Nomura Instinet analyst Jeffrey Kvaal upgraded Verizon Communications to Buy and raised his price target for the shares to $61 from $47. The stock closed yesterday up 75c to $51.84. Better visibility into subscriber growth, rising average revenue per user and cost control will drive earnings growth in 2018, Kvaal tells investors in a research note. Further, he believes tax reform should also boost the company’s earnings. The analyst thinks signs of easing competition may also spur multiple expansion.