Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) Sets New 1-Year High – Here’s What Happened

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ)’s stock price reached a new 52-week high on Monday . The company traded as high as $50.28 and last traded at $50.3650, with a volume of 6086205 shares. The stock had previously closed at $49.25.

Key Headlines Impacting Verizon Communications

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

• Positive Sentiment: Daiwa upgraded VZ to Buy (from Outperform) and raised its price target to $58, citing clear fourth‑quarter momentum and subscriber growth — a catalyst for analyst‑driven buying. Daiwa Upgrades Verizon (VZ) as Subscriber Growth Signals Strong Momentum
• Positive Sentiment: Technical indicators flashed bullish: VZ recently experienced a “golden cross” (50‑day SMA crossing above 200‑day SMA), which often attracts momentum traders and algorithmic buyers. Verizon Communications (VZ) Now Trades Above Golden Cross: Time to Buy?
• Positive Sentiment: Price momentum: the shares hit a 52‑week high (~$50.25), reinforcing the bullish technical story and encouraging momentum/ETF flows. Verizon Communications stock hits 52-week high at 50.25 USD
• Neutral Sentiment: Dividend appeal: VZ continues to appear on defensive dividend stock lists, supporting interest from income investors but not an immediate price catalyst. My 5 Favorite Dividend Stocks to Buy Right Now
• Neutral Sentiment: Macro headwinds: broader market weakness (Dow declines tied to tariff headlines) could cap upside or trigger sectorwide pullbacks even as VZ-specific news is positive. Stock Market Today: Dow Dives As EU Makes Trump Tariff Move; Novo Plunges On This (Live Coverage)
• Negative Sentiment: Reputational risk: Verizon briefly updated a device‑unlock policy that provoked customer backlash; the company says it will walk back the change, but the episode could distract management and concern consumers. Verizon plans to walk back controversial policy after backlash

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on VZ shares. Williams Trading set a $54.00 price target on Verizon Communications in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Barclays started coverage on Verizon Communications in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. They issued an “equal weight” rating and a $43.00 target price on the stock. Weiss Ratings raised Verizon Communications from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a report on Thursday, February 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Verizon Communications from $47.00 to $49.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Verizon Communications from $41.00 to $44.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research 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 stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Verizon Communications has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $49.02.

Verizon Communications Stock Up 1.0%

The stock has a market cap of $209.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.28, a PEG ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 0.33. The business’s 50 day moving average is $42.43 and its 200-day moving average is $42.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a current ratio of 0.91.

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

Verizon Communications Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 1st. Investors of record on Friday, April 10th will be given a dividend of $0.7075 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 10th. This is a boost from Verizon Communications’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.69. This represents a $2.83 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.7%. Verizon Communications’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 68.15%.

Insider Transactions at Verizon Communications

In other Verizon Communications news, EVP Joseph J. Russo sold 9,579 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $44.88, for a total value of $429,905.52. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 44,045 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,976,739.60. This represents a 17.86% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Verizon Communications

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Beaird Harris Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 6.8% during the 4th quarter. Beaird Harris Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,007 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $163,000 after buying an additional 255 shares during the last quarter. Kera Capital Partners Inc. increased its stake in Verizon Communications by 2.3% during the fourth quarter. Kera Capital Partners Inc. now owns 23,340 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $1,039,000 after acquiring an additional 531 shares during the last quarter. Walser Wealth Management Company A Ltd Liability Co purchased a new stake in Verizon Communications in the fourth quarter valued at $441,000. Virtu Financial LLC lifted its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 199.8% in the 4th quarter. Virtu Financial LLC now owns 270,003 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $10,997,000 after purchasing an additional 179,934 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Blue Capital Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 12.5% in the 4th quarter. Blue Capital Inc. now owns 7,605 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $310,000 after purchasing an additional 845 shares during the last quarter. 62.06% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.