BNP Paribas Downgrades Verizon's Stock Rating Amid Leadership Changes
New York, Wednesday, 22 October 2025.
BNP Paribas has downgraded Verizon’s stock from ‘outperform’ to ‘neutral’, reducing the price target from $50 to $44, reflecting uncertainties following recent leadership changes and market pressures.
Verizon’s Stock Target Lowered
BNP Paribas Exane has downgraded Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) from an ‘outperform’ to a ‘neutral’ rating, adjusting its price target from $50 to $44. This adjustment was made public on 21 October 2025. The decision reflects concerns over the company’s future trajectory following leadership changes, specifically the appointment of former PayPal CEO Dan Schulman as Verizon’s new CEO in early October 2025 [1][2].
Impact of Leadership Changes
The leadership transition has raised questions about Verizon’s ability to maintain its market share amidst intensifying competition from companies like Comcast, Charter, and T-Mobile. Despite signing a deal with AST SpaceMobile to expand network coverage, Verizon’s strategic moves have not significantly boosted its stock performance, which has only seen a modest increase of about 9% this year [1][3].
Market Reactions and Analyst Opinions
Following the downgrade, Verizon’s shares decreased by 1.3%, closing at $40.29 on 21 October 2025. The stock experienced a trading volume surge of 39% above its average, indicating heightened investor activity and concern. Analysts have noted a challenging short-term setup for Verizon, with a prevailing ‘Moderate Buy’ consensus among analysts, though the average price target remains at $47.41 [2][4].
Future Outlook and Investor Sentiment
The downgrade by BNP Paribas Exane is one of several recent analyst actions that highlight the mixed sentiment towards Verizon. While some firms like Scotiabank and Morgan Stanley have slightly increased their price targets, others remain cautious due to competitive pressures and uncertainties surrounding the company’s 5G rollout. Investors are closely watching how the new leadership will address these challenges to restore confidence in Verizon’s growth prospects [1][3][4].