Verizon Is Up 24% in 2026 and Pays Over 5% in Dividends: Time to Buy?
Key Points
Verizon stock is up big thanks to a strong earnings report.
The company's large dividend makes it an attractive investment during periods of market volatility.
- 10 stocks we like better than Verizon Communications ›
After years of underperforming the market, Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) is one of the bright spots in the tech sector this year. It's up 24% year to date through March 27.
Those results look even better when you factor in that Verizon is one of the more generous dividend stocks. It has raised its dividend for 22 consecutive years, most recently to $0.71 for the next quarter, and it has a dividend yield of about 5.6%.
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Image source: Verizon Communications.
The announcement of the latest dividend hike came on Jan. 30, 2026, but that wasn't the biggest news of the day for Verizon, because the wireless carrier also had one of its best earnings reports in years. It reported 616,000 postpaid phone net additions in Q4 2025, its highest quarterly net additions since 2019. Verizon also completed its acquisition of Frontier Communications, growing its fiber access to over 30 million homes and businesses.
Stock market volatility could also be contributing to Verizon's success. Investors often rotate out of growth stocks into value stocks, including high-dividend stocks, during periods of instability.
So, is now a good time to pick up shares of Verizon? If your goal is passive income or to balance out a growth-heavy portfolio, then Verizon is worth considering. The recent results are promising, and the dividend provides stable returns. But I wouldn't invest with the expectation that Verizon will continue to beat the broader market, because that's unlikely. Wireless carriers tend to deliver modest returns, so periods of outperformance usually don't last too long.
Should you buy stock in Verizon Communications right now?
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Lyle Daly has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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