Zacks Research Issues Optimistic Forecast for VZ Earnings

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) – Stock analysts at Zacks Research upped their Q2 2025 earnings per share estimates for shares of Verizon Communications in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday, April 7th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now anticipates that the cell phone carrier will earn $1.19 per share for the quarter, up from their prior estimate of $1.18. The consensus estimate for Verizon Communications’ current full-year earnings is $4.69 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Verizon Communications’ Q3 2025 earnings at $1.21 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $1.03 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $1.47 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $0.98 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $5.06 EPS.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 24th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.10 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.11 by ($0.01). Verizon Communications had a return on equity of 19.80% and a net margin of 12.99%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.08 earnings per share.

VZ has been the subject of several other reports. TD Cowen raised Verizon Communications to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 15th. Scotiabank raised their price target on Verizon Communications from $48.00 to $48.50 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Tuesday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their target price on shares of Verizon Communications from $40.00 to $42.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Verizon Communications from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, March 13th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada restated a “sector perform” rating and set a $45.00 target price (up previously from $42.00) on shares of Verizon Communications in a research report on Tuesday, March 25th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Verizon Communications has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $46.85.

Verizon Communications Trading Up 0.1 %

VZ opened at $42.94 on Wednesday. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $42.99 and a 200 day moving average of $42.05. The company has a current ratio of 0.63, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21. Verizon Communications has a 12 month low of $37.59 and a 12 month high of $47.36. The firm has a market cap of $180.78 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.37, a P/E/G ratio of 4.45 and a beta of 0.41.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of VZ. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 0.9% during the third quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 1,440,247 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $64,681,000 after acquiring an additional 12,580 shares in the last quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC grew its position in Verizon Communications by 8.0% during the 3rd quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC now owns 29,925 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $1,223,000 after purchasing an additional 2,213 shares during the last quarter. High Falls Advisors Inc increased its stake in Verizon Communications by 24.1% during the 3rd quarter. High Falls Advisors Inc now owns 6,401 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $287,000 after purchasing an additional 1,245 shares in the last quarter. Brophy Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Verizon Communications during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $1,246,000. Finally, Frisch Financial Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 19.0% in the third quarter. Frisch Financial Group Inc. now owns 34,944 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $1,569,000 after buying an additional 5,574 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 62.06% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Verizon Communications

In related news, EVP Vandana Venkatesh sold 10,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $43.79, for a total transaction of $437,900.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 14,459 shares in the company, valued at $633,159.61. This represents a 40.88 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Kyle Malady sold 11,085 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $40.88, for a total value of $453,154.80. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 14,590 shares in the company, valued at approximately $596,439.20. The trade was a 43.17 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 49,085 shares of company stock valued at $2,020,895. Company insiders own 0.02% of the company’s stock.

Verizon Communications Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 1st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 10th will be issued a dividend of $0.6775 per share. This represents a $2.71 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.31%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 10th. Verizon Communications’s payout ratio is 65.46%.

About Verizon Communications

Verizon Communications Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of communications, technology, information, and entertainment products and services to consumers, businesses, and governmental entities worldwide. It operates in two segments, Verizon Consumer Group (Consumer) and Verizon Business Group (Business).