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Verizon Communications Inc.

VZ · NYSE

Market closed$43.59$-0.290000 (-0.66%)After hours $43.65 · +0.14%

Key statistics

Previous close$43.88
Open$44.35
Day high$45.02
Day low$43.27
52-week high$51.68
52-week low$38.39
Market cap182.01B
Volume30.01M
Average volume26.88M
P/E ratio9.08
Forward P/E—
EPS4.80
Dividend yield+6.41%

Market context

Why it moved

Verizon edged slightly lower despite announcing a major cost-cutting restructuring that includes cutting 3,000 jobs and divesting 274 corporate-owned stores, as investors weighed the near-term operational disruption and ongoing concerns about the company's long-term growth strategy against the potential margin benefits of CEO Dan Schulman's $5 billion expense reduction plan.

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What is happening

Recent company-specific developments and publisher coverage.

July 17, 2026Verizon Communications edged lower in regular trading but is holding near flat in after-hours, as investors digest the company's sweeping restructuring moves — including the divestiture of 274 company-owned retail stores and roughly 3,000 job cuts targeting $5 billion in cost savings. While the restructuring weighed on some sentiment, analysts see potential margin upside given Verizon's record Q1 adjusted EBITDA margin of 38.9% and reaffirmed FY2026 EPS guidance of $4.95–$4.99. Starlink competition concerns and price target cuts from Barclays and Bernstein remain overhangs, though a ~6.5% dividend yield and a forward P/E of 8.6x keep income investors engaged.

-0.6609

July 17, 2026Verizon Communications rose nearly 2.5% — outperforming the broader market — as the company confirmed it will sell 274 company-owned retail stores and cut approximately 3,000 jobs as part of its ongoing restructuring under CEO Daniel Schulman, who is targeting $5 billion in operational cost savings. Investors responded positively to the cost-discipline narrative, which builds on Verizon's record Q1 adjusted EBITDA of $13.4 billion (up 6.7% YoY, margin of 38.9%), while the stock also drew attention as a high-yield income play ahead of its Q2 earnings report due July 24 and an upcoming $0.7075 quarterly dividend payout on August 3.

2.4516

July 16, 2026Verizon Communications edged higher, gaining roughly 0.85%, as investors weighed a mixed backdrop: imminent layoff announcements tied to management's $5 billion cost-cutting target, alongside multiple analyst price target cuts from Barclays, BNP Paribas (to $44), and Bernstein — the latter citing sector-wide valuation risk from SpaceX/Starlink competition. Offsetting some negativity, Verizon's record Q1 EBITDA margin of 38.9% and a compelling 6.7% dividend yield continue to attract institutional buyers, with several funds adding to positions amid a broader market rally on softer CPI inflation data.

0.8477

July 15, 2026Verizon Communications closed modestly lower as the market digested a Barron's report that the company plans a new round of layoffs this week, part of CEO Hans Vestberg's push toward $5 billion in cost savings and expanded AI-driven customer service ahead of its July 24 earnings. Adding to near-term pressure, BNP Paribas cut its price target on the stock to $44 from $46 while maintaining a Neutral rating. On the positive side, Verizon continues to draw institutional interest — multiple firms added to positions in Q1 — and its 6.6% dividend yield is attracting income-oriented investors amid a broader Fed pause narrative.

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July 14, 2026Verizon Communications closed modestly higher, outperforming a broader market that slipped on renewed U.S.-Iran hostilities and surging oil prices. Investor focus remained on the company's defensive appeal heading into Q2 earnings season, with Barron's flagging VZ as an attractive income play given its ~6.7% dividend yield. However, Bernstein cut its price target to $44 from $49 while maintaining a Market Perform rating, and Barclays also trimmed its target, reflecting tempered near-term upside. On the positive side, Verizon's new BMW Group automotive connectivity deal via its KDDI partnership and a strong Q1 earnings beat ($1.28 EPS vs. $1.21 est.) continue to underpin sentiment, though Starlink competition remains a watch item.

1.3295

July 11, 2026Verizon Communications closed modestly lower on its ex-dividend date, with today marking the record date for its $0.7075 quarterly dividend — equivalent to a 6.7% annualized yield. Investor sentiment remains cautious amid competing narratives: on the positive side, Verizon announced a new long-term 5G connectivity deal to power BMW Group vehicles in the U.S. through a KDDI partnership, expanding its enterprise IoT revenue base. However, analysts at Wells Fargo and Barclays both maintained Equal-Weight ratings with price targets of $43 and $45, respectively, while growing concerns over SpaceX's Starlink intensifying competitive pressure on Verizon's fixed wireless and postpaid business continue to weigh on the telecom sector broadly.

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July 10, 2026Verizon Communications closed modestly lower as the stock continues to trade well below its 50-day moving average of $46.29, reflecting persistent pressure following a late-June selloff triggered by SpaceX's Starlink mobile expansion plans. Investor focus today centered on Verizon's announcement of a 5G connectivity partnership with BMW Group for U.S. connected vehicles, while Wells Fargo (Equal-Weight, $43 target) and Barclays (Equal-Weight, $45 target) maintained cautious ratings. With the July 10 ex-dividend date approaching, the stock's 6.7% dividend yield remains a key draw for income investors, even as analysts hold a consensus Hold rating and the stock trades roughly 9% below Q1 earnings levels.

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July 9, 2026Verizon Communications closed modestly lower as fresh analyst pressure and a risk-off macro backdrop weighed on the stock. Barclays lowered its price target to $45 from $47 (maintaining Equal Weight), and Wells Fargo initiated coverage with an Equal-Weight rating and a $43 target — near current levels — signaling limited near-term upside in Street views. Broader headwinds included President Trump declaring the U.S.-Iran ceasefire "over," triggering a market-wide selloff, while Communication Services remained one of the weakest sectors. Despite near-term pressure, investor focus is turning to the July 10 ex-dividend date for Verizon's $0.7075 quarterly payout (~6.6% yield), alongside ongoing interest in the company's BT joint venture, recent spectrum wins, and CEO Dan Schulman's turnaround narrative.

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Fast Company · July 17, 2026Verizon layoffs today: More jobs slashed as wireless giant moves to sell retail stores to franchiseesBloomberg.com · July 16, 2026Verizon Cuts Store Workers in Reorganization StrategyBarron's · July 16, 2026Verizon to Lay Off 3,000 Workers as Part of Broader RestructuringReuters · July 16, 2026US wireless carrier Verizon to sell 274 stores, lay off another 500 corporate employeesTradingView · July 16, 2026VZ Stock Slips As Verizon Reportedly Plans New Round Of LayoffsTechStock² · July 16, 2026Verizon (NYSE: VZ) store sale puts investor focus on execution over retail presenceWSJ · July 15, 2026AT&T and Verizon Look Beyond the Family PlanSeeking Alpha · July 14, 2026Verizon to announce fresh layoffs this week (VZ:NYSE)
Mt Newswire · July 16, 2026Sector Update: Consumer Stocks Rise Late Afternoon
Mt Newswire · July 16, 2026Verizon Reportedly Advances Restructuring Efforts With Plan to Sell 274 Retail Stores
Benzinga · July 16, 2026'Verizon to Cut About 3,000 Jobs, Divest Itself of Some Retail Stores' - Wall Street Journal
Benzinga · July 15, 2026Scotiabank Maintains Sector Outperform on Verizon Communications, Lowers Price Target to $51.5
Mt Newswire · July 14, 2026Verizon Plans Another Round of Job Cuts This Week, Barron's Reports
Benzinga · July 14, 2026'Verizon Plans New Round of Layoffs This Week' - Barrons Exclusive
Mt Newswire · July 14, 2026BNP Paribas Cuts Verizon Communications Price Target to $44 From $46, Maintains Neutral Rating
Mt Newswire · July 13, 2026Bernstein Adjusts Price Target on Verizon Communications to $44 From $49, Maintains Market Perform Rating

Peers

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