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Investing.com - Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) has resumed coverage of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) with an Equalweight rating and a $47.00 price target, according to a research note released Thursday. The telecommunications giant, with a market capitalization of $179.65 billion and annual revenue of $135.29 billion, currently trades slightly below its InvestingPro Fair Value.
The investment firm views Verizon shares as having a balanced risk-reward profile at current levels, noting that the stock trades at a modest discount to its peer group, which it considers appropriate given Morgan Stanley’s expected 2-3% adjusted EBITDA growth rate forecast. The stock currently trades at a P/E ratio of 10.15 and offers a substantial 6.46% dividend yield, having maintained dividend payments for 42 consecutive years. InvestingPro analysis reveals 8 additional key insights about Verizon’s financial health and market position.
Morgan Stanley’s revenue and adjusted EBITDA growth expectations for Verizon align broadly with consensus estimates, and the firm has updated its forecasts to account for estimated bonus depreciation benefits from recently enacted tax legislation, which increases near-term free cash flow and reduces Verizon’s cash flow multiples.
The firm outlined a bull case price target of $54, which would reflect benefits from faster growth in both consumer wireless and broadband segments, potentially allowing Verizon shares to narrow the valuation gap relative to AT&T, with adjusted EBITDA growth reaching 3-3.5% annually in this scenario.
Morgan Stanley’s bear case of $35 assumes adjusted EBITDA growth stalls at low single-digit percentage levels, likely resulting from a more competitive U.S. wireless marketplace and more significant market share losses for Verizon.
In other recent news, Verizon Communications reported revenues of $134.8 billion for 2024 while maintaining its quarterly dividend at 67.75 cents per share. The company’s commitment to sustaining dividend payments is supported by strategic investments in network infrastructure and customer experience. At its 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, Verizon re-elected all board nominees and approved executive compensation, while three shareholder proposals, including climate lobbying and lead-sheathed cable reports, were defeated. Citi analysts reiterated a Buy rating for Verizon stock, citing growth in consumer additions, despite unchanged outlooks on net additions and losses. Conversely, BofA Securities reinstated coverage with a Neutral rating, pointing out potential risks from Verizon’s acquisition of Frontier Communications (OTC:FTRCQ) on free cash flow forecasts. BofA also noted that reinstatement of bonus depreciation could significantly boost Verizon’s future free cash flow. Verizon’s recent developments underscore its focus on innovation and maintaining its position in the telecommunications sector.
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