Verizon Communications Inc. $VZ Shares Bought by Meridian Investment Counsel Inc.

Posted by Francis Steltz on Oct 15th, 2026

Verizon Communications logo Meridian Investment Counsel Inc. grew its stake in shares of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ – Free Report) by 24.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 66,395 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock after purchasing an additional 12,941 shares during the period. Meridian Investment Counsel Inc.’s holdings in Verizon Communications were worth $3,046,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of VZ. Perpetual Ltd grew its position in Verizon Communications by 5.3% during the 3rd quarter. Perpetual Ltd now owns 66,731 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $3,061,000 after purchasing an additional 3,362 shares in the last quarter. Wealth Enhancement Trust Services Inc. raised its stake in Verizon Communications by 5.4% during the 3rd quarter. Wealth Enhancement Trust Services Inc. now owns 20,224 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $928,000 after purchasing an additional 1,040 shares during the period. Moody National Bank Trust Division lifted its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 2.3% in the third quarter. Moody National Bank Trust Division now owns 27,314 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $1,253,000 after purchasing an additional 621 shares in the last quarter. Adelphi Trust Co lifted its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 14.6% in the third quarter. Adelphi Trust Co now owns 6,373 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $292,000 after purchasing an additional 811 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Rockland Trust Co. lifted its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 2.6% in the third quarter. Rockland Trust Co. now owns 492,341 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $22,584,000 after purchasing an additional 12,321 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.06% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

VZ has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Scotiabank lowered their price target on Verizon Communications from $51.50 to $50.00 and set a “sector outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 9th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Verizon Communications from $50.00 to $52.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, July 27th. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price objective on Verizon Communications from $46.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Monday, July 27th. TD Cowen raised their price objective on Verizon Communications from $54.00 to $56.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, July 27th. Finally, 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 report on Monday, July 20th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $50.80.

Get Our Latest Report on Verizon Communications

Insider Activity at Verizon Communications

In other news, CEO Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $42.93, for a total value of $47,223.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 101,066 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,338,763.38. This represents a 1.08% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 8,800 shares of company stock worth $420,145. Insiders own 0.03% of the company’s stock.

Verizon Communications Stock Performance

Shares of VZ opened at $44.41 on Thursday. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $47.98 and its 200 day moving average price is $46.89. Verizon Communications Inc. has a 52 week low of $38.39 and a 52 week high of $51.68. The company has a market capitalization of $184.49 billion, a PE ratio of 11.56, a PEG ratio of 1.48 and a beta of 0.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.36, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a current ratio of 0.60.

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, beating the consensus estimate of $1.27 by $0.03. Verizon Communications had a net margin of 11.64% and a return on equity of 19.48%. The firm had revenue of $34.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $35.16 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.22 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down .7% compared to the same quarter last year. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.990-5.040 EPS. Research analysts expect that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 5.04 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Verizon Communications Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 9th will be issued a dividend of $0.7075 per share. This represents a $2.83 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.4%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 9th. Verizon Communications’s payout ratio is currently 73.70%.

Key Headlines Impacting Verizon Communications

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

Positive Sentiment: Verizon is promoting complimentary safety and family features, including Digital Secure, Verizon Family with Safe Walk and Call Filter, along with six months of Google AI Pro for eligible customers. The benefits could support customer retention and improve the value proposition of its wireless plans. Verizon delivers extra value with free safety, family and AI perks
Positive Sentiment: A new reseller agreement with SKYBOXE gives Verizon Business another channel for selling 5G fixed-wireless internet to small businesses and remote operations, potentially broadening its enterprise broadband reach. Verizon adds a reseller for business 5G fixed wireless
Positive Sentiment: Income-focused commentary highlighted Verizon’s roughly 6%–6.5% dividend yield, low forward valuation, wireless stability, broadband growth and cash-generation potential. Dividend payments contributed materially to shareholder returns over the past year, supporting the stock’s appeal to value and income investors. Verizon’s low forward P/E and dividend yield
Neutral Sentiment: Bernstein maintained a Hold rating, indicating limited near-term conviction despite Verizon’s valuation and dividend support. Bernstein keeps its Hold rating on Verizon
Negative Sentiment: Analysts have cut price targets across telecom stocks amid expectations that SpaceX’s Starlink mobile push could intensify wireless competition. Verizon may also face seasonal pricing pressure in the fourth quarter. SpaceX Starlink mobile push prompts Bernstein to cut price targets
Negative Sentiment: Commentary continues to flag Verizon’s heavy debt load as a risk to the sustainability of its high dividend and to the stock’s upside if interest rates remain elevated.
Neutral Sentiment: CEO Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. The transaction was small relative to his remaining holdings and appears unlikely to signal a change in business outlook.

Verizon Communications Company Profile

(Free Report)

Verizon Communications Inc is a telecommunications company headquartered in New York City and listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol VZ. The company was formed in 2000 through the merger of Bell Atlantic and GTE and has developed into one of the largest communications providers in the United States.

Verizon’s consumer business provides wireless voice and data services, smartphones and other connected devices, home internet, broadband, and related communications products.