Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) Trading Up 2.1% on Better-Than-Expected Earnings

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) rose 2.1% on Monday after the company announced better than expected quarterly earnings. The company traded as high as $47.56 and last traded at $47.3480. Approximately 30,145,364 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 3% from the average session volume of 29,164,730 shares. The stock had previously closed at $46.38.

The cell phone carrier reported $1.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.27 by $0.03. Verizon Communications had a return on equity of 19.48% and a net margin of 11.64%.The business had revenue of $34.25 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $35.16 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.22 EPS. The business’s revenue was down .7% on a year-over-year basis. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.990-5.040 EPS.

Verizon Communications Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 3rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 10th will be given a dividend of $0.7075 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 10th. This represents a $2.83 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.0%. Verizon Communications’s payout ratio is presently 73.70%.

Key Stories Impacting Verizon Communications

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

• Positive Sentiment: Verizon raised its 2026 financial outlook after reporting stronger-than-expected quarterly EPS, improved cash flow, lower wireless churn, reduced device-subsidy costs and broadband growth. These trends suggest better operating momentum and helped offset the company’s revenue shortfall. Is VZ Stock a Buy After Verizon Raises Its 2026 Financial Outlook?
• Positive Sentiment: Investors are increasingly viewing Verizon as an AI-infrastructure opportunity rather than only a wireless carrier. Its more than $1 billion dark-fiber transaction with Alphabet, along with investments in fiber networks and converged connectivity, could support long-term growth as data-center and AI demand expands. Verizon May Be an AI Infrastructure Stock Hiding in Plain Sight
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst sentiment improved, with TD Cowen raising its price target to $56 and maintaining a buy rating. Scotiabank also lifted its target to $52.50 and kept a sector-outperform rating. Analyst price-target updates
• Neutral Sentiment: Morgan Stanley raised its target to $52 but retained an equal-weight rating. RBC increased its target to $47 and kept a sector-perform view, while Wells Fargo and Barclays also raised targets but remained neutral. The revisions imply limited upside from some analysts despite the broader target increases. Analyst price-target updates
• Negative Sentiment: Concerns remain about Verizon’s weak revenue growth, heavy debt load, intense wireless competition and potential pressure from satellite providers such as Starlink. Critics argue that cost reductions and buybacks may be masking limited underlying demand and could constrain future investment flexibility. Verizon: Structural Problems Persist

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have recently commented on VZ shares. Dbs Bank lowered shares of Verizon Communications from a “moderate buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 7th. Barclays lifted their price objective on Verizon Communications from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday. TD Cowen upped their target price on Verizon Communications from $54.00 to $56.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday. BNP Paribas Exane lowered their target price on Verizon Communications from $46.00 to $44.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, July 14th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Verizon Communications from $49.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 30th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eleven have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Verizon Communications presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $50.97.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Verizon Communications

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. OmniStar Financial Group Inc. raised its holdings in Verizon Communications by 3.0% in the 2nd quarter. OmniStar Financial Group Inc. now owns 22,873 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $968,000 after acquiring an additional 674 shares during the last quarter. Tempo Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Verizon Communications during the second quarter worth $211,000. Facet Wealth Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 6.7% during the second quarter. Facet Wealth Inc. now owns 10,607 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $449,000 after purchasing an additional 668 shares during the last quarter. Private Wealth Management Group LLC grew its position in shares of Verizon Communications by 26.6% in the second quarter. Private Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 4,709 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $199,000 after purchasing an additional 989 shares during the period. Finally, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. grew its position in shares of Verizon Communications by 0.9% in the second quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 1,581,062 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $66,942,000 after purchasing an additional 14,842 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 62.06% of the company’s stock.

Verizon Communications Price Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $197.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 0.26. The company has a 50 day moving average of $45.39 and a 200 day moving average of $46.24. The company has a quick ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.36.

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.