Stock Update: Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE:VZ) – Is Growth a Problem at Verizon?

[at TheStreet] – Verizon reports earnings before the market open on Thursday. While investors aren’t terribly excited about the quarter, here’s why the stock looks fairly valued. Read more on this. Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) , valued at $179.60B, opened at $44.42. Today, shares have traded between $44.05 and $44.77 per share with a one year range of $38.06 to $50.86. Verizon (VZ) shares are currently priced at 11.30x this year’s forecasted earnings, which makes them relatively inexpensive compared to the industry’s 22.54x earnings multiple for the same period. And for income investors, the company pays shareholders $2.26 per share annually in dividends, yielding 5.04%. Consensus earnings for the current quarter by the 25 sell-side analysts covering the stock is an estimate of $0.88 per share, which would be $0.17 better than the year-ago quarter and a $0.00 sequential decrease. Investors should also note that the full-year EPS estimate of $3.97 is a $0.62 better when compared to the previous year’s annual results. The quarterly earnings estimate is predicated on a consensus revenue forecast of $34.06 Billion. If reported, that would be a 2.62% increase over the year-ago quarter. In terms of ratings, Buckingham Research Initiated VZ at Neutral (Jul 2, 2015). Previously, JP Morgan downgraded VZ from Overweight to Neutral. Given all the information above, we should disclose to readers that the average price target is $50.58, which is 13.87% above than it opened this morning. See more in (NYSE:VZ) Similar Articles: Market Update: Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE:VZ) – Verizon Communications (VZ) Stock Rises in Pre-Market Trading on New Network Offer Stock Update: Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE:VZ) – Verizon Go90 Takes Spotlight From FiOS Custom TV Stock Update: Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE:VZ) – Verizon strike possible as contract deadline looms