June 12, 2025 — New York, NY: Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) saw its stock price slip to $43.11 on Wednesday, down 1.46% for the day, as investors responded to a mix of institutional activity, insider selling, and fresh financial performance metrics from the first quarter of 2025.
Despite the minor price dip, Verizon reported a solid financial quarter. The telecom giant posted $33.49 billion in revenue, a 1.53% increase year-over-year, while net income rose 6.02% to $4.88 billion. Earnings per share climbed to $1.19, marking a 3.48% improvement from the same period last year. The company’s net profit margin also grew to 14.57%, reflecting stronger operational efficiency.
Institutional Holdings and Insider Moves
Recent SEC filings show Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA reduced its position in Verizon by 9.4% in the first quarter, now holding 656,183 shares valued at $29.76 million. Other institutional investors, including Crescent Sterling Ltd. and NCM Capital Management, made modest increases to their positions.
Meanwhile, Verizon CEO Kyle Malady sold 7,500 shares in late April, a transaction valued at over $329,000, reducing his direct holdings by nearly 28%. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold a total of 21,500 shares, worth approximately $938,400, according to SEC disclosures.
Analyst Sentiment and Ratings
Verizon currently holds a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating from analysts, according to MarketBeat. Of the firms covering the stock:
- 9 analysts rate it as Hold
- 8 analysts give it a Buy
- 2 rate it a Strong Buy
Price targets have recently been adjusted, with Tigress Financial raising its outlook to $56, while Oppenheimer upped its target to $50, maintaining an “Outperform” rating. However, Wolfe Research downgraded the stock to “Peer Perform,” suggesting tempered expectations in the near term.
Dividend Appeal and Valuation
Verizon continues to attract income-focused investors with its generous 6.29% dividend yield. The stock trades at a P/E ratio of 10.24, offering potential value compared to broader market benchmarks. With a market capitalization of $181.67 billion, Verizon remains one of the top players in the U.S. telecom sector.