Verizon Communications Inc. $VZ Position Raised by TrueMark Investments LLC

TrueMark Investments LLC grew its position in Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) by 6.3% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 287,287 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock after purchasing an additional 16,992 shares during the quarter. Verizon Communications makes up 2.8% of TrueMark Investments LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 3rd largest position. TrueMark Investments LLC’s holdings in Verizon Communications were worth $14,422,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC increased its holdings 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 valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 539 shares during the last quarter. Holos Integrated Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in Verizon Communications during the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Verizon Communications during the 3rd quarter worth about $29,000. EQ Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Verizon Communications during the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. Finally, Sarver Vrooman Wealth Advisors boosted its position in shares of Verizon Communications by 173.0% during the 4th quarter. Sarver Vrooman Wealth Advisors now owns 707 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 448 shares in the last quarter. 62.06% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Verizon Communications News Summary

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

• Negative Sentiment: Alphabet will join the Dow Jones Industrial Average, replacing Verizon, which may weigh on sentiment as Verizon loses a prestigious index position. Alphabet added to Dow Jones Industrial Average, replacing Verizon
• Negative Sentiment: Verizon is leaving the Dow partly because its low share price gave it an “immaterial impact” on the index, highlighting its limited influence in the benchmark. Could Nike Get the Boot from the Dow? Why Berkshire Hathaway Might Take Its Place.
• Neutral Sentiment: Verizon launched new wireless plans focused on affordability and simplicity to stem subscriber losses, which could help stabilize the business but also underscores competitive pressure. Verizon (VZ) Launches Simplicity And Verizon One Plans To Win Back Subscribers
• Neutral Sentiment: Despite the stock’s weakness, some investors continue to view Verizon as a defensive dividend name with an attractive yield. Why Johnson & Johnson, Altria, Verizon, and Other Safe Dividend Stocks Climbed Today

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have recently commented on VZ. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Verizon Communications from $49.00 to $52.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, April 30th. Barclays boosted their target price on Verizon Communications from $43.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 31st. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of Verizon Communications from $44.00 to $46.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 28th. Citigroup raised their price objective on shares of Verizon Communications from $50.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, March 20th. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Verizon Communications in a research report on Friday, May 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have issued a Buy rating and twelve have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $50.59.

Verizon Communications Trading Down 2.2%

Shares of Verizon Communications stock opened at $45.70 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.38, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 0.64. The company has a market capitalization of $190.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.15, a PEG ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.24. Verizon Communications Inc. has a 1 year low of $38.39 and a 1 year high of $51.68. The company’s fifty day moving average is $46.89 and its two-hundred day moving average is $45.80.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) last announced its earnings results on Monday, April 27th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.28 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.21 by $0.07. Verizon Communications had a net margin of 12.46% and a return on equity of 19.25%. The business had revenue of $34.44 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $34.82 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.19 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.950-4.990 EPS. Analysts forecast that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 4.97 earnings per share for the current year.

Verizon Communications Announces Dividend

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 given a $0.7075 dividend. This represents a $2.83 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.2%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 10th. Verizon Communications’s payout ratio is 69.02%.

Verizon Communications 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.