Why Verizon Communications (VZ) Is Back on Investors’ Radar

Verizon Communications (VZ) has drawn fresh attention after recent share price moves, with the stock up 1.1% over the past day but down over the past week and month.

For investors tracking longer stretches, Verizon shows a gain year to date and over the past year, set against a decline over the past 3 months. This creates a mixed backdrop for reassessing the telecom giant.

With the share price at $45.37, Verizon’s short term share price return is weak, with the 7 day and 90 day share price returns both down, while the year to date share price return is positive and supported by a 1 year total shareholder return of 10.56%.

If this mix of income and stability appeals to you, it could be a good moment to broaden your watchlist beyond telecoms and look at 9 dividend fortresses

With Verizon trading at $45.37, some metrics suggest a discount to certain estimates, yet recent mixed returns hint that expectations may already be reset. Is this a patient buying opportunity, or is future growth already priced in?

Most Popular Narrative: 20.7% Overvalued

According to a widely followed narrative, Verizon’s fair value sits at $37.59, which is below the recent $45.37 share price and frames the current debate around upside from here.

Verizon, for instance, had been on my wish list for a very long time, but I kept putting it off due to conflicting reports about the company. At the time (2023), I was able to buy it for approximately $31. Eventually, I did purchase it this week (May 5, 2026) at $47.50 because the company is showing strong figures, including for the coming years. I bought a very small batch, 5 shares. And yes, the psychology of the stock market: if I buy, it drops! I'll wait and see for now, and if it drops further later, I'll just buy another small amount to maintain the average purchase price. This purchasing method has already saved me a lot of money over the past few years. My goal is to invest a maximum of $5,000 within one to two years. That brings me to 50 companies in which I have invested, with a current portfolio value of $200,000, which has yielded a return of over 15% per year over the past 5 years, partly due to reinvesting all dividends. My advice now is to put it on hold for a while to see what the Verizon stock does in the near future. Investing in Verizon is almost a must for diversification. Relatively low risk and reasonable return!

The narrative leans on steady revenue growth, a specific profit margin profile and a future earnings multiple that together justify a fair value below today’s price. Curious which assumptions matter most here, and how they could shift your view of Verizon’s long term return potential.

Result: Fair Value of $37.59 (OVERVALUED)

However, recent share price weakness and the 20.7% gap above this fair value estimate illustrate how quickly sentiment or earnings forecasts could challenge this overvalued story.

Another View: DCF Points the Other Way

While the user narrative flags Verizon as 20.7% overvalued at a fair value of $37.59, our DCF model lands in a very different place. It suggests Verizon is trading at a 64.1% discount to an estimated fair value of $126.38, which presents the stock as materially undervalued on this measure. Which story do you think better fits your expectations for future cash flows and risk?

Simply Wall St performs a discounted cash flow (DCF) on every stock in the world every day (check out Verizon Communications for example). We show the entire calculation in full. You can track the result in your watchlist or portfolio and be alerted when this changes, or use our stock screener to discover 49 high quality undervalued stocks. If you save a screener we even alert you when new companies match - so you never miss a potential opportunity.

Next Steps

With mixed views on Verizon’s risks and rewards running through this article, use the data to move quickly and shape your own judgment with 3 key rewards and 2 important warning signs

Looking for more investment ideas?

If Verizon has you thinking harder about where to put fresh capital, consider building a focused watchlist that could help guide your next few years.

• Target stronger income potential by reviewing companies in the 9 dividend fortresses, which highlights higher yields paired with established business models.
• Look for quality at a discount by scanning the 49 high quality undervalued stocks, which filters for solid cash flows and balance sheets.
• Explore new opportunities by using the screener containing 22 high quality undiscovered gems to identify underfollowed stocks with robust fundamentals.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.