Presper Financial Architects LLC Makes New $236,000 Investment in Verizon Communications Inc. $VZ

Presper Financial Architects LLC purchased a new position in Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 5,456 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock, valued at approximately $236,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of VZ. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 61.2% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 43,986 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $1,759,000 after purchasing an additional 16,704 shares in the last quarter. Baker Tilly Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 27.3% in the 1st quarter. Baker Tilly Wealth Management LLC now owns 17,059 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $774,000 after purchasing an additional 3,654 shares in the last quarter. Fiduciary Alliance LLC lifted its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 2.9% in the 1st quarter. Fiduciary Alliance LLC now owns 26,318 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $1,194,000 after purchasing an additional 735 shares in the last quarter. NBC Securities Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 109,308.7% in the 1st quarter. NBC Securities Inc. now owns 75,492 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $3,424,000 after purchasing an additional 75,423 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sweeney & Michel LLC acquired a new position in shares of Verizon Communications in the 1st quarter valued at about $4,164,000. 62.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Verizon Communications Price Performance

VZ stock opened at $43.23 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19. Verizon Communications Inc. has a 52-week low of $37.58 and a 52-week high of $47.35. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $43.59 and its two-hundred day moving average is $43.35. The company has a market capitalization of $182.27 billion, a PE ratio of 10.08, a P/E/G ratio of 3.37 and a beta of 0.36.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, July 21st. The cell phone carrier reported $1.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.19 by $0.03. Verizon Communications had a return on equity of 19.61% and a net margin of 13.28%.The company had revenue of $34.50 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $33.47 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.15 EPS. Verizon Communications’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2025 guidance at 4.636-4.728 EPS. Analysts predict that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 4.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Verizon Communications Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 3rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 10th will be issued a dividend of $0.69 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 10th. This represents a $2.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.4%. This is a boost from Verizon Communications’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.68. Verizon Communications’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 63.17%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently weighed in on VZ. Wall Street Zen lowered Verizon Communications from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday. Bank of America boosted their price target on Verizon Communications from $45.00 to $49.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 22nd. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on Verizon Communications in a research report on Tuesday, September 2nd. They set a “buy” rating and a $49.00 price target on the stock. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on Verizon Communications from $47.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 22nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Verizon Communications from $47.00 to $49.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 22nd. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Buy rating and eleven have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $47.53.

Verizon Communications Company Profile

Verizon Communications Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of communications, technology, information, and entertainment products and services to consumers, businesses, and governmental entities worldwide. It operates in two segments, Verizon Consumer Group (Consumer) and Verizon Business Group (Business).