Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) Trading Down 1.9% – Here’s Why

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ)’s stock price dropped 1.9% during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $47.83 and last traded at $48.0080. Approximately 29,292,434 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 21% from the average daily volume of 37,040,309 shares. The stock had previously closed at $48.93.

Verizon Communications News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks reports Verizon’s Consumer segment is showing healthy momentum, led by strong postpaid phone subscriber growth — a direct driver of revenue and service-margin stability. Verizon Rides on Strength in Consumer Segment: Will it Sustain?
• Positive Sentiment: Coverage highlights Verizon’s recent dividend increase as a shareholder-friendly move that has supported demand for the stock and reinforces income-focused investor interest. Bank of America Tumbles 7% While Verizon, J&J, and Chevron Rally on Dividend Hikes
• Positive Sentiment: An analysis comparing Verizon and Johnson & Johnson frames Verizon’s dividend hike as supportive but notes different durability profiles — useful context for income investors weighing yield vs payout sustainability. Verizon vs Johnson & Johnson: Which Dividend Hike Winner Is the Better Buy?
• Neutral Sentiment: Verizon will present at the Barclays Communications & Content Symposium on Feb. 24 — an opportunity to reinforce strategy and guidance to investors but not an immediate catalyst. Verizon to speak at Barclays Communications and Content Symposium on February 24
• Neutral Sentiment: Zacks notes heightened investor attention around VZ, reflecting interest after recent results and guidance — increased attention can widen intraday moves but doesn’t guarantee direction. Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) is Attracting Investor Attention: Here is What You Should Know
• Negative Sentiment: Yahoo flags a sudden Consumer CEO exit and interim management shift — leadership turnover in a core segment raises execution risk and could slow parts of Verizon’s transformation story. Did Verizon’s Consumer CEO Exit and Interim Shift Just Reframe Its Transformation Story (VZ)?
• Negative Sentiment: TipRanks highlights uncertainty around Verizon’s $55B capital return plan, noting trade-offs between buybacks and dividends and increased execution/risk considerations — investors worried about flexibility or signaling can penalize the stock. Uncertainty Clouds Verizon’s $55 Billion Capital Return Plan
• Negative Sentiment: MarketWatch notes VZ underperformed peers on Wednesday, reflecting sector rotation and investor caution even as company fundamentals show some improvement. Verizon Communications Inc. stock underperforms Wednesday when compared to competitors

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. BNP Paribas Exane lowered Verizon Communications from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $44.00 target price on the stock. in a research report on Tuesday, October 21st. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price target on Verizon Communications from $44.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. Citigroup boosted their price objective on Verizon Communications from $48.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Barclays initiated coverage on shares of Verizon Communications in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. They issued an “equal weight” rating and a $43.00 target price for the company. Finally, Scotiabank boosted their price target on shares of Verizon Communications from $48.00 to $50.25 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have issued a Buy rating and eleven have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $49.02.

Verizon Communications Price Performance

The company has a current ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $41.93 and a 200 day simple moving average of $42.01. The stock has a market capitalization of $202.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.85, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.07 and a beta of 0.33.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) last issued its earnings results on Friday, January 30th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.09 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.06 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $36.38 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $36.20 billion. Verizon Communications had a return on equity of 19.03% and a net margin of 12.43%.The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 2.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.10 EPS. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.900-4.950 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 4.69 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Verizon Communications Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 10th will be given a $0.7075 dividend. This represents a $2.83 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.9%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 10th. This is a positive change from Verizon Communications’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.69. Verizon Communications’s payout ratio is currently 69.88%.

Insider Activity at Verizon Communications

In other news, EVP Joseph J. Russo sold 9,579 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $44.88, for a total transaction of $429,905.52. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 44,045 shares in the company, valued at $1,976,739.60. The trade was a 17.86% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Verizon Communications

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Advantage Trust Co lifted its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 549.5% during the 2nd quarter. Advantage Trust Co now owns 591 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 500 shares during the last quarter. TruNorth Capital Management LLC raised its position in Verizon Communications by 95.3% during the third quarter. TruNorth Capital Management LLC now owns 625 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 305 shares in the last quarter. Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Verizon Communications in the third quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC grew its position in Verizon Communications by 490.0% in the fourth quarter. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC now owns 649 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 539 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Global Wealth Strategies & Associates increased its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 739.5% during the 3rd quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates now owns 680 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 599 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.06% of the company’s stock.

Verizon Communications Company Profile

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.