Verizon Communications Inc. $VZ Shares Sold by Versor Investments LP

Versor Investments LP reduced its position in shares of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) by 60.3% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 16,663 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock after selling 25,337 shares during the quarter. Versor Investments LP’s holdings in Verizon Communications were worth $679,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in VZ. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC lifted its position in shares of 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 in the last quarter. Holos Integrated Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of Verizon Communications during the fourth quarter worth $28,000. Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Verizon Communications during the third quarter worth $29,000. EQ Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Verizon Communications during the fourth quarter worth $29,000. Finally, Daytona Street Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Verizon Communications during the fourth quarter worth $33,000. 62.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the stock. William Blair raised shares of Verizon Communications to an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Dbs Bank cut shares of Verizon Communications from a “moderate buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 7th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Verizon Communications from $49.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 28th. Evercore upped their price target on shares of Verizon Communications from $48.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, Citigroup upped their price target on shares of Verizon Communications from $50.00 to $55.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, March 20th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating and eleven have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $50.59.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Verizon Communications news, Director Hans Erik Vestberg sold 200,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $49.61, for a total transaction of $9,922,000.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 145,069 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,196,873.09. This represents a 57.96% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, SVP Mary-Lee Stillwell sold 8,569 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.00, for a total transaction of $428,450.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 43,782 shares in the company, valued at $2,189,100. This trade represents a 16.37% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 0.03% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Key Headlines Impacting Verizon Communications

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

• Positive Sentiment: Verizon’s year-to-date gains have been supported by improving wireless subscriber trends, lower customer churn, and continued fiber expansion, which are helping the company’s growth outlook. Verizon Shares Rise 17.7% YTD: How Should You Play the Stock?
• Neutral Sentiment: Verizon also held a presentation at MoffettNathanson’s Media, Internet & Communications Conference, which may have reinforced investor focus on its strategy and outlook, but there was no clear new catalyst in the transcript headline alone. Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) Presents at MoffettNathanson’s Media, Internet & Communications Conference Transcript
• Negative Sentiment: One article warned that Verizon’s latest phone plan changes could drive away consumers, adding to worries about customer retention after the company reportedly lost more than 2.25 million customers over the past three years. Verizon’s latest phone plan change may drive away consumers
• Negative Sentiment: Verizon’s debt exchange and tender offers may improve its capital structure over time, but they also highlight the company’s large debt load and ongoing refinancing/integration risk following major acquisition activity. Verizon Debt Moves Reshape Capital Structure And Investor Risk Profile

Verizon Communications Trading Down 1.5%

VZ opened at $47.19 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $197.05 billion, a PE ratio of 11.51, a P/E/G ratio of 1.01 and a beta of 0.24. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $48.64 and its 200 day moving average price is $44.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.38, a current ratio of 0.64 and a quick ratio of 0.61. Verizon Communications Inc. has a 12-month low of $38.39 and a 12-month high of $51.68.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) last posted 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. The firm had revenue of $34.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $34.82 billion. Verizon Communications had a net margin of 12.46% and a return on equity of 19.25%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.19 earnings per share. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.950-4.990 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 4.96 EPS for the current fiscal year.

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.