Bleakley Financial Group LLC Has $9.69 Million Stock Position in Verizon Communications Inc. $VZ

Bleakley Financial Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) by 12.8% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 193,077 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock after acquiring an additional 21,944 shares during the period. Bleakley Financial Group LLC’s holdings in Verizon Communications were worth $9,692,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in VZ. Lam Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of Verizon Communications during the first quarter valued at about $28,000. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC boosted its holdings in Verizon Communications by 490.0% during the fourth quarter. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC now owns 649 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 539 shares during the last quarter. Holos Integrated Wealth LLC bought a new stake in Verizon Communications in the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. EQ Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Verizon Communications in the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. Finally, Sarver Vrooman Wealth Advisors increased its stake in Verizon Communications by 173.0% in the 4th quarter. Sarver Vrooman Wealth Advisors now owns 707 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 448 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.06% of the company’s stock.

Verizon Communications News Roundup

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

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have commented on VZ shares. Wells Fargo & Company began coverage on shares of Verizon Communications in a research report on Wednesday, July 8th. They set an “equal weight” rating and a $43.00 target price on the stock. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Verizon Communications in a report on Friday, May 29th. Dbs Bank downgraded Verizon Communications from a “moderate buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 7th. Freedom Capital upgraded Verizon Communications to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, June 12th. Finally, Barclays cut their price objective on Verizon Communications from $47.00 to $45.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 8th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $50.28.

Verizon Communications Stock Up 1.2%

VZ opened at $42.64 on Tuesday. Verizon Communications Inc. has a twelve month low of $38.39 and a twelve month high of $51.68. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $46.00 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $46.03. The stock has a market cap of $178.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.40, a PEG ratio of 1.03 and a beta of 0.26. 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 posted its quarterly earnings results 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 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 firm posted $1.19 EPS. Verizon Communications’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. As a group, equities analysts expect that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 4.98 earnings per share 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 paid a $0.7075 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 10th. This represents a $2.83 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.6%. Verizon Communications’s payout ratio is presently 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.