Verizon Communications Inc VZ
Stock research in plain language · As of Oct 04, 2026 · updated once a week, after the trading week closes
What the company does
Verizon Communications Inc is a large-cap company in the Communication Services sector (Telecom Services), with a market value of $190.8B, based in the USA.
It employs about 97,600 people and has been listed since Jul 23, 2000.
Verizon Communications Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of communications, technology, information, and streaming products and services to consumers, businesses, and governmental entities worldwide. It operates in two segments, Verizon Consumer Group (Consumer) and Verizon Business Group (Business). The Consumer segment provides wireless services across the wireless networks in the United States under the Verizon and TracFone brands and through wholesale and other arrangements; and fixed wireless access (FWA) broadband through its wireless networks, as well as related equipment and devices, such as smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and other wireless-enabled connected devices.
Cheap or expensive? relatively expensive
Its price-to-earnings (P/E) is 12.0 versus 8.0 for 3 direct peers — relatively expensive.
Revenue is shrinking 1% versus the same quarter last year.
On analysts' next-year forecasts the multiple drops to 8.7 — they expect higher earnings.
The average analyst price target is 51.17, 11% above the current price (their view, not ours).
The stock sits at 62% of its one-year range (0% = the low, 100% = the high).
The risks
- • Net debt is 1.8× shareholders' equity — high leverage.
Strengths
- ✅ Profitable — 11 of every 100 dollars of revenue stays as profit.
- ✅ Generates free cash flow — profit becomes cash in the bank.
- ✅ Buys back its shares (1% fewer shares in a year).
- ✅ Most analysts rate it buy (11 vs 0).
- ✅ Pays a dividend (6.1% a year).
What changed this week
Over the past week the stock fell 2.5% (for comparison: S&P 500 -0.2%, sector ETF XLC -2.3%).
This week's news
- Communication services sector rises in Q3; Meta Platforms leads gains seekingalpha.com · 2026-10-03
- Catalyst Watch: Microsoft event, FOMC talk, and the finish line for Paramount-Warner Bros. seekingalpha.com · 2026-10-02
- 1 S&P 500 Stock to Research Further and 2 Facing Headwinds finance.yahoo.com · 2026-10-02
- Musk's SpaceX Could Target Airlines, Maritime Before Taking On Big Wireless Firms finance.yahoo.com · 2026-10-02
- VZ vs. SPCX: Which Stock Is the Better Value Option? finance.yahoo.com · 2026-10-02
- Versant Reaches Multi-Year Distribution Renewal Agreement With Verizon finance.yahoo.com · 2026-10-02
A description of facts from the filings and the market — not investment advice or a recommendation. "Cheap" and "expensive" are always relative to the comparison group.