Verizon Stock Surges 5.05% in Four Days, Trading Volume Ranks 55th

On April 14, 2025, Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) experienced a 1.30% increase in its stock price, marking the fourth consecutive day of gains and a total rise of 5.05% over the past four days. The trading volume for the day was 10.77 billion, placing it at the 55th position in terms of daily trading volume.

Verizon Communications Inc. recently saw a reduction in its shareholdings by 3Chopt Investment Partners LLC. This move comes as part of ongoing adjustments in the company's ownership structure. Institutional investors hold approximately 27.05% of Verizon's stock, while insiders own a mere 0.02%, and public companies possess 23.78%.

Analysts have been actively revising their ratings and price targets for Verizon. Evercore ISI upgraded Verizon from an in-line rating to an outperform rating, setting a price target of $48.00. Other analysts, such as Tigress Financial and Scotiabank, have also issued positive ratings and price targets. The consensus rating among analysts is a "Moderate Buy" with a price target of $46.92.

Verizon's recent financial performance includes a quarterly earnings report where the company reported $1.10 earnings per share (EPS), slightly missing the consensus estimate of $1.11. The company's return on equity stands at 19.80%, and its net margin is 12.99%. Analysts predict that Verizon will post 4.69 earnings per share for the current year.

In terms of dividends, Verizon recently announced a quarterly dividend of $0.6775 per share, payable on May 1st. This represents an annualized dividend of $2.71 and a dividend yield of 6.20%. The dividend payout ratio is currently at 65.46%.

Insider trading activity has also been notable. CEO Kyle Malady sold 8,000 shares, and EVP Vandana Venkatesh sold 10,000 shares, both transactions resulting in significant reductions in their holdings. Overall, insiders have sold 49,085 shares valued at $2,020,895 over the past ninety days.

Hedge funds have been making adjustments to their positions in Verizon. McIlrath & Eck LLC increased its stake by 15.9%, while SOA Wealth Advisors LLC and SkyView Investment Advisors LLC also boosted their holdings. Te Ahumairangi Investment Management Ltd and Chelsea Counsel Co. have also raised their stakes in the company. Institutional investors collectively own 62.06% of Verizon's stock.