Verizon (VZ) up ~20% in February while the market tanked – and now multiple analyst upgrades? Is the 6-7% yield getting even more attractive?

Verizon (VZ) has been a standout defensive play lately: the stock rose about **20% in February 2026** while the S&P 500 lost 0.9% and the Nasdaq dropped 3.4%. In a volatile macro environment (Iran tensions, weak jobs data), this kind of resilience is exactly what dividend investors look for. The big driver? Verizon added **616,000 net postpaid subscribers** last quarter – a strong sign that demand for telecom services (mobile, fixed wireless, fiber) remains solid despite economic pressure. On top of that, several major analysts have turned bullish post-earnings: JPMorgan, RBC, UBS, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo, and TD Cowen all raised price targets in the same month. When multiple firms upgrade a high-yield name like VZ at once, it often signals growing confidence in the sustainability of that juicy \~6-7% dividend yield. For dividend-focused portfolios, this combo is appealing: * Recurring revenue from subscriptions * Defensive nature during macro shocks * Recent momentum + analyst support = potential for continued stability and dividend safety Personally, I captured part of the move via Bitget stock futures (VZUSDT perpetuals) – adjustable leverage, while still holding the core position for the yield. what’s your take? * Do these upgrades make VZ more attractive as a long-term income play? * Still room for the rally to continue, or are you waiting for a pullback to add? * How much weight do you give analyst upgrades when evaluating dividend safety? Would love to hear your setups and yield targets! 📈