Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) Trading Down 3.8% – Here’s What Happened

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ)’s stock price dropped 3.8% on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $44.30 and last traded at $44.8740. Approximately 32,790,719 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 15% from the average daily volume of 28,514,342 shares. The stock had previously closed at $46.65.

Key Headlines Impacting Verizon Communications

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

• Positive Sentiment: Verizon reported results from its 2026 annual shareholder meeting, with investors approving all nine director nominees and continuing existing board oversight, which signals governance stability. Verizon Communications (VZ) Announced Results for Annual 2026 Shareholder Meeting
• Neutral Sentiment: Verizon announced pricing terms for tender offers and consent solicitations on multiple debt series, a refinancing move that may help manage maturities but is not a clear near-term catalyst for the stock. Verizon announces pricing terms of its tender offers and consent solicitations for 20 series of Verizon and certain of its subsidiaries’ notes
• Neutral Sentiment: Verizon was mentioned in a broader comparison article on tower REITs, but the piece is mainly about SBA Communications and Crown Castle rather than Verizon’s fundamentals. SBA Communications vs. Crown Castle: Which Real Estate Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?
• Negative Sentiment: The biggest headline for Verizon was the U.S. Supreme Court backing the FCC’s fine-collection process in a case involving Verizon and AT&T, which raises the risk that the company could face more enforceable regulatory penalties going forward. US Supreme Court backs FCC in clash with wireless carriers over fines
• Negative Sentiment: Verizon also drew attention after reports about operational friction in stores and customer-service changes, reinforcing investor concerns about execution and churn in a highly competitive wireless market. Strict Verizon policy leaves customers waiting longer in stores

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

VZ has been the topic of several recent research reports. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Verizon Communications in a research note on Friday, May 29th. Oppenheimer upped their target price on shares of Verizon Communications from $50.00 to $56.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 11th. Citigroup upped their target price on shares of Verizon Communications from $50.00 to $55.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, March 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Verizon Communications from $49.00 to $52.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, April 30th. Finally, Dbs Bank cut shares of Verizon Communications from a “moderate buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have issued a Buy rating and eleven have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $50.59.

Verizon Communications Trading Down 3.8%

The firm has a market capitalization of $187.37 billion, a PE ratio of 10.94, a PEG ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.24. The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.38. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $47.77 and its 200 day simple moving average is $45.24.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 27th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.21 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $34.44 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $34.82 billion. Verizon Communications had a net margin of 12.46% and a return on equity of 19.25%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.19 earnings per share. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.950-4.990 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 4.96 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Verizon Communications

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. RKL Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 4.3% in the 1st quarter. RKL Wealth Management LLC now owns 5,338 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $268,000 after acquiring an additional 218 shares during the last quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL lifted its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 8.6% in the 4th quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 2,765 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $113,000 after acquiring an additional 219 shares during the last quarter. Frazier Financial Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 32.7% in the 1st quarter. Frazier Financial Advisors LLC now owns 888 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $45,000 after acquiring an additional 219 shares during the last quarter. Sumitomo Life Insurance Co. lifted its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. Sumitomo Life Insurance Co. now owns 35,023 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $1,426,000 after acquiring an additional 227 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Blake Schutter Theil Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 3.8% in the 4th quarter. Blake Schutter Theil Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 6,305 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $257,000 after acquiring an additional 233 shares during the last quarter. 62.06% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.