Verizon Shares Extend Losing Streak Amid Mixed Analyst Ratings
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 5 days ago
0mins
Should l Buy VZ?
Source: seekingalpha
- Stock Decline Trend: Verizon shares fell 0.14% on Tuesday to $45.36, extending the losing streak to seven sessions, with a cumulative decline of over 8.06% in the previous six sessions, contrasting with a 4.61% gain in the S&P 500, indicating significant market weakness.
- Fundamental Analysis: Despite recent weakness, analyst Bela Lakos maintained a Hold rating on Verizon, citing attractive fundamentals supported by strong Q4 subscriber growth and a targeted $5 billion in annual cost savings, while also flagging risks from rising debt levels and an uncertain interest rate environment that could weigh on profitability.
- Cash Flow and Shareholder Returns: Verizon's free cash flow outlook and shareholder returns remain solid, although the current valuation suggests limited upside; however, its 5.6% dividend yield continues to attract income-focused investors, indicating some investment value.
- Quant Ratings and Market Sentiment: Seeking Alpha's Quant Rating supports a Hold stance with a score of 3.49, reflecting strong profitability but weak growth, and while Wall Street analysts have assigned Buy ratings, the Quant scores approaching Hold territory suggest a more cautious market sentiment regarding Verizon's future performance.
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Analyst Views on VZ
Wall Street analysts forecast VZ stock price to fall
14 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
10 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 46.780
Low
43.00
Averages
46.42
High
51.00
Current: 46.780
Low
43.00
Averages
46.42
High
51.00
About VZ
Verizon Communications Inc. is a holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, provides communications, technology, information and streaming products and services to consumers, businesses and government entities. Its Consumer segment provides wireless and wireline communications services. It also provides fixed wireless access (FWA) broadband through its 5G or 4G Long-Term Evolution (LTE) networks portfolio. The Company's Business segment provides wireless and wireline communications services and products, including FWA broadband, data, video and advanced communication services, corporate networking solutions, security and managed network services, local and long-distance voice services and network access to deliver various Internet of Things (IoT) services and products. It provides these products and services to businesses, public sector customers and wireless and wireline carriers across the U.S. and a subset of these products and services to customers around the world.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Significant User Growth: The company added over 1 million users across mobility and broadband, with 616,000 being postpaid phone net additions, marking the best quarter since 2019, demonstrating the effectiveness of the new CEO's market strategy.
- Accelerating Free Cash Flow: Verizon reported free cash flow of $20.1 billion for 2025, up from $19.8 billion in 2024, with management guiding for an increase to $21.5 billion or more in 2026, representing at least 7% growth, which secures future investments and shareholder returns.
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- Free Cash Flow Growth: In 2025, Verizon's free cash flow was $20.1 billion, up 1.5% from $19.8 billion in 2024, with expectations to exceed $21.5 billion in 2026, representing at least 7% growth, providing a solid foundation for future investments and shareholder returns.
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- Significant User Growth: The company added over 1 million users across mobility and broadband, with 616,000 being postpaid phone net additions, marking the best quarter since 2019, demonstrating the effectiveness of the new CEO's market strategy.
- Accelerating Free Cash Flow: Verizon reported free cash flow of $20.1 billion for 2025, up from $19.8 billion in 2024, with management guiding for an increase to $21.5 billion or more in 2026, representing at least 7% growth, which secures future investments and shareholder returns.
- Successful Acquisition Strategy: The completion of the Frontier acquisition expands Verizon's fiber network to 30 million homes and businesses, with plans to reach 40 to 50 million fiber passings, enhancing customer retention and reducing churn through cross-selling opportunities.
See More
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- Free Cash Flow Growth: In 2025, Verizon's free cash flow was $20.1 billion, up 1.5% from $19.8 billion in 2024, with expectations to exceed $21.5 billion in 2026, representing at least 7% growth, providing a solid foundation for future investments and shareholder returns.
- Acquisition Strategy Expansion: Verizon's recent acquisition of Frontier expanded its fiber network to 30 million homes and businesses, with plans to reach 40 to 50 million fiber passings, enhancing competitive positioning and customer lifetime value.
- Attractive Valuation: Currently, Verizon's price-to-earnings ratio stands at just 11.5, below the industry average, and with management forecasting 4% to 5% growth in adjusted earnings per share for 2026, the market appears overly pessimistic about the company's growth prospects, presenting a compelling investment opportunity.
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- NVIDIA's Exceptional Performance: NVIDIA (NVDA) was upgraded to Buy, with analysts emphasizing its exceptional execution in the AI space and a massive order backlog from hyperscalers, which is expected to secure growth through 2027, while attractive free cash flow margins support its valuation.
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- Infrastructure Upgrade: Verizon will support over 50 terabytes of data per match during the 2026 World Cup, with network capacity expected to increase three to five times, ensuring high-performance connectivity for fans inside and outside the stadiums, thereby enhancing the overall event experience.
- 5G Technology Deployment: By deploying private 5G networks in host stadiums, Verizon will support critical applications such as referee view cameras, providing ultra-low latency and high throughput to enhance the immersive experience for global audiences and ensure smooth tournament operations.
- Community Investment Commitment: Verizon is investing in upgrading local network infrastructure to enhance digital capabilities in surrounding communities, which will not only support the influx of visitors during the tournament but also provide residents with long-term access to high-speed internet, fostering education and economic development.
- Small Business Support Program: Through the Small Business Digital Ready program, Verizon is assisting local small businesses in preparing for the surge in foot traffic during the World Cup by providing reliable network solutions and digital tools, enabling them to compete effectively on a global stage and improve customer experiences.
See More
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- Stock Recovery: AST SpaceMobile's stock has rebounded from a record low of $2.01 to approximately $85, primarily driven by partnerships with AT&T and Verizon and the successful launch of five BB1 satellites, indicating a potential resurgence in the low Earth orbit satellite market.
- Satellite Launch Plans: The company aims to increase its satellite count in orbit to 60 by the end of 2024, with a long-term goal of launching over 240 satellites, a strategy that will significantly enhance its market competitiveness and drive future revenue growth.
- Surging Revenue Expectations: Analysts project AST's revenue to soar from $71 million in 2025 to $1.92 billion by 2028, reflecting positive developments in new deals and satellite expansion, although its current market cap of $26 billion suggests that much of this growth is already priced in.
- Competitive Pressure and Opportunities: Despite fierce competition from SpaceX's Starlink, AST's technological advancements and market strategies position it for sustainable growth in the future, attracting investor interest and boosting market confidence.
See More
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- Successful Satellite Launch: AST SpaceMobile's launch of its first five BB1 commercial satellites has propelled its stock from a historic low of $2.01 to approximately $85, indicating strong market confidence in its future growth prospects.
- Revenue Surge Expectations: Analysts project AST's revenue to skyrocket from $71 million in 2025 to $1.92 billion by 2028, reflecting the potential of its partnerships with telecom giants and satellite expansion plans.
- Nio's Vehicle Growth: Nio's annual vehicle deliveries are expected to rise from 43,728 in 2020 to 326,028 by 2025, achieving a 40% CAGR, although its stock still trades below one times this year's sales, raising concerns about its profitability.
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