Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) Shares Sold Off Rep. Pete Sessions

Representative Pete Sessions (Republican-Texas) recently sold shares of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ). In a filing disclosed on March 09th, the Representative disclosed that they had sold between $1,001 and $15,000 in Verizon Communications stock on March 9th.

Verizon Communications Stock Down 0.1%

NYSE VZ opened at $50.66 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.87. The stock has a market capitalization of $213.66 billion, a PE ratio of 12.51, a PEG ratio of 2.12 and a beta of 0.31. Verizon Communications Inc. has a 1 year low of $38.39 and a 1 year high of $51.41. The business’s 50-day moving average is $45.00 and its 200 day moving average is $42.73.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 30th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.09 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates 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 during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $36.20 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.10 EPS. Verizon Communications’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. Sell-side analysts forecast that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 4.69 earnings per share for the current year.

Verizon Communications Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 10th will be issued a dividend of $0.7075 per share. This is an increase from Verizon Communications’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.69. This represents a $2.83 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.6%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 10th. Verizon Communications’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 68.15%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Scotiabank raised Verizon Communications from a “sector perform” rating to a “sector outperform” rating and boosted their target price for the company from $50.25 to $54.50 in a research note on Monday. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed a “market perform” rating and issued a $48.00 price target on shares of Verizon Communications in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. William Blair upgraded shares of Verizon Communications to an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Verizon Communications from $47.00 to $49.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Verizon Communications from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a report on Thursday, February 5th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $49.66.

Insider Activity at Verizon Communications

In other Verizon Communications news, EVP Joseph J. Russo sold 9,579 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.88, for a total transaction of $429,905.52. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 44,045 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,976,739.60. This trade represents a 17.86% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Hans Erik Vestberg sold 200,000 shares of Verizon Communications stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.61, for a total value of $9,922,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 145,069 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,196,873.09. The trade was a 57.96% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold 218,148 shares of company stock valued at $10,780,356 over the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Verizon Communications

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL increased its stake in Verizon Communications by 8.6% during the 4th quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 2,765 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $113,000 after purchasing an additional 219 shares in the last quarter. Sumitomo Life Insurance Co. lifted its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 0.7% in the fourth quarter. Sumitomo Life Insurance Co. now owns 35,023 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $1,426,000 after buying an additional 227 shares in the last quarter. Blake Schutter Theil Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 3.8% in the fourth quarter. Blake Schutter Theil Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 6,305 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $257,000 after buying an additional 233 shares in the last quarter. Triton Wealth Management PLLC grew its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 2.6% during the fourth quarter. Triton Wealth Management PLLC now owns 9,257 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $377,000 after buying an additional 234 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Hudock Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 0.6% during the second quarter. Hudock Inc. now owns 39,842 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $1,724,000 after buying an additional 238 shares during the last quarter. 62.06% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

More Verizon Communications News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Oppenheimer raised its price target on VZ to $56 and kept an Outperform rating, citing catalysts that support upside from current levels — a clear buy-side signal that likely lifted demand. Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) Given New $56.00 Price Target at Oppenheimer
• Positive Sentiment: Scotiabank upgraded Verizon to Outperform and bumped its target to $54.50 after management meetings, calling the shares “cheap” and pointing to momentum — another institutional endorsement lifting sentiment. Scotiabank Lifts Verizon (VZ) to Outperform
• Positive Sentiment: Short interest fell ~23.5% in February, reducing a common bearish pressure point and removing a layer of downside risk if momentum continues — supportive for near-term price stability.
• Positive Sentiment: Coverage and features labeling VZ as a “safe” starter stock and highlighting a healthy dividend and recent subscriber growth are reinforcing income-oriented investor demand. Is Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) One of the Best Safe Stocks to Buy for a Starter Stock Portfolio?
• Positive Sentiment: Partnership news: Kodiak AI expanded its relationship with Verizon as it scales autonomous truck deployments — a smaller, but positive, business development that showcases demand for Verizon’s network/edge services. Kodiak AI’s Driverless Truck Milestone Versus Losses And Early Revenue Base
• Neutral Sentiment: Management presentations and transcripts (Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank) continue to emphasize a shift to a more customer-driven strategy and the company’s growth targets — useful for modeling but not an immediate earnings surprise. Verizon Presents at Deutsche Bank Conference (transcript)
• Neutral Sentiment: Consello’s appointment of former Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg as an advisor is notable for the industry but has no direct near-term impact on Verizon’s operations or guidance. Consello Welcomes Former Verizon, Ericsson CEO Hans Vestberg
• Neutral Sentiment: Valuation write-ups and dividend-focused pieces highlight upside from yield and recent subscriber wins; these boost narrative-driven buying but rely on execution to sustain gains. A Look At Verizon Communications (VZ) Valuation

About Representative Sessions

Pete Sessions (Republican Party) is a member of the U.S. House, representing Texas’ 17th Congressional District. He assumed office on January 3, 2021. His current term ends on January 3, 2027.

Sessions (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the U.S. House to represent Texas’ 17th Congressional District. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

On October 20, 2023, Sessions announced he was running to replace Kevin McCarthy (R) as speaker of the U.S. House in the 118th Congress. Sessions lost the first round of nomination voting on October 24, 2023.

Pete Sessions was born and lives in Waco, Texas. Sessions earned a B.S. from Southwestern University in 1978. Sessions’ career experience includes working as an executive with AT&T.

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.