Insider Selling: Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) CEO Sells $47,223.00 in Stock

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) CEO Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $42.93, for a total transaction of $47,223.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 101,066 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,338,763.38. The trade was a 1.08% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.

Kyle Malady also recently made the following trade(s):

• On Tuesday, October 6th, Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares of Verizon Communications stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $45.75, for a total transaction of $50,325.00.
• On Tuesday, September 29th, Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares of Verizon Communications stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $46.40, for a total transaction of $51,040.00.
• On Tuesday, September 22nd, Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares of Verizon Communications stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $47.65, for a total transaction of $52,415.00.
• On Tuesday, September 8th, Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares of Verizon Communications stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.98, for a total value of $54,978.00.
• On Tuesday, September 1st, Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares of Verizon Communications stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.50, for a total value of $55,550.00.
• On Tuesday, August 25th, Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares of Verizon Communications stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $50.06, for a total value of $55,066.00.
• On Tuesday, August 18th, Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares of Verizon Communications stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $48.68, for a total value of $53,548.00.

Verizon Communications Stock Up 0.9%

NYSE VZ traded up $0.40 on Friday, hitting $44.80. 19,894,209 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 27,176,036. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $47.89 and a 200 day moving average of $46.84. Verizon Communications Inc. has a twelve month low of $38.39 and a twelve month high of $51.68. The company has a market capitalization of $186.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 0.26. The company has a current ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.36.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) last released its earnings results on Friday, July 24th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.30 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.27 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $34.25 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $35.16 billion. Verizon Communications had a return on equity of 19.48% and a net margin of 11.64%. Verizon Communications’s quarterly revenue was down .7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.22 EPS. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.990-5.040 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 5.04 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Verizon Communications Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, October 9th will be given a dividend of $0.7075 per share. This represents a $2.83 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 9th. Verizon Communications’s dividend payout ratio is currently 73.70%.

Institutional Trading of Verizon Communications

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. USS Investment Management Ltd boosted its position in shares of Verizon Communications by 4.6% during the first quarter. USS Investment Management Ltd now owns 713,156 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $35,790,000 after buying an additional 31,354 shares during the period. Cornerstone Capital Inc. grew its holdings in Verizon Communications by 8.6% in the 2nd quarter. Cornerstone Capital Inc. now owns 317,284 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $13,434,000 after buying an additional 25,156 shares in the last quarter. University of Texas Texas AM Investment Management Co. grew its holdings in Verizon Communications by 127.0% in the 2nd quarter. University of Texas Texas AM Investment Management Co. now owns 184,170 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $7,798,000 after buying an additional 103,046 shares in the last quarter. CPC Advisors LLC increased its position in Verizon Communications by 76.4% in the 1st quarter. CPC Advisors LLC now owns 123,287 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $6,189,000 after acquiring an additional 53,405 shares during the period. Finally, Lansforsakringar Fondforvaltning AB publ increased its position in Verizon Communications by 3.1% in the 1st quarter. Lansforsakringar Fondforvaltning AB publ now owns 2,450,129 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $122,996,000 after acquiring an additional 73,159 shares during the period. 62.06% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

More Verizon Communications News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Verizon and Ericsson completed what they described as the first outdoor pre-standard 6G field call using the 7 GHz band at a commercial site in California. The test moves 6G development beyond the laboratory and reinforces Verizon’s technology leadership, although commercial benefits are likely years away. Verizon and Ericsson accelerate 6G development
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts and financial commentators continue to highlight VZ’s low valuation, recurring wireless revenue and dividend yield of roughly 6% to 6.5%. Verizon’s fixed-wireless business added 193,000 net connections in the second quarter, offering an additional broadband-growth opportunity if expansion does not materially increase network costs. Verizon fixed wireless growth and network returns Why Verizon is considered a value stock
• Neutral Sentiment: Verizon’s quarterly dividend remains attractive at $0.7075 per share, or $2.83 annualized, but its payout ratio near 74% and substantial debt mean investors are balancing income potential against financial flexibility.
• Neutral Sentiment: CEO Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares through a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. The sale was small relative to his remaining stake and is unlikely to indicate a change in the company’s outlook. Verizon CEO insider sale
• Negative Sentiment: SpaceX’s agreement to acquire nationwide 800 MHz low-band spectrum raises the prospect of a Starlink mobile service competing with Verizon. Investors are assessing the possible effects on market share, pricing power and long-term wireless returns; the threat remains prospective because regulatory approvals and network construction are still required. SpaceX mobile competition and Verizon

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have commented on the stock. BNP Paribas Exane decreased their price objective on shares of Verizon Communications from $46.00 to $44.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, July 14th. Barclays increased their target price on shares of Verizon Communications from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, July 27th. Moffett Nathanson reduced their price target on shares of Verizon Communications from $56.00 to $49.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 20th. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price target on shares of Verizon Communications from $46.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Monday, July 27th. Finally, Scotiabank lowered their price objective on shares of Verizon Communications from $51.50 to $50.00 and set a “sector outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 9th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $50.80.

About Verizon Communications

Verizon Communications Inc is a telecommunications company headquartered in New York City and listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol VZ. The company was formed in 2000 through the merger of Bell Atlantic and GTE and has developed into one of the largest communications providers in the United States.

Verizon’s consumer business provides wireless voice and data services, smartphones and other connected devices, home internet, broadband, and related communications products.