Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) Issues FY 2026 Earnings Guidance

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZGet Free Report) issued an update on its FY 2026 earnings guidance on Friday morning. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of 4.990-5.040 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of 4.950. The company issued revenue guidance of -.

Verizon Communications Stock Performance

NYSE VZ opened at $46.34 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $193.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.30, a PEG ratio of 1.07 and a beta of 0.26. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $45.39 and a 200 day simple moving average of $46.20. The company has a current ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.38. Verizon Communications has a 12-month low of $38.39 and a 12-month high of $51.68.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZGet Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 24th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.30 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.27 by $0.03. Verizon Communications had a net margin of 12.46% and a return on equity of 19.25%. The firm had revenue of $34.25 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $35.16 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.22 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was down .6% on a year-over-year basis. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.990-5.040 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Verizon Communications will post 4.98 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Verizon Communications Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 3rd. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 10th will be given a dividend of $0.7075 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 10th. This represents a $2.83 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.1%. Verizon Communications’s payout ratio is presently 69.02%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms recently weighed in on VZ. Erste Group Bank restated a “hold” rating on shares of Verizon Communications in a report on Tuesday, May 5th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Verizon Communications in a report on Friday, May 29th. Freedom Capital raised Verizon Communications to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, June 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on Verizon Communications from $49.00 to $52.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, April 30th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on Verizon Communications from $49.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 28th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eleven have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Verizon Communications has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $50.03.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Verizon Communications

More Verizon Communications News

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

  • Positive Sentiment: Verizon beat Q2 adjusted EPS estimates at $1.30 versus $1.27 expected, helped by record EBITDA margins and stronger cash generation. Verizon earnings report
  • Positive Sentiment: The company raised its full-year 2026 guidance for adjusted EPS, mobility and broadband service revenue, and free cash flow, signaling management confidence in the outlook. Reuters guidance article
  • Positive Sentiment: Verizon posted better-than-expected subscriber momentum, including 184,000 postpaid phone additions and more than 550,000 total mobility and broadband net adds, showing the core business is improving. Verizon press release
  • Positive Sentiment: Free cash flow rose 24.4% and Verizon expanded its full-year buyback target to as much as $4.5 billion, both supportive of shareholder returns. Verizon press release
  • Positive Sentiment: Verizon also announced a more than $1 billion dark fiber deal with Google for AI data centers, suggesting potential upside from infrastructure demand and additional AI-related contracts. Reuters Google deal article
  • Neutral Sentiment: Revenue came in below Wall Street expectations and was slightly lower year over year, so top-line pressure is still a concern. Verizon earnings report
  • Neutral Sentiment: Options activity was unusually heavy, with traders buying more call options than normal, which may reflect speculative bullish positioning rather than fundamental news. GuruFocus earnings call highlights

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in VZ. Sumitomo Life Insurance Co. increased its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 0.7% during the 4th quarter. Sumitomo Life Insurance Co. now owns 35,023 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $1,426,000 after purchasing an additional 227 shares during the last quarter. Monetary Management Group Inc. lifted its stake in Verizon Communications by 0.8% in the second quarter. Monetary Management Group Inc. now owns 30,400 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $1,315,000 after purchasing an additional 250 shares during the last quarter. American Trust grew its holdings in Verizon Communications by 3.7% during the fourth quarter. American Trust now owns 8,697 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $354,000 after purchasing an additional 314 shares during the period. Adams Wealth Management grew its holdings in Verizon Communications by 4.3% during the fourth quarter. Adams Wealth Management now owns 8,324 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $339,000 after purchasing an additional 340 shares during the period. Finally, CacheTech Inc. increased its position in Verizon Communications by 4.3% in the fourth quarter. CacheTech Inc. now owns 8,324 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $339,000 after buying an additional 340 shares during the last quarter. 62.06% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Verizon Communications

(Get Free Report)

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.

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Earnings History and Estimates for Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ)

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