Verizon Is Up 24% in 2026 and Pays Over 5% in Dividends: Time to Buy?

Core Insights - Verizon Communications has shown significant improvement in its stock performance, with a year-to-date increase of 24% as of March 27 [1] - The company is recognized for its strong dividend policy, having raised its dividend for 22 consecutive years, with the latest increase bringing it to $0.71 for the next quarter and a dividend yield of approximately 5.6% [1][3] - Verizon reported its highest quarterly net additions of postpaid phone subscribers since 2019, with 616,000 net additions in Q4 2025 [3] - The acquisition of Frontier Communications has expanded Verizon's fiber access to over 30 million homes and businesses [3] - Market volatility may be driving investors towards Verizon as a value stock, particularly during periods of instability [4] Financial Metrics - Current stock price is $50.15, with a market capitalization of $212 billion [5] - The stock has a 52-week range of $38.39 to $51.68 and a gross margin of 45.79% [6] - The average trading volume is 32 million, while the current volume is 850,000 [6] - The dividend yield is reported at 5.45% [6] Investment Considerations - Verizon may be a suitable option for investors seeking passive income or looking to balance a growth-heavy portfolio, given its recent performance and stable dividend returns [6] - However, expectations for continued outperformance against the broader market should be tempered, as wireless carriers typically deliver modest returns over time [6]