Zions Bancorporation National Association UT lessened its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ – Free Report) by 28.2% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 156,904 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock after selling 61,573 shares during the quarter. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT’s holdings in Verizon Communications were worth $6,391,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Avanza Fonder AB increased its position in Verizon Communications by 5.6% during the fourth quarter. Avanza Fonder AB now owns 331,962 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $13,521,000 after buying an additional 17,495 shares during the last quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. increased its position in Verizon Communications by 14.0% during the third quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. now owns 379,174 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $16,665,000 after buying an additional 46,699 shares during the last quarter. Econ Financial Services Corp increased its position in Verizon Communications by 23.5% during the fourth quarter. Econ Financial Services Corp now owns 78,172 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $3,184,000 after buying an additional 14,862 shares during the last quarter. Wedbush Securities Inc. increased its position in Verizon Communications by 18.4% during the third quarter. Wedbush Securities Inc. now owns 140,981 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $6,196,000 after buying an additional 21,915 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Assetmark Inc. grew its position in shares of Verizon Communications by 2.8% in the third quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 3,667,402 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $161,182,000 after purchasing an additional 99,400 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.06% of the company’s stock.
Verizon Communications Trading Up 2.6%
Shares of VZ stock opened at $46.95 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.38. The stock has a market cap of $196.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 0.24. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $47.29 and a 200 day simple moving average of $45.41. Verizon Communications Inc. has a 1 year low of $38.39 and a 1 year high of $51.68.
Verizon Communications Dividend Announcement
The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 3rd. Investors of record on Friday, July 10th will be paid a $0.7075 dividend. This represents a $2.83 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.0%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 10th. Verizon Communications’s payout ratio is 69.02%.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
Several equities analysts have recently commented on the company. Citigroup upped their target price on Verizon Communications from $50.00 to $55.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, March 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Verizon Communications from $49.00 to $52.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 30th. Erste Group Bank reaffirmed a “hold” rating on shares of Verizon Communications in a research report on Tuesday, May 5th. Morgan Stanley upped 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. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Verizon Communications from $44.00 to $46.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 28th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating and eleven have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $50.59.
View Our Latest Stock Report on VZ
More Verizon Communications News
Here are the key news stories impacting Verizon Communications this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Verizon is being highlighted as a value and income play, with a roughly 6% dividend yield and strong free-cash-flow generation that could appeal to investors in a volatile market. Verizon: A Unique Opportunity In An Expensive Market
- Positive Sentiment: Recent coverage says Verizon raised 2026 guidance and is targeting mid-single-digit EPS growth, with solid postpaid net adds supporting the case for continued business momentum. Verizon: A Unique Opportunity In An Expensive Market
- Positive Sentiment: Analysts and market commentary continue to frame Verizon as a defensive telecom name, which can attract buyers when broader markets look stretched or riskier. Verizon: A Good Defensive Play In Times Of Market Exuberance
- Positive Sentiment: Verizon’s Frontier acquisition is seen as expanding its fiber footprint and improving its competitive position in broadband, cloud, and AI-related connectivity demand. Can Verizon’s Fiber Expansion Strategy Benefit From Rising AI Demand?
- Neutral Sentiment: Erste Group trimmed its FY2027 EPS estimate slightly to $5.24 from $5.25 while keeping a Hold rating, which is a modest caution but not a major negative catalyst. Analyst estimate revision
About Verizon Communications
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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