Verizon Communications Stock: Is Wall Street Bullish or Bearish?

Core Insights - Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) is the largest telecommunications company in the U.S., valued at $167.1 billion, providing a range of communication and entertainment services [1] Performance Overview - VZ shares have underperformed the broader market, declining 3.3% over the past year, while the S&P 500 Index has increased by nearly 16.1% [2] - In 2026, VZ's stock fell 3.5%, contrasting with a 1.9% rise in the S&P 500 on a year-to-date basis [2] Comparative Analysis - VZ has lagged behind the iShares U.S. Telecommunications ETF (IYZ), which gained approximately 26.1% over the past year, and the ETF's 1.8% year-to-date gains outshine VZ's losses [3] Financial Performance - On October 29, 2025, VZ reported Q3 results with an adjusted EPS of $1.21, exceeding Wall Street expectations of $1.19, while revenue was $33.8 billion, missing forecasts of $34.2 billion [4] - Analysts project VZ's EPS to grow by 2% to $4.68 for the current fiscal year ending December 2025, with a strong earnings surprise history [4] Analyst Ratings - Among 29 analysts covering VZ, the consensus rating is "Moderate Buy," consisting of eight "Strong Buy," three "Moderate Buy," and 18 "Hold" ratings [5] - Wells Fargo maintained an "Equal Weight" rating on VZ, lowering the price target to $41, indicating a potential upside of 4.3% from current levels [6] - The mean price target of $46.87 suggests a 19.2% premium to VZ's current price, while the highest target of $58 indicates a potential upside of 47.5% [6]