Cardano Risk Management B.V. Makes New Investment in Verizon Communications Inc. $VZ

Cardano Risk Management B.V. acquired a new stake in shares of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 2,292,657 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock, valued at approximately $115,091,000. Verizon Communications accounts for about 1.1% of Cardano Risk Management B.V.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 25th biggest holding. Cardano Risk Management B.V. owned approximately 0.05% of Verizon Communications at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Verizon Communications during the 4th quarter valued at $2,357,158,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its position in Verizon Communications by 31.2% during the 4th quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 31,584,162 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $1,286,423,000 after buying an additional 7,509,055 shares during the period. State Street Corp grew its holdings in Verizon Communications by 3.5% in the 4th quarter. State Street Corp now owns 222,951,399 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $9,080,810,000 after acquiring an additional 7,461,335 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Verizon Communications by 5.3% in the fourth quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 116,570,816 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $4,747,930,000 after acquiring an additional 5,851,715 shares during the period. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Verizon Communications by 1.5% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 379,402,347 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $15,453,058,000 after acquiring an additional 5,497,598 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 62.06% of the company’s stock.

Verizon Communications Trading Down 2.2%

NYSE:VZ opened at $45.70 on Thursday. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $46.89 and a 200-day moving average price of $45.80. The stock has a market cap of $190.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.15, a P/E/G ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.24. The company has a current ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.38. Verizon Communications Inc. has a 12 month low of $38.39 and a 12 month high of $51.68.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, April 27th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.21 by $0.07. Verizon Communications had a net margin of 12.46% and a return on equity of 19.25%. The company had revenue of $34.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $34.82 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.19 earnings per share. Verizon Communications’s quarterly 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. Equities analysts predict that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 4.97 EPS for the current year.

Verizon Communications Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 3rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 10th will be issued a dividend of $0.7075 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 10th. This represents a $2.83 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.2%. Verizon Communications’s dividend payout ratio is 69.02%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

VZ has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of Verizon Communications from $44.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 28th. Oppenheimer boosted their price target on Verizon Communications from $50.00 to $56.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 11th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Verizon Communications from $49.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 28th. Freedom Capital upgraded Verizon Communications to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, June 12th. Finally, Dbs Bank lowered Verizon Communications from a “moderate buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating and twelve have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $50.59.

Key Headlines Impacting Verizon Communications

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

• Negative Sentiment: Alphabet will join the Dow Jones Industrial Average, replacing Verizon, which may weigh on sentiment as Verizon loses a prestigious index position. Alphabet added to Dow Jones Industrial Average, replacing Verizon
• Negative Sentiment: Verizon is leaving the Dow partly because its low share price gave it an “immaterial impact” on the index, highlighting its limited influence in the benchmark. Could Nike Get the Boot from the Dow? Why Berkshire Hathaway Might Take Its Place.
• Neutral Sentiment: Verizon launched new wireless plans focused on affordability and simplicity to stem subscriber losses, which could help stabilize the business but also underscores competitive pressure. Verizon (VZ) Launches Simplicity And Verizon One Plans To Win Back Subscribers
• Neutral Sentiment: Despite the stock’s weakness, some investors continue to view Verizon as a defensive dividend name with an attractive yield. Why Johnson & Johnson, Altria, Verizon, and Other Safe Dividend Stocks Climbed Today

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.