SmarterDividends
VZ

Verizon Communications Inc.

VZ21 yrs growth

Communication Services · Telecom Services · Stock · quarterly payer

$43.56

Undervalued · +61% Add to Portfolio

Forward Yield

6.50%

Annual Dividend

$2.83

Payout Ratio

73%

5-Yr Growth

2.0%

Ex-Date

Oct 9, 2026

Frequency

Quarterly

Key facts about VZ's dividend

Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data

  • As of Oct 22, 2026, Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) has a forward dividend yield of 6.50%, based on an annual dividend of $2.83 per share and a share price of $43.56.
  • As of Oct 22, 2026, VZ's dividend safety grade from SmarterDividends is A (87 out of 100), which rates the dividend as very safe.
  • By SmarterDividends' count, Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) has raised its dividend for 21 consecutive years as of Oct 22, 2026.
  • VZ last cut its regular dividend in 2000.
  • VZ's most recent ex-dividend date was Oct 9, 2026, for a dividend of $0.71 per share.
  • As of Oct 22, 2026, VZ pays out 73% of its trailing 12-month earnings as dividends (its payout ratio).
  • VZ's dividend has grown at an average rate of 2.0% a year over the past five years.
  • As of Oct 22, 2026, SmarterDividends' blended fair-value estimate for VZ is $70.01 per share, 61% above the $43.56 share price, so VZ screens as undervalued.
  • Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) pays its dividend quarterly, 4 times a year.
  • Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) has raised its regular dividend 39 times and cut it 0 times across the 170 payments on record since 1984. Its most recent change was a 2.6% increase to $0.708 per share, going ex-dividend on Apr 10, 2026.
  • Verizon (VZ) has declared its first higher dividend of the year in September in 5 of the last 5 years; its most recent raise, 2.6%, was declared on Jan 30, 2026.
Cite this page

SmarterDividends, "VZ Dividend: Yield, Safety Grade & Next Ex-Date," updated Oct 22, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/stocks/VZ

Summary

As of Oct 22, 2026, Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) yields 6.50% ($2.83 a year per share), has a dividend safety grade of A (87/100) and has 21 consecutive years of dividend increases on record.

Is VZ a good dividend stock?

Yes

Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 6.50% ($2.83/yr), with 21 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of A. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding.

Advantages

  • 21 consecutive years of dividend growth
  • Top-tier dividend safety score

Risks

  • Cut its dividend in 2000
  • Share price is down over the past 5 years

Key Data

Dividend Yield
6.50%
Payout Ratio
73%
Annual Dividend
$2.83
5-Yr Avg Growth
2.0%
Ex-Dividend Date
Oct 9, 2026
Years of Growth
21
Frequency
quarterly
Beta
0.25
Market Cap
$181.0B
P/E Ratio
11.3
5-Yr Total Return
-11%
52-Week Range
$38.39 – $51.68
Dividend Safety
A · 87/100
Ever Cut?
Yes (2000)

VZ dividend raises and cuts

Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) has raised its regular dividend 39 times and cut it 0 times across the 170 payments on record since 1984. Its most recent change was a 2.6% increase to $0.708 per share, going ex-dividend on Apr 10, 2026.

Ex-dateChangeOld → newMove
Apr 10, 2026Raise$0.690 → $0.708+2.6%
Oct 10, 2025Raise$0.678 → $0.690+1.8%
Oct 10, 2024Raise$0.665 → $0.678+2.0%
Oct 6, 2023Raise$0.653 → $0.665+1.8%
Oct 6, 2022Raise$0.640 → $0.653+2.0%
Oct 7, 2021Raise$0.628 → $0.640+1.9%
Oct 8, 2020Raise$0.615 → $0.628+2.1%
Oct 9, 2019Raise$0.603 → $0.615+2.0%
Oct 9, 2018Raise$0.590 → $0.603+2.2%
Oct 6, 2017Raise$0.578 → $0.590+2.1%
Oct 5, 2016Raise$0.565 → $0.578+2.3%
Oct 7, 2015Raise$0.550 → $0.565+2.7%
Show all 39 changes since 1985
Ex-dateChangeOld → newMove
Oct 8, 2014Raise$0.530 → $0.550+3.8%
Oct 8, 2013Raise$0.515 → $0.530+2.9%
Oct 5, 2012Raise$0.500 → $0.515+3.0%
Oct 5, 2011Raise$0.488 → $0.500+2.5%
Oct 6, 2010Raise$0.475 → $0.488+2.7%
Jul 7, 2010Raise$0.445 → $0.475+6.6%
Oct 7, 2009Raise$0.431 → $0.445+3.3%
Oct 8, 2008Raise$0.403 → $0.431+7.0%
Apr 8, 2008Raise$0.401 → $0.403+0.5%
Oct 5, 2007Raise$0.378 → $0.401+6.2%
Jan 8, 2007Raise$0.364 → $0.378+3.8%
Apr 6, 2005Raise$0.346 → $0.364+5.2%
Jul 7, 1999Raise$0.346 → $0.347+0.3%
Oct 8, 1997Raise$0.333 → $0.346+4.1%
Apr 8, 1997Raise$0.324 → $0.333+2.8%
Apr 8, 1996Raise$0.315 → $0.324+2.9%
Apr 4, 1995Raise$0.310 → $0.315+1.4%
Apr 5, 1994Raise$0.301 → $0.310+3.0%
Apr 2, 1993Raise$0.292 → $0.301+3.1%
Apr 6, 1992Raise$0.283 → $0.292+3.2%
Apr 4, 1991Raise$0.265 → $0.283+6.8%
Apr 4, 1990Raise$0.247 → $0.265+7.3%
Apr 4, 1989Raise$0.229 → $0.247+7.8%
Mar 25, 1988Raise$0.216 → $0.229+6.3%
Mar 25, 1987Raise$0.202 → $0.216+6.7%
Mar 24, 1986Raise$0.191 → $0.202+5.9%
Mar 25, 1985Raise$0.180 → $0.191+6.2%
Every VZ payment →Download every raise and cut (CSV)
VZ ex-dividend date & scheduleNext ex-date Oct 9, 2026 · full ex-dividend historyView →VZ dividend historyEvery payment, totals by year, raises and cutsView →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is VZ a good dividend stock?

Yes. Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 6.50% ($2.83/yr), with 21 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of A. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding.

Is VZ undervalued?

Based on a blend of discounted cash flow, a dividend-discount model and an earnings-multiple estimate, VZ's fair value is about $70.01 versus a $43.56 share price — so it looks undervalued (+61% vs. fair value).

Is VZ's dividend safe?

VZ has a dividend-safety grade of A (87/100), based on its payout coverage, free-cash-flow, 21-year growth streak, a dividend cut in 2000, debt and yield-versus-history.

What is VZ's fair value?

Our blended fair-value estimate for VZ is about $70.01 per share, roughly 61% above the current $43.56 price — combining a discounted cash flow, a dividend-discount model and an earnings multiple.

Is VZ a buy, hold, or sell?

We don't issue formal ratings, but on the data VZ screens as "yes" and undervalued. Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 6.50% ($2.83/yr), with 21 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of A. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding. This is research for your own analysis, not investment advice.

Will VZ cut its dividend?

VZ earns a dividend-safety grade of A (87/100), and has cut its dividend before (last in 2000). A higher score means lower cut risk based on payout coverage, cash flow and history — but no score guarantees a dividend.

Does VZ pay a dividend?

Yes. Verizon Communications Inc. pays a quarterly dividend of about $2.83 per share annually, a forward yield of roughly 6.50%.

What is VZ's dividend yield?

As of Oct 22, 2026, VZ's forward dividend yield is 6.50%, based on a $2.83 annual dividend and a $43.56 share price.

What is VZ's dividend per share?

As of Oct 22, 2026, VZ pays $2.83 per share per year, distributed on a quarterly basis.

What is VZ's dividend payout ratio?

As of Oct 22, 2026, VZ's payout ratio is 73% of trailing 12-month earnings — a moderate level that's generally sustainable.

How many years has VZ grown its dividend?

As of Oct 22, 2026, VZ has increased its dividend for 21 consecutive years.

When is the next VZ ex-dividend date?

As of Oct 22, 2026, VZ's next ex-dividend date hasn't been announced. The most recent was Oct 9, 2026, for $0.71 per share.

Income Calculator

At $2.83 / yr per share

Per payment (quarterly)$70.75
Annual$283.00
Monthly avg$23.58

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