Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) Stock Has Consensus Target Price of $50.97 According to Analysts

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) has earned a consensus recommendation of “Hold” from the twenty brokerages that are covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Twelve investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12-month target price among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $50.90.

Several brokerages recently weighed in on VZ. BNP Paribas Exane cut their price objective on shares of Verizon Communications from $46.00 to $44.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, July 14th. Moffett Nathanson decreased their price objective on shares of Verizon Communications from $56.00 to $49.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Monday, July 20th. TD Cowen raised their target price on shares of Verizon Communications from $54.00 to $56.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, July 27th. Scotiabank dropped their target price on shares of Verizon Communications from $52.50 to $51.50 and set a “sector outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Verizon Communications in a research report on Wednesday, August 26th.

Verizon Communications Trading Down 0.0%

Shares of NYSE VZ opened at $45.91 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.36. Verizon Communications has a one year low of $38.39 and a one year high of $51.68. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $48.39 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $47.22. The firm has a market capitalization of $190.75 billion, a PE ratio of 11.96, a PEG ratio of 1.56 and a beta of 0.26.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) last issued its earnings results on Friday, July 24th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.30 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.27 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $34.25 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $35.16 billion. Verizon Communications had a return on equity of 19.48% and a net margin of 11.64%.The firm’s quarterly revenue was down .7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.22 EPS. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.990-5.040 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Verizon Communications will post 5.03 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Verizon Communications Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 9th will be given a $0.7075 dividend. This represents a $2.83 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 9th. Verizon Communications’s dividend payout ratio is currently 73.70%.

Key Headlines Impacting Verizon Communications

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

• Positive Sentiment: Multi-year Versant renewal: Verizon reached a long-term distribution agreement with Versant, keeping channels including USA Network, CNBC, Golf Channel, E!, SYFY and Oxygen True Crime available to Fios customers. The agreement reduces near-term programming disruption risk and supports customer retention. Versant Reaches Multi-Year Distribution Renewal Agreement With Verizon
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst still sees upside: Scotiabank maintained its “sector outperform” rating, although it reduced its price target to $51.50 from $52.50. The revised target remains meaningfully above the recent trading level, suggesting the bank continues to view Verizon as undervalued. Scotiabank Verizon Price Target Update
• Positive Sentiment: Income appeal remains intact: Verizon’s quarterly dividend is $0.7075 per share, or $2.83 annualized, representing a yield of roughly 6%. Its low valuation and history of earnings surprises may provide support for income-oriented investors, although the payout ratio is elevated.
• Neutral Sentiment: Dead-zone partnership: Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile formed a joint venture aimed at improving wireless coverage in underserved areas. The initiative could strengthen service quality and reduce customer frustration, but it may also require additional investment and does not immediately change earnings expectations. AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Form Joint Venture
• Negative Sentiment: Fios lost Starz programming: Starz confirmed that Verizon Fios customers have lost access to its channels, on-demand content and app amid failed negotiations. The dispute could increase churn or lead to higher content costs if Verizon restores the service. Verizon Fios Customers Lose Access to Starz
• Negative Sentiment: Legacy-network regulatory risk: The FCC’s pause on Verizon’s planned copper-service shutdown in parts of New Jersey could delay modernization and prolong operating costs.

Insider Activity

In other news, CEO Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $46.40, for a total value of $51,040.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 103,266 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,791,542.40. This trade represents a 1.05% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders have sold a total of 6,600 shares of company stock valued at $322,597 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.03% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Verizon Communications

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. USS Investment Management Ltd lifted its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 4.6% during the 1st quarter. USS Investment Management Ltd now owns 713,156 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $35,790,000 after acquiring an additional 31,354 shares during the period. Cornerstone Capital Inc. increased its stake in Verizon Communications by 8.6% in the second quarter. Cornerstone Capital Inc. now owns 317,284 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $13,434,000 after acquiring an additional 25,156 shares during the period. Cibc World Market Inc. increased its stake in Verizon Communications by 15.3% in the fourth quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 2,382,975 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $97,059,000 after acquiring an additional 316,854 shares during the period. University of Texas Texas AM Investment Management Co. raised its position in Verizon Communications by 127.0% in the second quarter. University of Texas Texas AM Investment Management Co. now owns 184,170 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $7,798,000 after purchasing an additional 103,046 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CPC Advisors LLC raised its position in Verizon Communications by 76.4% in the first quarter. CPC Advisors LLC now owns 123,287 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $6,189,000 after purchasing an additional 53,405 shares in the last quarter. 62.06% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Verizon Communications

Verizon Communications Inc is a telecommunications company headquartered in New York City and listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol VZ. The company was formed in 2000 through the merger of Bell Atlantic and GTE and has developed into one of the largest communications providers in the United States.

Verizon’s consumer business provides wireless voice and data services, smartphones and other connected devices, home internet, broadband, and related communications products.