Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) Stock: Insider Kyle Malady Sells 1,100 Shares

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) CEO Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares of Verizon Communications stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.48, for a total value of $48,928.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 99,966 shares in the company, valued at $4,446,487.68. The trade was a 1.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 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 13th, Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares of Verizon Communications stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $42.93, for a total value of $47,223.00.
• 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 value of $50,325.00.
• On Tuesday, September 29th, Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares of Verizon Communications stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $46.40, for a total value 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 value 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 stock was 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 transaction of $53,548.00.

Verizon Communications Price Performance

VZ stock opened at $45.16 on Friday. Verizon Communications Inc. has a one year low of $38.39 and a one year high of $51.68. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $47.65 and a two-hundred day moving average of $46.66. The firm has a market capitalization of $187.61 billion, a PE ratio of 8.93, a P/E/G ratio of 1.66 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 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.27 by $0.03. Verizon Communications had a net margin of 11.64% and a return on equity of 19.48%. The business had revenue of $34.25 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $35.16 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.22 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was down .7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts forecast that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 5.03 earnings per share for the current 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 $0.7075 dividend. This represents a $2.83 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.3%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 9th. Verizon Communications’s dividend payout ratio is 73.70%.

Institutional Trading of Verizon Communications

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in VZ. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC lifted its position in Verizon Communications by 6.2% in the 2nd quarter. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC now owns 3,568 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $151,000 after buying an additional 207 shares in the last quarter. RKL Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 4.3% during the 1st quarter. RKL Wealth Management LLC now owns 5,338 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $268,000 after buying an additional 218 shares during the period. Manchester Financial Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 0.6% during the 2nd quarter. Manchester Financial Inc. now owns 34,924 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $1,479,000 after acquiring an additional 218 shares in the last quarter. Frazier Financial Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 32.7% during the 1st quarter. Frazier Financial Advisors LLC now owns 888 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $45,000 after acquiring an additional 219 shares in the last quarter. Finally, FAS Wealth Partners Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 1.2% during the 1st quarter. FAS Wealth Partners Inc. now owns 18,421 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $925,000 after acquiring an additional 223 shares in the last quarter. 62.06% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Verizon Communications News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Verizon enters its October 26 earnings report with potential support from strong customer metrics, fiber expansion and an attractive valuation. Analysts expect third-quarter EPS of about $1.27, with subscriber additions, churn and broadband growth likely to be key catalysts. Verizon earnings outlook
• Positive Sentiment: Verizon’s quarterly dividend remains an important attraction for income-focused investors, with an annualized payout of $2.83 and a yield of roughly 6.5%. Institutional ownership and recent purchases by major asset managers also provide some support. Verizon dividend and ownership data
• Neutral Sentiment: Bernstein maintained a “Hold” rating, consistent with the broader analyst consensus. The average price target remains above recent trading levels, but analysts continue to see a balanced risk-reward profile rather than a clear near-term catalyst. Bernstein maintains Hold rating
• Neutral Sentiment: CEO Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares for approximately $48,928 under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. The transaction reduced his direct holdings by only about 1.09%, limiting its significance as a signal of management’s outlook. SEC insider filing
• Negative Sentiment: SpaceX’s spectrum deal is clouding the wireless outlook. Investors fear Starlink could intensify competition, pressure pricing and reduce the importance of Verizon’s near-term earnings beat. High debt and competitive pressure from AT&T and T-Mobile add to the risk. SpaceX spectrum deal and Verizon

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have weighed in on VZ shares. TD Cowen lifted their price objective on shares of Verizon Communications from $54.00 to $56.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, July 27th. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Verizon Communications from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, July 27th. Moffett Nathanson reduced their target price on Verizon Communications from $56.00 to $49.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Monday, July 20th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on Verizon Communications from $43.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, July 27th. Finally, BNP Paribas Exane decreased their target price on Verizon Communications from $46.00 to $44.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, July 14th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $50.80.

About Verizon Communications

Verizon Communications Inc is a telecommunications company that provides wireless communications, broadband, and digital connectivity services. Through its consumer business, Verizon offers mobile voice and data plans, smartphones and other connected devices, home internet, fixed wireless access, and fiber-optic broadband services under the Fios brand.

Verizon also serves businesses, government agencies, and other organizations with wireless connectivity, private networks, internet and data services, managed communications, cloud and security solutions, and Internet of Things services.