Honestly, if you're looking at the Verizon stock price today per share, you’re probably seeing a number around $39.23. It’s been a weird morning on the NYSE. The stock opened a bit sluggish at $39.11 and has been fighting to stay green ever since. People always ask me if Verizon is a "safe" bet, and my answer is usually a shrug followed by, "Define safe."
If you want a rocket ship like Nvidia, you've come to the wrong place. Verizon is basically the "utility company" of the digital age. It doesn’t move fast. It’s heavy. But it pays you to sit there, which is why everyone is obsessed with that 7.04% dividend yield right now.
The Reality of Verizon Stock Price Today Per Share
Let's get real about the numbers. As of mid-morning on January 16, 2026, we are looking at a market cap of roughly $166 billion. The 52-week range has been a wild ride, swinging from a low of about $37.83 to a high of $47.36.
Right now, the stock is trading below its 200-day moving average of $42.29. That tells technical traders one thing: the trend is still a bit "meh." But value hunters see a P/E ratio of 8.36 and start drooling. For context, the broader market is sitting at a much higher multiple. Basically, Verizon is in the bargain bin because growth has been harder to find than a 5G signal in a lead basement.
Why is the price stuck in the mud?
The big cloud hanging over the stock today isn't just interest rates—it's the restructuring. CEO Dan Schulman took the wheel last October, and he’s been swinging a heavy axe. We're talking 13,000 jobs cut. That’s a lot of families, but for the stock price, it’s about "operational efficiency."
The market is waiting for the January 30 earnings report. That's the big one. It’s Schulman’s first full quarter, and everyone wants to see if those cuts actually translated into more cash. If they beat the expected EPS of $1.06, we might actually see this thing break through the $40 resistance level.
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The Dividend Trap vs. The Dividend Treasure
You've probably heard that Verizon is a "Dog of the Dow." It sounds mean, but it's actually a strategy. It just means it's one of the highest-yielding stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
The current annual payout is $2.76 per share. If you buy today, you're locking in a yield over 7%. That is massive compared to a savings account or even most bonds.
- Quarterly Payout: $0.69
- Next Payout Date: February 2, 2026
- Dividend Growth: 21 consecutive years
But here is the catch. A high yield can sometimes be a warning sign that the stock price is falling because the business is shrinking. However, Verizon is still pulling in massive cash—over $20 billion in net income recently. They aren't going broke; they're just spending billions on fiber and 5G.
The Frontier Acquisition
One thing people keep ignoring is the $20 billion Frontier Communications merger. This is a huge pivot. Verizon wants to own the fiber in the ground, not just the airwaves. They are trying to reach 30 million fiber passings. If they pull this off, they won't just be your phone company; they'll be your everything-internet provider. This is the "Schulman Strategy" in action.
5G and the SOS Mode Fiasco
We have to talk about what happened two days ago. On January 14, there was a nationwide network outage. Thousands of people were stuck in "SOS mode."
Naturally, the "Verizon stock price today per share" took a tiny hit when the news broke. It reminded everyone that for all the talk about AI and IoT, Verizon is an infrastructure company. If the towers don't work, the stock doesn't work.
The good news? The stock proved surprisingly resilient. It bounced back within 48 hours. This suggests that the big institutional investors—the BlackRocks and State Streets of the world—don't care about a temporary glitch. They care about the fact that Verizon is almost finished with its C-band 5G buildout.
Chief Network Officer Lynn Cox recently said they’ll wrap up the macro tower modifications in the next 18 months. Once they stop spending billions on construction, that money can go to two places:
- Paying down that scary debt pile.
- Buying back shares (which makes your shares more valuable).
What Analysts are Whispering
If you look at the consensus, it’s a "Hold" or a "Moderate Buy." Out of 27 analysts, about 19 are sitting on the fence.
The median price target is around $45.30. If that happens, you’re looking at a 15% gain in price plus your 7% dividend. That’s a 22% total return. Not bad for a "boring" company.
| Analyst Firm | Price Target | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| TD Cowen | $51.00 | Buy |
| Morgan Stanley | $47.00 | Hold |
| RBC Capital | $44.00 | Sector Perform |
| Goldman Sachs | $49.00 | Buy |
Honestly, the bear case is that the wireless market is just too crowded. T-Mobile is fast, and AT&T is... well, AT&T. It’s a price war out there. Verizon is fighting back with three-year price locks and family plan discounts, but that eats into margins.
Is it a buy today?
If you need the money for rent next month, stay away. This stock moves like a glacier. But if you’re building a retirement "moat" and you want a fat check every quarter, $39.23 is a pretty attractive entry point. It's historically cheap.
The "Value Pivot" is real. Verizon is shifting from being a "share donor" (losing customers to T-Mobile) to a "share gainer." They actually added 44,000 monthly bill-paying phone subscribers in the last update. That was a huge "wow" moment for Wall Street because everyone thought Verizon was losing the war.
Actionable Steps for Your Portfolio
If you are looking at the Verizon stock price today per share and thinking about pulling the trigger, don't just jump in headfirst.
- Check the Ex-Div Date: The last one was January 12. You missed the February payout, so the next time you'll see a check is likely May. Factor that into your timing.
- Watch the $38 Level: This has been strong support. If it drops below $38, something is wrong. If it holds, it’s a floor.
- Listen to the Jan 30 Webcast: Tune in at 8:00 a.m. ET. Listen to Schulman’s tone. If he sounds confident about the Frontier merger closing without more regulatory drama, that’s your green light.
- Reinvest the Dividends: If you don't need the cash right now, use "DRIP" (Dividend Reinvestment Plan). Buying more shares at these low prices using the company's own money is how you actually build wealth here.
Verizon isn't the "cool kid" of the stock market. It's the reliable old truck that always starts in the winter. It’s slow, it’s loud, but it gets you where you’re going. At $39.23, you’re basically buying the truck at a discount because the paint is slightly chipped.
Wait for the earnings volatility to settle before making any massive moves. If the Q4 numbers show that the subscriber growth is sticking, that sub-$40 price point might be a thing of the past. Keep an eye on the debt-to-equity ratio as well; as long as that’s trending down, the dividend is safe.