Verizon holds annual shareholder meeting, re-elects board

On May 22, 2025, Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), a $181.8 billion telecommunications giant with a robust 6.23% dividend yield, conducted its 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, where several key resolutions were voted upon by the stockholders. The meeting saw a strong turnout with over 82% of the outstanding shares present.

The shareholders re-elected all the board nominees, including Shellye Archambeau, Roxanne Austin, Mark Bertolini, Vittorio Colao, Caroline Litchfield, Laxman Narasimhan, Clarence Otis, Jr., Daniel Schulman, Carol Tomé, and Hans Vestberg. The votes cast for each nominee showed strong support, with a significant majority voting in favor of their re-election. According to InvestingPro analysis, Verizon maintains a GOOD financial health score, trading at an attractive P/E ratio of 10.25.

In addition to the election of directors, the advisory vote to approve executive compensation was approved, and the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2025 was ratified.

Three shareholder proposals were presented at the meeting. The first proposal, regarding climate lobbying alignment, was defeated with a majority voting against it. The second proposal, concerning a report on lead-sheathed cable, also did not pass. The third proposal, which addressed discrimination in advertising services, was similarly defeated.

The results of the meeting reflect the shareholders’ decisions on the governance and oversight of the company for the upcoming year. This news article is based on Verizon Communications Inc.’s SEC filing. InvestingPro data reveals that Verizon has maintained dividend payments for 42 consecutive years, with additional insights available in the comprehensive Pro Research Report, which offers deep-dive analysis of 1,400+ top US stocks.

In other recent news, Verizon Communications Inc. reported its first-quarter 2025 earnings, revealing an adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.19, which exceeded the forecast of $1.15. The company also reported a revenue of $33.5 billion, slightly surpassing expectations. Despite these positive earnings results, Verizon faced challenges, such as a net loss of 356,000 postpaid phone subscribers. Meanwhile, the company has announced a $5 billion investment plan aimed at supporting American small business suppliers over the next five years, known as the Small Business Supplier Accelerator.

Verizon’s annual shareholders’ meeting resulted in the re-election of all ten directors and approval of executive pay packages. However, shareholder proposals regarding climate lobbying, lead-sheathed cables, and discrimination risks in advertising were not approved. Analyst firms KeyBanc Capital Markets and Bernstein maintained their ratings on Verizon, with KeyBanc keeping a Sector Weight rating and Bernstein a Market Perform rating, both noting various challenges and opportunities for the company. KeyBanc raised its adjusted EBITDA forecast for 2025 but lowered it for 2026, while Bernstein set a price target of $46.00.

Verizon’s initiatives to boost small businesses include a new grant cycle offering $10,000 grants to eligible small businesses, part of the company’s ongoing efforts to drive digital readiness. These developments reflect Verizon’s strategic focus on innovation and supporting economic growth, despite facing competitive pressures in the telecommunications sector.

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