Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) Shares Up 1.2% – Time to Buy?

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) traded up 1.2% on Monday . The company traded as high as $42.85 and last traded at $42.64. 24,629,432 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 16% from the average daily volume of 29,392,152 shares. The stock had previously closed at $42.12.

Verizon Communications News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Verizon is expanding its presence in connected vehicles through a new U.S. BMW Group and KDDI collaboration, bringing 5G and IoT connectivity into BMW cars for telematics and infotainment. The deal could support future revenue growth and highlights Verizon’s push into higher-value automotive services. Verizon (VZ) Expands Into BMW Connected Cars And Launches Gizmo Watch 4
• Positive Sentiment: Some commentary says Verizon may still look inexpensive on earnings, pointing to solid returns and suggesting the stock could be undervalued relative to its fundamentals and cash-generation profile. Verizon (VZ) Stock Looks Like A Bargain On Earnings While Returns Stay Strong
• Neutral Sentiment: Investor interest in Verizon remains elevated ahead of upcoming earnings, which can keep the stock active but does not by itself change the fundamentals. Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) is Attracting Investor Attention: Here is What You Should Know
• Neutral Sentiment: Verizon also launched the Gizmo Watch 4, a kid-focused wearable that adds to its consumer ecosystem and may help retention, though the near-term stock impact is limited. Meet the Gizmo Watch 4: Verizon’s new kid-friendly smartwatch
• Negative Sentiment: Verizon was hit by reports of another round of layoffs and roughly $5 billion in budget cuts, which signals cost pressure and a more cautious operating outlook. VZ Stock Slips As Verizon Reportedly Plans New Round Of Layoffs
• Negative Sentiment: Wall Street sentiment has also softened, with BNP Paribas Exane lowering its price target and keeping a neutral rating, while broader telecom fears tied to Starlink continue to weigh on the sector. SpaceX’s Starlink threat causes Bernstein to cut Verizon, AT&T, Comcast PTs

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have issued reports on VZ. Citigroup upped their target price 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. Barclays decreased their price objective on Verizon Communications from $47.00 to $45.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 8th. Dbs Bank lowered Verizon Communications from a “moderate buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 7th. Erste Group Bank restated a “hold” rating on shares of Verizon Communications in a report on Tuesday, May 5th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on Verizon Communications from $49.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 28th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $50.28.

Verizon Communications Price Performance

The company has a market cap of $177.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.35, a P/E/G ratio of 1.04 and a beta of 0.26. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $45.90 and its 200-day simple moving average is $46.05. 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 (NYSE:VZ) last announced its earnings results on Monday, April 27th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.28 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.21 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $34.44 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $34.82 billion. Verizon Communications had a net margin of 12.46% and a return on equity of 19.25%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.19 earnings per share. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.950-4.990 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 4.98 EPS for the current year.

Verizon Communications Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 3rd. Investors 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 6.7%. Verizon Communications’s payout ratio is 69.02%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Verizon Communications

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Regent Peak Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 6.0% in the second quarter. Regent Peak Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 5,834 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $247,000 after buying an additional 329 shares during the last quarter. Bank & Trust Co lifted its position in shares of Verizon Communications by 1.6% during the second quarter. Bank & Trust Co now owns 47,798 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $2,024,000 after purchasing an additional 739 shares during the last quarter. Butensky & Cohen Financial Security Inc. increased its holdings in Verizon Communications by 1.7% in the second quarter. Butensky & Cohen Financial Security Inc. now owns 122,165 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $5,172,000 after buying an additional 2,087 shares during the last quarter. Whitener Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Verizon Communications by 11.6% during the 2nd quarter. Whitener Capital Management Inc. now owns 42,340 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $1,793,000 after buying an additional 4,413 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Tema ETFs LLC grew its position in shares of Verizon Communications by 10.7% in the 2nd quarter. Tema ETFs LLC now owns 82,352 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $3,487,000 after acquiring an additional 7,975 shares in the last quarter. 62.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.