Verizon Communications Inc. $VZ Shares Bought by Welch Group LLC

Welch Group LLC grew its holdings in Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) by 1.6% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,166,318 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock after buying an additional 18,384 shares during the period. Verizon Communications accounts for about 2.0% of Welch Group LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 26th biggest holding. Welch Group LLC’s holdings in Verizon Communications were worth $51,260,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of VZ. Bulwark Capital Corp acquired a new stake in Verizon Communications in the 2nd quarter valued at about $25,000. Advantage Trust Co grew its position in shares of Verizon Communications by 549.5% in the second quarter. Advantage Trust Co now owns 591 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares in the last quarter. 1 North Wealth Services LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Verizon Communications in the first quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates increased its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 739.5% in the third quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates now owns 680 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 599 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Global Trust Asset Management LLC lifted its position in Verizon Communications by 222.2% during the second quarter. Global Trust Asset Management LLC now owns 725 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 500 shares in the last quarter. 62.06% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Verizon Communications Stock Up 0.4%

Shares of NYSE:VZ opened at $39.98 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $168.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.54, a PEG ratio of 3.56 and a beta of 0.33. Verizon Communications Inc. has a 12-month low of $37.58 and a 12-month high of $47.35. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $40.38 and a 200 day moving average price of $42.10. The company has a current ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 0.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.21 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.19 by $0.02. Verizon Communications had a net margin of 14.43% and a return on equity of 19.31%. The company had revenue of $33.82 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $34.19 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.19 earnings per share. Verizon Communications’s revenue for the quarter was up 1.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts expect that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 4.69 EPS for the current year.

Verizon Communications Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 2nd. Shareholders of record on Monday, January 12th will be paid a dividend of $0.69 per share. This represents a $2.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.9%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, January 12th. Verizon Communications’s dividend payout ratio is 58.97%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have issued reports on VZ. BNP Paribas Exane cut Verizon Communications from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $44.00 target price for the company. in a report on Tuesday, October 21st. TD Cowen lowered their price target on shares of Verizon Communications from $56.00 to $51.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 30th. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on shares of Verizon Communications from $48.00 to $47.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on shares of Verizon Communications in a research note on Tuesday, September 2nd. They set a “buy” rating and a $49.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut shares of Verizon Communications from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, September 26th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have given a Buy rating and eleven have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $47.47.

Key Verizon Communications News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Large institutional buying: Several big managers (e.g., UBS AM, BlackRock, State Street, Capital World Investors) materially increased VZ positions in Q3 2025, a sign of continued institutional conviction that could underpin the share price. QuiverQuant: Opinion Summary
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst buy ratings and midpoint targets: Recent buy ratings (TD Cowen, Goldman Sachs) and a median analyst price target near $49 provide upside thesis points for investors focused on dividend yield + upside from network/5G execution. QuiverQuant: Analyst Ratings & Targets
• Positive Sentiment: Frontier acquisition could be material growth driver if approved: Market commentary highlights the $20B Frontier deal as a potential long?term revenue/cable footprint boost, which would be constructive for VZ’s growth outlook if regulatory approvals are secured. QuiverQuant: Frontier Deal Discussion
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts are conflicted: Coverage notes split views across communication?services names, signaling mixed near?term outlooks even as some firms remain constructive; that keeps volatility likely until clearer fundamentals or deal outcomes emerge. Globe and Mail: Analysts Conflicted
• Neutral Sentiment: Trending stock coverage and comparisons: Zacks and retail/press pieces are drawing attention to VZ (including long?term comparisons vs. AT&T), which can amplify flows but not necessarily change fundamentals. Zacks: Trending Stock
• Neutral Sentiment: Long?term dividend story vs. peers: Commentary comparing VZ vs. AT&T emphasizes Verizon’s steady dividend history but notes five?year price underperformance — relevant for income investors weighing yield vs. capital appreciation. Motley Fool: VZ vs T
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks Research cut multiple EPS estimates: Small but broad downward revisions (examples: Q4 2026 to $1.16 from $1.17; Q2 2026 to $1.24 from $1.26; Q4 2025 to $1.05 from $1.07; FY25/FY26/FY27 trimmed slightly) lower near?term earnings expectations and can weigh on the share price until trends reverse.
• Negative Sentiment: Job?cut and execution concerns: Reports of roughly 15,000 planned job cuts and public debate over execution/service impacts increase near?term uncertainty and reputational risk, and regulatory uncertainty around the Frontier deal raises the chance of delays or concessions. QuiverQuant: Job Cuts & Deal Debate

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.