Calamos Advisors LLC Acquires 15,345 Shares of Verizon Communications Inc. $VZ

Calamos Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) by 2.1% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 754,034 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock after buying an additional 15,345 shares during the period. Calamos Advisors LLC’s holdings in Verizon Communications were worth $37,853,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Lam Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Verizon Communications in the 1st quarter worth about $28,000. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC boosted its holdings in Verizon Communications by 490.0% in 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 period. Holos Integrated Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of Verizon Communications in the fourth quarter valued at $28,000. EQ Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Verizon Communications during the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Finally, Sarver Vrooman Wealth Advisors grew its stake in Verizon Communications by 173.0% during the fourth quarter. Sarver Vrooman Wealth Advisors now owns 707 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 448 shares in the last quarter. 62.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms recently weighed in on VZ. Citigroup upped their price objective on shares of Verizon Communications from $50.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, March 20th. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on Verizon Communications from $49.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 28th. Freedom Capital upgraded shares of Verizon Communications to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, June 12th. Barclays dropped their price objective on Verizon Communications from $47.00 to $45.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 8th. Finally, Erste Group Bank reaffirmed a “hold” rating on shares of Verizon Communications in a research report on Tuesday, May 5th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Verizon Communications has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $50.28.

Verizon Communications Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE VZ opened at $42.64 on Tuesday. Verizon Communications Inc. has a 52-week low of $38.39 and a 52-week high of $51.68. The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.38. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $46.00 and its 200-day moving average price is $46.03. The company has a market cap of $178.05 billion, a PE ratio of 10.40, a PEG ratio of 1.03 and a beta of 0.26.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, April 27th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.21 by $0.07. Verizon Communications had a return on equity of 19.25% and a net margin of 12.46%.The business had revenue of $34.44 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $34.82 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.19 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.950-4.990 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 4.98 EPS for the current year.

Verizon Communications Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 3rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 10th will be paid a $0.7075 dividend. This represents a $2.83 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.6%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 10th. Verizon Communications’s dividend payout ratio is presently 69.02%.

Key Stories Impacting Verizon Communications

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

• Positive Sentiment: Verizon launched the new Gizmo Watch 4, a kid-friendly smartwatch with safety features like removal detection and real-time location tracking, which could help expand the company’s Verizon Family ecosystem and add wireless subscribers. Meet the Gizmo Watch 4: Verizon’s new kid-friendly smartwatch
• Positive Sentiment: Verizon announced it will power new BMW Group vehicles in the U.S. with 5G Standalone, broadening its automotive connectivity business and potentially creating a new growth avenue in connected-car services. Can Verizon’s KDDI Tie-Up for Latest BMW Vehicles Boost Its Profits?
• Positive Sentiment: Coverage highlighting Verizon as a defensive, high-yield dividend stock and “cash machine” may be supporting demand from income-focused investors seeking stability ahead of market volatility. The Cash Machine The Market Put On Sale: VZ
• Neutral Sentiment: Investors are also watching Verizon’s earnings report next week, which could become the main near-term catalyst for the stock depending on subscriber growth, pricing trends, and guidance. Should You Buy Verizon Communications Stock Before July 24?
• Neutral Sentiment: Verizon also spotlighted its Small Business Super Pitch finalists, a brand and community-relations initiative that is positive for image but likely limited in immediate financial impact. Four small businesses to compete in finals of Verizon’s Small Business Super Pitch

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.