MidFirst Bank Makes New Investment in Verizon Communications Inc. $VZ

MidFirst Bank bought a new position in Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 70,225 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock, valued at approximately $2,860,000.

A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC increased its position in Verizon Communications by 490.0% during the 4th 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 in the last quarter. Holos Integrated Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Verizon Communications in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Verizon Communications in the third quarter valued at approximately $29,000. EQ Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Verizon Communications during the fourth quarter worth $29,000. Finally, Sarver Vrooman Wealth Advisors grew its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 173.0% during the fourth quarter. Sarver Vrooman Wealth Advisors now owns 707 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 448 shares during the last quarter. 62.06% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Key Verizon Communications News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Verizon unveiled a customer offer that removes two major fees, part of a broader loyalty push that also eliminates activation/upgrade charges. That could help improve retention and ease pressure from elevated wireless churn, potentially supporting revenue stability. Verizon adds new offer that removes 2 major fees for customers
• Neutral Sentiment: Verizon completed the expiration and final results of several debt exchange/tender and consent solicitations, a balance-sheet management move that is likely routine rather than a major near-term earnings driver. Verizon announces expiration and final results of its private exchange offers and consent solicitations for 11 series of notes
• Neutral Sentiment: Verizon also announced final results for tender offers and consent solicitations across multiple note series, which may modestly support financial flexibility but does not change the core operating outlook by itself. Verizon announces expiration and final results of its tender offers and consent solicitations for 20 series of Verizon and certain of its subsidiaries’ notes
• Neutral Sentiment: Several articles noted that Verizon remains on investor watch lists because of its dividend yield and valuation, but these pieces were mostly commentary rather than new company-specific catalysts. Why Is Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) Drawing Telecom Investor Attention?
• Negative Sentiment: Recent trading showed VZ underperforming the broader market, with investors still concerned about competitive pressure and churn in the wireless business. Verizon Communications (VZ) Falls More Steeply Than Broader Market: What Investors Need to Know

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

VZ has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Verizon Communications in a report on Friday, May 29th. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on Verizon Communications from $49.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Verizon Communications from $49.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, April 30th. Erste Group Bank reiterated a “hold” rating on shares of Verizon Communications in a research report on Tuesday, May 5th. Finally, Dbs Bank downgraded 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 given a Buy rating and twelve have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $50.59.

Verizon Communications Trading Down 0.9%

Shares of NYSE VZ opened at $45.44 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $46.97 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $45.66. The stock has a market cap of $189.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 0.24. Verizon Communications Inc. has a 52-week low of $38.39 and a 52-week high of $51.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.38, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 0.64.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) last issued 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 analyst estimates of $34.82 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.19 earnings per share. Verizon Communications’s 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, equities analysts forecast that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 4.97 EPS for the current year.

Verizon Communications Announces Dividend

The business 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 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 10th. Verizon Communications’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 69.02%.

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.