Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) Shares Up 2.6% – Here’s Why

Posted by Brenda Bartman on Aug 13th, 2026

Verizon Communications logo Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ – Get Free Report) shot up 2.6% on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $48.24 and last traded at $48.1850. 17,898,395 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 38% from the average session volume of 28,763,104 shares. The stock had previously closed at $46.98.

Verizon Communications News Summary

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

Positive Sentiment: Verizon is leveraging its fiber network to provide connectivity for AI data centers and hyperscalers. A reported agreement worth more than $1 billion with Google, along with additional deals under discussion, could create a new long-term growth opportunity beyond traditional wireless services. Can AI Infrastructure Drive Verizon’s Next Long-Term Growth?
Positive Sentiment: Analysts and market commentary point to rising earnings estimates, stronger wireless trends and expanding fiber and AI infrastructure opportunities. These factors support the case for Verizon as a relatively defensive growth-and-income stock. Should You Bet on VZ Stock Amid Rising Earnings Estimate Revisions?
Positive Sentiment: Verizon continues to attract value-focused investors, with a modest earnings multiple, substantial shareholder distributions and a broad wireless and fiber customer base. The company’s Pixel 11 launch and upgrade offerings may also support device sales and customer retention. Here’s Why Verizon Communications Is a Strong Value Stock
Neutral Sentiment: Brokerages maintain an average “Hold” recommendation, indicating that the potential from AI, fiber and wireless growth is balanced by concerns about Verizon’s leverage, capital spending and intense industry competition. Verizon Receives Average Hold Recommendation
Negative Sentiment: Although Verizon has returned significant cash to shareholders—roughly $59 billion according to one analysis—the stock has lagged the broader market. This raises questions about whether dividends and buybacks have generated sufficient returns and whether future investment can improve performance. VZ Paid Holders $59 Billion While The Stock Trailed The Market
Negative Sentiment: Recent fiber vandalism in Southern California caused service interruptions for thousands of customers, highlighting network-security and reliability risks, although Verizon has offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to convictions. Verizon Announces a $25,000 Reward Program

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on VZ. Moffett Nathanson decreased their price objective on Verizon Communications from $56.00 to $49.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, July 20th. BNP Paribas Exane cut their target price on shares of Verizon Communications from $46.00 to $44.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price 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. 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 note on Monday, July 27th. Finally, Erste Group Bank reiterated a “hold” rating on shares of Verizon Communications in a report on Tuesday, May 5th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $50.84.

Check Out Our Latest Report on Verizon Communications

Verizon Communications Price Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $200.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.55, a P/E/G ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 0.25. The company has a quick ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.36. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $45.17 and a 200-day moving average of $46.92.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ – Get 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 analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.27 by $0.03. Verizon Communications had a net margin of 11.64% and a return on equity of 19.48%. The company had revenue of $34.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $35.16 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.22 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down .7% on a year-over-year basis. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.990-5.040 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 5.03 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Verizon Communications Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, August 3rd. Investors of record on Friday, July 10th were paid a dividend of $0.7075 per share. This represents a $2.83 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.9%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, July 10th. Verizon Communications’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 73.70%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Verizon Communications

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of VZ. Portland Investment Counsel Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 3.4% during the second quarter. Portland Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 894,200 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $37,860,000 after purchasing an additional 29,200 shares during the last quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. increased its position in shares of Verizon Communications by 13.8% during the second quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 2,383,726 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $100,927,000 after purchasing an additional 288,820 shares in the last quarter. OMERS ADMINISTRATION Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 16.4% in the 2nd quarter. OMERS ADMINISTRATION Corp now owns 239,900 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $10,157,000 after purchasing an additional 33,882 shares during the last quarter. Leigh Baldwin & CO. LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 2.0% in the 2nd quarter. Leigh Baldwin & CO. LLC now owns 12,114 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $513,000 after purchasing an additional 238 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Polymer Capital Management HK LTD acquired a new stake in shares of Verizon Communications in the 2nd quarter valued at about $762,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.06% of the company’s stock.

Verizon Communications Company Profile

(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.