Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) Shares Up 2.1% – Should You Buy?

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ)’s stock price shot up 2.1% on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $47.79 and last traded at $47.7650. 22,364,218 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 24% from the average session volume of 29,294,217 shares. The stock had previously closed at $46.76.

Verizon Communications News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Verizon said its consumer business is showing stronger traction, highlighted by adding postpaid phone subscribers for the first time since 2013, along with broadband growth and improved retention tied to the Frontier deal. That suggests its core wireless franchise is stabilizing and could support future revenue growth. Article Title
• Positive Sentiment: Several articles pointed to Verizon as an undervalued dividend stock, which may appeal to income-focused investors given its long history of dividend increases and relatively attractive valuation versus peers. Article Title
• Positive Sentiment: Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile reportedly agreed to form a satellite-based direct-to-device joint venture to reduce dead zones and extend coverage, a move that could strengthen Verizon’s network proposition and long-term competitive position. Article Title
• Positive Sentiment: Verizon’s latest Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR) underscores the company’s relevance in cybersecurity and enterprise risk analysis, keeping its brand visible in a high-priority market theme. Article Title
• Neutral Sentiment: Verizon also presented at J.P. Morgan’s technology, media and communications conference, but no major new financial guidance or operational surprise was highlighted in the available summary. Article Title
• Neutral Sentiment: Comparisons with AT&T and other telecom peers suggest Verizon remains part of a broader sector re-rating around dividends, spectrum assets, and AI/network infrastructure rather than a company-specific shock. Article Title

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have weighed in on VZ. Oppenheimer boosted their price target on Verizon Communications from $50.00 to $56.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 11th. Evercore boosted their price target on Verizon Communications from $48.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their price target on Verizon Communications from $44.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed a “market perform” rating and issued a $48.00 price target on shares of Verizon Communications in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, Weiss Ratings raised Verizon Communications from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 5th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating and eleven have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $50.59.

Verizon Communications Stock Up 2.1%

The company has a current ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.38. The firm has a market cap of $199.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.65, a PEG ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 0.24. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $48.38 and a two-hundred day moving average of $44.57.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 27th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.28 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 analysts’ expectations of $34.82 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.19 EPS. The firm’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, sell-side analysts predict that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 4.96 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Hans Erik Vestberg sold 200,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.61, for a total transaction of $9,922,000.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 145,069 shares in the company, valued at $7,196,873.09. The trade was a 57.96% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, SVP Mary-Lee Stillwell sold 8,569 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $50.00, for a total value of $428,450.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president owned 43,782 shares in the company, valued at $2,189,100. This represents a 16.37% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders own 0.03% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Verizon Communications

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in VZ. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in Verizon Communications by 4.3% during the 3rd quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 335,856 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $14,761,000 after buying an additional 13,787 shares in the last quarter. Avanza Fonder AB lifted its holdings in Verizon Communications by 5.6% during the 4th quarter. Avanza Fonder AB now owns 331,962 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $13,521,000 after buying an additional 17,495 shares in the last quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. lifted its holdings in Verizon Communications by 14.0% during the 3rd quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. now owns 379,174 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $16,665,000 after buying an additional 46,699 shares in the last quarter. Econ Financial Services Corp lifted its holdings in Verizon Communications by 23.5% during the 4th quarter. Econ Financial Services Corp now owns 78,172 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $3,184,000 after buying an additional 14,862 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wedbush Securities Inc. lifted its holdings in Verizon Communications by 18.4% during the 3rd quarter. Wedbush Securities Inc. now owns 140,981 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $6,196,000 after buying an additional 21,915 shares in the last quarter. 62.06% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.