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The Screen · Communication Services · Telecom Services
Verizon
VZ · a US exchange · USD · Market cap $200.8B · 99,600 employees
Verizon Communications Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of communications, technology, information, and streaming products and services to consumers, businesses, and governmental entities worldwide.
FAIL · Does not pass the screen
48.09 USD
Screen close, 2026-09-18 · not a live quote Last reviewed 4 days ago
Screened 2026-09-18 · the tape above runs as of 09:00 UTC · two dates, stated on purpose · verdict and workings shown in full · never trimmed
PRICE · FAIR-VALUE RANGE1M3M6MYTD1Y3Y5Y
What this means: price 48.09 against the desk's fair-value range, base estimate 64.38, over the last year.
Positioning no disclosures inside 60 days, left as found
Options no verdict drawn today, left as found
Ethical does not pass the values gate
Price48.09 USD
Fair value64.38
Ethical score10.0/100
RatingAVOID
Our investment reviews on this name
2026-08-25Read Markup49.19-2.2% to today
2026-07-03Read Accumulation45.37+6.0% to today ✓
Our analytic regime reads on this name, dated and marked against the screened price. Small sample per name, and separate from the daily-framework accuracy on the Track Record page.
Verizon holds its Distribution at $48.09. Consolidating, no directional conviction, held for 59 days.
As held on the ledger · 2026-09-18
Phase
Distribution · caution
Quantitative state
Consolidating, no directional conviction, held for 59 days
Price at the screen
$48.09
Valuation
12.52 trailing · 9.11 forward price to earnings
Values screen
FAIL· score 10.0
Beta
0.24
The Workings
Five Screens, Shown in Full
Does not pass. Debt ratio
Test
Figure
Limit
What it means
Status
Business activity
Permissible
Core business clean
Its core business isn't built on prohibited lines: no gambling, alcohol, tobacco, weapons, or interest-based lending.
Pass
Debt load
44.93%
Below 33%
Interest-bearing debt is 44.9% of its assets, above the one-third ceiling the screen allows.
Fail
Interest-bearing cash
0.19%
Below 33%
Cash held in interest-bearing accounts and securities is 0.2% of assets, under the one-third limit.
Pass
Receivables
11.41%
Below 49%
Money owed to the company is 11.4% of assets, under the 49% limit.
Pass
Revenue purity
0.24%
Below 5%
Only 0.2% of revenue comes from non-compliant sources, under the 5% line.
Pass
Five checks adapted from AAOIFI screening standards: business activity plus four balance-sheet ratios. All five must pass for ethical clearance. Every figure is arithmetic on public accounts, not judgement.
What the Numbers Say It Is Worth
The Fair Value Range
Our framework reads AVOID: it trades at roughly a 34% discount to our $64.38 fair value, moderate competitive moat.
Fair value range in USD, drawn from the 2026-09-18 screen. The gold marker is the market price at the same screen. A 33.9% margin of safety to the base estimate.
Third-party analyst targets: 22 covering, consensus Buy. The average target sits +7% from the screen price.
Reading the gap · Both our model and the analysts see meaningful upside from here.
Price History & Projections
Where it has been, where the models see it going. History from market close data; projection points are our fair-value estimates and third-party analyst targets, dated to the 2026-09-18 screen.
Fair value and rating are our own model estimates; the Street's range reflects third-party analyst estimates. Analysis, not advice.
The Business, in Plain Words
Verizon's Debt-Heavy Towers Beckon Avoidance
Verizon, a telecommunications giant, operates in the high-speed game of data transfer where the stakes are high. Picture this - every time a New Yorker scrolls through their phone or a business in Kansas City makes a call, Verizon's infrastructure is at work. But it's like standing atop a debt mountain, trying to reach higher revenues. Why it stands out, or rather, why we're passing - despite a fair value of $63.75 and a forward P/E of 9.3x, its debt ratio has caused it to fail our ethical screen.
The numbers tell a cautionary tale. Revenue growth is slouching at -1%, and while a 12% profit margin and a 16% ROE might seem encouraging, the underlying issue of high debt is a red flag. Investors are looking at a median target price of $51, which, when compared to our fair value estimate, might seem attractive, but ethical considerations are paramount.
Risk sits squarely on the shoulders of debt. This is a company that, despite its MODERATE moat and stable business model, is weighed down by financial obligations. The ethical failing on debt ratio is significant, and for an investment firm like ours that prioritizes ethical standards, it's a deal-breaker. Analysis, not advice.
The risks · The things to watch: it carries a real debt load, which raises the stakes if revenue slips.
Plain-English interpretation of our own screen data. Analysis, not advice.
Where & How to Trade
VZ trades on a US exchange. As a listed security it is accessible through almost any international broker offering its home market. New to this, or investing from abroad? Our guide to accessing global markets covers brokers, currencies and the practical steps.
The Dated Journal · Newest First, Never Edited
Every Entry, As Written
2026-08-25Markup · changed$49.19+12.8%Entry 11
The framework has shifted from accumulation to markup since the last review. Price is trending higher with momentum. The crowd has caught on and buyers are in control. Price has moved up 12.8% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows good risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it B, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 12% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading bullish. Over the past year the shares are up 14%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 15%. The street (23 analysts) rates it none, with a mean price target of $52.
2026-07-24Accumulation$43.59+0.0%Entry 10
The framework reads accumulation. Smart money appears to be quietly building positions. This typically precedes a markup phase. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows good risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it B, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 12% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading bullish. Over the past year the shares are up 14%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 15%. The street (22 analysts) rates it buy, with a mean price target of $52. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
2026-07-23Accumulation$43.59+0.0%Entry 9
The framework reads accumulation. Smart money appears to be quietly building positions. This typically precedes a markup phase. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows good risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it B, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 12% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading bullish. Over the past year the shares are up 14%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 15%. The street (22 analysts) rates it buy, with a mean price target of $52. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
2026-07-22Accumulation$43.59+0.0%Entry 8
The framework reads accumulation. Smart money appears to be quietly building positions. This typically precedes a markup phase. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows good risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it B, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 12% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading bullish. Over the past year the shares are up 14%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 15%. The street (22 analysts) rates it buy, with a mean price target of $52. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
2026-07-21Accumulation$43.59+0.0%Entry 7
The framework reads accumulation. Smart money appears to be quietly building positions. This typically precedes a markup phase. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows good risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it B, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 12% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading bullish. Over the past year the shares are up 14%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 15%. The street (22 analysts) rates it buy, with a mean price target of $52. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
2026-07-20Accumulation$43.59+0.0%Entry 6
The framework reads accumulation. Smart money appears to be quietly building positions. This typically precedes a markup phase. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows good risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it B, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 12% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading bullish. Over the past year the shares are up 14%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 15%. The street (22 analysts) rates it buy, with a mean price target of $52. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
2026-07-19Accumulation$43.59-3.9%Entry 5
The framework reads accumulation. Smart money appears to be quietly building positions. This typically precedes a markup phase. Price has moved down 3.9% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows good risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it B, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 12% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading bullish. Over the past year the shares are up 14%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 15%. The street (22 analysts) rates it buy, with a mean price target of $52. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
2026-07-18Accumulation$45.37+0.0%Entry 4
The framework reads accumulation. Smart money appears to be quietly building positions. This typically precedes a markup phase. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows good risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it B, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 12% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading bullish. Over the past year the shares are up 14%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 15%. The street (22 analysts) rates it buy, with a mean price target of $52. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
2026-07-17Accumulation$45.37+0.0%Entry 3
The framework reads accumulation. Smart money appears to be quietly building positions. This typically precedes a markup phase. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows good risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it B, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 12% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading bullish. Over the past year the shares are up 14%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 15%. The street (22 analysts) rates it buy, with a mean price target of $52. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
2026-07-03Accumulation$45.37+0.0%Entry 2
The framework reads accumulation. Smart money appears to be quietly building positions. This typically precedes a markup phase. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows good risk-adjusted returns.
Each entry above was written on its date, before the outcome. A journal you can prune is not a journal.
