Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) Shares Gap Down Following Insider Selling

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ)’s stock price gapped down before the market opened on Wednesday after an insider sold shares in the company. The stock had previously closed at $44.54, but opened at $43.00. Verizon Communications shares last traded at $43.7420, with a volume of 3,927,078 shares traded.

Specifically, CEO Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.48, for a total value of $48,928.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 99,966 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,446,487.68. This trade represents a 1.09% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

VZ has been the subject of several analyst reports. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Verizon Communications from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, July 27th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Verizon Communications from $43.00 to $47.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, July 27th. Scotiabank cut their price objective on shares of Verizon Communications from $51.50 to $50.00 and set a “sector outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 9th. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price objective on shares of Verizon Communications from $46.00 to $47.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Monday, July 27th. Finally, Moffett Nathanson lowered their target price 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. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $50.80.

Trending Headlines about Verizon Communications

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

• Positive Sentiment: Verizon enters its October 26 earnings report with potential support from strong customer metrics, fiber expansion and an attractive valuation. Analysts expect third-quarter EPS of about $1.27, with subscriber additions, churn and broadband growth likely to be key catalysts. Verizon earnings outlook
• Positive Sentiment: Verizon’s quarterly dividend remains an important attraction for income-focused investors, with an annualized payout of $2.83 and a yield of roughly 6.5%. Institutional ownership and recent purchases by major asset managers also provide some support. Verizon dividend and ownership data
• Neutral Sentiment: Bernstein maintained a “Hold” rating, consistent with the broader analyst consensus. The average price target remains above recent trading levels, but analysts continue to see a balanced risk-reward profile rather than a clear near-term catalyst. Bernstein maintains Hold rating
• Neutral Sentiment: CEO Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares for approximately $48,928 under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. The transaction reduced his direct holdings by only about 1.09%, limiting its significance as a signal of management’s outlook. SEC insider filing
• Negative Sentiment: SpaceX’s spectrum deal is clouding the wireless outlook. Investors fear Starlink could intensify competition, pressure pricing and reduce the importance of Verizon’s near-term earnings beat. High debt and competitive pressure from AT&T and T-Mobile add to the risk. SpaceX spectrum deal and Verizon

Verizon Communications Trading Up 3.7%

The company has a market capitalization of $187.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.93, a PEG ratio of 1.66 and a beta of 0.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.36, a current ratio of 0.60 and a quick ratio of 0.57. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $47.65 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $46.66.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) last posted its earnings results on Friday, July 24th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.27 by $0.03. Verizon Communications had a return on equity of 19.48% and a net margin of 11.64%. The business had revenue of $34.25 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $35.16 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.22 EPS. Verizon Communications’s revenue for the quarter was down .7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts forecast that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 5.03 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Verizon Communications Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 9th will be given a dividend of $0.7075 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 9th. This represents a $2.83 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.3%. Verizon Communications’s payout ratio is 73.70%.

Institutional Trading of Verizon Communications

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC increased its position in Verizon Communications by 6.2% during the second quarter. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC now owns 3,568 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $151,000 after buying an additional 207 shares during the last quarter. RKL Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Verizon Communications by 4.3% in the first quarter. RKL Wealth Management LLC now owns 5,338 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $268,000 after buying an additional 218 shares during the last quarter. Manchester Financial Inc. lifted its position in shares of Verizon Communications by 0.6% in the second quarter. Manchester Financial Inc. now owns 34,924 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $1,479,000 after buying an additional 218 shares during the last quarter. Frazier Financial Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Verizon Communications by 32.7% in the first quarter. Frazier Financial Advisors LLC now owns 888 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $45,000 after buying an additional 219 shares during the last quarter. Finally, FAS Wealth Partners Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 1.2% during the 1st quarter. FAS Wealth Partners Inc. now owns 18,421 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $925,000 after acquiring an additional 223 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 62.06% of the company’s stock.

Verizon Communications Company Profile

Verizon Communications Inc is a telecommunications company that provides wireless communications, broadband, and digital connectivity services. Through its consumer business, Verizon offers mobile voice and data plans, smartphones and other connected devices, home internet, fixed wireless access, and fiber-optic broadband services under the Fios brand.

Verizon also serves businesses, government agencies, and other organizations with wireless connectivity, private networks, internet and data services, managed communications, cloud and security solutions, and Internet of Things services.