Verizon Stock Today (VZ) on November 18, 2025: Price Action, 15,000 Job Cuts, Dividend Yield and Analyst Outlook

Verizon Communications stock (NYSE: VZ) is edging higher on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, as investors digest fresh institutional buying, options activity and continuing fallout from the company’s historic 15,000‑job layoff plan.

As of the latest midday data, Verizon trades around $41.23, up roughly 0.5% on the day, after opening near $41.10 and touching an intraday range of about $40.95–$41.41. That puts the telecom giant close to the middle of its 52‑week range of roughly $35.8 to $47.4 and at a market capitalization in the low‑$170 billion area. ^[1]

At the same time, a near‑7% dividend yield and a single‑digit earnings multiple continue to attract long‑term, income‑oriented investors—even as Wall Street remains cautious about growth, competition and execution under new CEO Dan Schulman. ^[2]

1. Verizon stock price snapshot for November 18, 2025

Intraday trading

Last price: about $41.23
Change on the day: roughly +$0.22 (+0.5%) versus Monday’s close near $41.01 ^[3]
Intraday range: approximately $40.95–$41.41
Volume so far: around 6.5 million shares, running below recent daily volume figures of roughly 14–15 million shares. ^[4]

Key valuation markers

Recent data show: ^[5]

P/E ratio: high‑single‑digit (around 8–9x current‑year earnings)
Annual dividend per share:$2.76
Dividend yield at today’s price: about 6.7%
52‑week range: roughly $35.79 – $47.36

For context, that yield is several times higher than the broader U.S. equity market, while the earnings multiple sits well below the S&P 500’s long‑term average.

All market data are intraday and may change by the closing bell.

2. Fresh November 18 news: what’s moving VZ today?

2.1 Big money keeps adding: new 13F filings

A string of institutional ownership updates published today highlight steady accumulation of Verizon shares by large asset managers:

Empowered Funds LLC boosted its Verizon position by 13.6% in Q2, to 729,975 shares worth about $31.6 million. ^[6]
Nomura Asset Management increased its stake by 4.4%, now holding 1,568,396 shares valued at roughly $67.9 million. ^[7]
Inspire Advisors LLC ramped its holding by 83.2% to 36,794 shares (~$1.59 million), and explicitly highlighted Verizon’s higher $0.69 quarterly dividend ($2.76 annualized) and ~6.7% yield. ^[8]
Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC raised its position by 19.3% to 111,874 shares, now worth about $4.84 million. ^[9]

These filings also show that around 62% of Verizon’s float is in institutional hands, underlining its status as a core income holding for many professional portfolios. ^[10]

Separately, Nasdaq reported a “notable ETF inflow” into the Avantis U.S. Large Cap Value ETF (AVLV), with Verizon listed among its significant underlying holdings—another sign of value‑oriented capital flowing into the name today. ^[11]

2.2 Options market: moderately bullish, but hedged

Options flow this morning skewed cautiously bullish:

A report from TheFly via TipRanks notes Verizon shares were up about 0.87% near $41.37 earlier in the session.
Options volume was a modest 16,000 contracts, but calls heavily outnumbered puts with a put/call ratio of 0.13, compared with a typical level closer to 0.5.
Implied volatility (30‑day) was around 19.8, a bit above the 52‑week median, and put‑call skew steepened—suggesting more demand for downside protection even as traders favor calls. ^[12]

Taken together, that points to short‑term optimism with a safety net: some traders are betting on upside, but they’re also willing to pay up for insurance given the restructuring risk.

2.3 The 15,000‑job layoff shock still hangs over the stock

Last week’s announcement that Verizon plans to cut about 15,000 jobs—the largest reduction in the company’s history—remains the biggest story hanging over the share price. ^[13]

Key details from recent reports:

The cuts amount to roughly 15% of the total workforce, focused mainly on non‑union management roles, and are expected to start as soon as this month. ^[14]
Verizon will also convert around 180 company‑owned retail stores into franchises, effectively shifting many workers off Verizon’s payroll. ^[15]
New CEO Dan Schulman (formerly of PayPal) has framed the plan as an aggressive “cost transformation” aimed at making Verizon a “simpler, leaner and scrappier” business in the face of slower subscriber growth and intense competition from AT&T, T‑Mobile and cable operators. ^[16]
Newsweek and other outlets emphasize that this is the biggest layoff round Verizon has ever undertaken, underscoring both the scale of the challenge and management’s willingness to act decisively. ^[17]

Markets initially reacted positively—Reuters noted shares rose around 1.5% on the layoff headlines—but investors are now wrestling with a more nuanced question:

Will cost cuts and store franchising genuinely improve profitability without permanently damaging customer service, brand perception or employee morale?

That debate is one reason the stock trades at a discount valuation despite strong cash flows.

2.4 Frontier acquisition and a $10 billion bond sale

Another major overhang is the financing of Verizon’s planned acquisition of Frontier Communications’ fiber assets, a roughly $20 billion deal including assumed debt. ^[18]

Recent updates:

Reuters reported that Verizon is seeking about $10 billion in a multi‑tranche corporate bond sale tied to the Frontier deal, including a 40‑year bond with initial pricing talk about 1.6 percentage points over Treasuries. ^[19]
A prior analysis highlighted the transaction as a $9.6 billion cash acquisition, valued at roughly $20 billion when Frontier’s debt is included, that should significantly expand Verizon’s national fiber‑optic network and support future 5G and broadband growth. ^[20]

This move deepens Verizon’s already large debt load but also strengthens its infrastructure moat—another trade‑off investors are weighing.

3. Q3 2025 results: solid cash flow, modest growth

Verizon’s third‑quarter 2025 earnings, released on October 29, set the backdrop for today’s trading. According to the company’s official report: ^[21]

Wireless service revenue climbed to $21.0 billion, up 2.1% year‑over‑year.
Total operating revenue reached $33.8 billion, a 1.5% increase versus Q3 2024.
GAAP EPS came in at $1.17, while adjusted EPS was $1.21, slightly above last year’s $1.19 and modestly ahead of many analyst estimates.
Free cash flow for the first nine months of 2025 was $15.8 billion, up from $14.5 billion in the prior year period.
Management reiterated full‑year guidance for:
- Wireless service revenue growth of 2.0–2.8%
- Adjusted EBITDA growth of 2.5–3.5%
- Adjusted EPS growth of 1–3%
- Free cash flow of $19.5–$20.5 billion
- Capital expenditures inside or below $17.5–$18.5 billion

Segment performance shows a clear divide:

Consumer: revenue up 2.9%, but postpaid phone net adds were slightly negative (about 7,000 net losses) amid stiff competition. ^[22]
Business: revenue down 2.8%, although wireless service revenue in that segment still grew ~0.7% and margins improved. ^[23]

Schulman used the earnings call to stress that Verizon will pivot hard toward a “customer‑first culture”, while simultaneously attacking costs and refocusing capital spending. ^[24]

4. Dividend: nearly 7% yield and a 19‑year growth streak

Verizon is first and foremost a dividend story for many shareholders.

4.1 Current yield and payout

Recent dividend data show: ^[25]

Quarterly dividend:$0.69 per share
Annualized dividend:$2.76 per share
Last ex‑dividend date:October 10, 2025; the latest payment was made on November 3.
Dividend yield at today’s price: around 6.7%
Payout ratio: roughly 58–59% of earnings

In its Q3 release, Verizon confirmed it has now raised its dividend for 19 consecutive years, reinforcing its reputation as a dependable income name. ^[26]

A separate long‑form analysis earlier this year highlighted that the company had already logged 18 straight dividend hikes, putting it on a path toward eventual Dividend Aristocrat status (25+ years of increases) if the streak continues. ^[27]

4.2 How the dividend fits into today’s narrative

For today’s buyers, the key questions are:

Is the nearly 7% yield sustainable in light of layoffs, restructuring and Frontier financing?
Can management grow free cash flow fast enough to support both the dividend and continued deleveraging?

So far, the numbers look cautiously supportive: free cash flow is trending upward, and management has reaffirmed full‑year guidance without touching the dividend. ^[28]

It’s no surprise, then, that Verizon repeatedly appears in lists of high‑yield “blue chip” or “Dog of the Dow” ideas targeted at conservative income investors. ^[29]

5. Wall Street view: cheap, high‑yield, but mostly a “Hold”

Despite the rich income profile, analysts are not pounding the table on VZ.

5.1 Consensus ratings and price targets

MarketBeat’s latest forecast compilation shows: ^[30]

Consensus rating:“Hold”
Number of analysts:21
- 13 rate the stock Hold
- 6 rate it Buy
- 2 rate it Strong Buy
Average 12‑month price target:$47.41
- High target: $56
- Low target: $40
- Implied upside from around $41.25 today: roughly 15%

Several recent research notes—summarized in today’s institutional articles—show a mix of modest downgrades and cautious buy ratings:

TD Cowen trimmed its target from $56 to $51 but kept a Buy rating. ^[31]
Other firms, including BNP Paribas and various independent rating services, have moved Verizon from “Buy” to “Hold”, citing competitive and growth concerns. ^[32]

Yesterday, Zacks flagged Verizon as one of the most‑watched stocks on its platform, pointing to heightened interest in whether the combination of high yield and low valuation justifies the risk. ^[33]

5.2 What that means

In short:

Bulls see a defensive cash‑flow machine with a big dividend, improving cost discipline and room for multiple expansion if execution improves.
Skeptics worry that slow top‑line growth, intense competition and heavy capital needs will cap upside, keeping VZ a “bond proxy” rather than a genuine growth story.

That tension is exactly why the rating sits at Hold even as the stock screens cheap.

6. Key risks and opportunities investors are watching

6.1 Reasons some investors like Verizon here

High, growing income stream
- Nearly 7% yield, backed by a 19‑year dividend growth streak and robust free cash flow guidance. ^[34]
Attractive valuation
- P/E in the high‑8s, free‑cash‑flow yield above 10%, and a share price still well below pre‑2022 levels. ^[35]
Strengthening fiber and 5G footprint
- The Frontier deal and ongoing capex in wireless and broadband expand Verizon’s infrastructure moat over time. ^[36]
Institutional and ETF support
- Today’s 13F headlines and ETF inflow data show large, sophisticated investors continuing to add to Verizon exposure. ^[37]

6.2 Risks that could pressure the stock

Execution risk on massive restructuring
- The 15,000‑job cut and store franchising push are unprecedented in Verizon’s history. A misstep could hurt service quality, brand strength and long‑term customer retention. ^[38]
Competitive pressure and weak subscriber growth
- Verizon continues to trail T‑Mobile in postpaid phone additions, while AT&T and cable operators fight hard on price and bundled offers. ^[39]
Leverage and interest‑rate sensitivity
- Verizon already has about $119.7 billion in unsecured debt and a net‑debt‑to‑EBITDA ratio around 2.2x; funding the Frontier deal with another $10 billion in bonds raises questions about balance‑sheet flexibility if rates stay higher for longer. ^[40]
Muted analyst enthusiasm
- With a consensus Hold rating and only limited upside in many models, Wall Street is not yet convinced that Schulman’s strategy will restore robust growth. ^[41]

7. What today’s move in Verizon stock means for investors

On November 18, 2025, Verizon stock is quietly grinding higher despite a choppy macro backdrop and lingering headlines about job cuts and corporate debt.

The picture today looks like this:

Price: modestly higher around $41+
Income:near‑7% dividend yield, underpinned by strong free cash flow and a long growth streak
Positioning: fresh evidence of institutional buying and ETF inflows
Risk: large, complex restructuring plus big‑ticket fiber expansion financed with new bonds

For long‑term, income‑focused investors, Verizon remains a classic high‑yield, slow‑growth telecom: attractive cash returns, but with real execution and competitive risks attached.

For short‑term traders, today’s options data hint at measured bullishness—but the elevated demand for downside protection suggests nobody is taking the restructuring story lightly.

As always, this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Before buying or selling any stock, including Verizon, consider your own objectives, risk tolerance and the latest official filings and earnings materials.

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