Shares of Verizon Communications Inc. hovered near a 52-week high in Monday trading, propelled by an upgraded earnings forecast and a dividend increase for 2026. The stock movement unfolded as recent regulatory disclosures revealed a divergence in strategy among major institutional investors during the fourth quarter of 2025.
Institutional Positions Diverge
Form 13F filings submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission in early January provided a snapshot of institutional holdings as of December 31, 2025. The reports showed contrasting moves by key money managers. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC increased its Verizon stake by 7.4%, acquiring an additional 147,134 shares to bring its total position to 2,138,718 shares, valued at approximately $86.25 million at the quarter's end.
Similarly, St. Louis Financial Planners Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings by 35.5%, adding 23,843 shares. This purchase raised its total to 91,015 shares, worth about $3.71 million, making Verizon its 12th-largest portfolio allocation at 2.3%.
In contrast, Nordea Investment Management AB significantly reduced its exposure, selling 1,423,540 Verizon shares—a 16.6% cut. Following the sale, the Swedish asset manager held 7,176,288 shares, a stake valued at roughly $292.8 million at the period's close. The scale of Nordea's reduction far exceeded the combined purchases made by Wealth Enhancement and St. Louis Financial Planners.
Upgraded Financial Outlook
The investment activity coincides with Verizon's bolstered financial guidance. The company now projects adjusted earnings per share between $4.90 and $4.95 for the full year 2026, surpassing prior analyst expectations. Additionally, Verizon's board approved an increase in the quarterly dividend to $0.7075 per share.
This optimistic forecast follows the company's fourth-quarter 2025 results, reported on January 30, which showed adjusted earnings of $1.09 per share on revenue nearing $36.4 billion. For 2026, management anticipates adding 750,000 to 1 million net new retail postpaid phone subscribers—customers on monthly contracts—as part of its ongoing operational turnaround.
Market and Analyst Reaction
Verizon's stock traded around $50.40 late Monday morning, up approximately 0.8%, and within striking distance of its 52-week peak of $51.67. The positive momentum has drawn analyst attention. On March 20, Citi analyst Michael Rollins raised his price target on Verizon to $55 from $50, maintaining a Buy rating. He cited "positive optionality" stemming from the company's cost-cutting initiatives and its strategy to expand bundled wireless and broadband service offerings.
CEO Dan Schulman pointed to "strong momentum" entering 2025, following the January completion of the Frontier acquisition and the company's broader revitalization efforts.
Competitive Landscape Intensifies
Verizon's recovery bid is unfolding within a fiercely competitive telecommunications sector. Earlier this month, rival T-Mobile US Inc. leveled allegations of "bait-and-switch" tactics against Verizon. Furthermore, on March 10, AT&T Inc. announced a plan to invest over $250 billion in U.S. network infrastructure over the next five years, signaling that competitors are aggressively investing to capture market share.
It is important to note that the 13F filings reflect portfolio positions as of December 31, 2025, and do not account for any trading activity that may have occurred since the start of 2026. The data, while insightful, provides a lagged view of institutional sentiment.
