950-4.990 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Verizon Communications will post 4.97 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Verizon Communications Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 3rd. Investors of record on Friday, July 10th will be given a dividend of $0.7075 per share. This represents a $2.83 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 10th. Verizon Communications’s dividend payout ratio is 69.02%.

Key Verizon Communications News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Verizon launched two new wireless offerings, Simplicity and Verizon One, to win back subscribers with simpler pricing and bundled mobile/home internet plans. That could help stabilize churn and support future revenue growth. Verizon (VZ) Launches Simplicity And Verizon One Plans To Win Back Subscribers
• Neutral Sentiment: Verizon has been a trending stock on Zacks, which suggests elevated investor interest, but the item itself does not point to a specific fundamental catalyst. Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) Is a Trending Stock: Facts to Know Before Betting on It
• Negative Sentiment: Alphabet will replace Verizon in the Dow Jones Industrial Average on June 29. Being removed from the DJIA can weigh on sentiment because it reduces index visibility and is often interpreted as a relative loss of blue-chip status. Google-Parent Alphabet to Replace Verizon in Dow Jones Industrial Average

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.