StockNews.com Upgrades Telephone and Data Systems (NYSE:TDS) to Hold

StockNews.com upgraded shares of Telephone and Data Systems (NYSE:TDS) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report report published on Monday.

Telephone and Data Systems Stock Up 28.6 %

NYSE TDS opened at $19.68 on Monday. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $15.74 and its 200 day simple moving average is $17.34. Telephone and Data Systems has a one year low of $6.43 and a one year high of $21.75. The firm has a market cap of $2.22 billion, a PE ratio of -4.04 and a beta of 0.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 1.58 and a quick ratio of 1.40.

Telephone and Data Systems (NYSE:TDS) last announced its earnings results on Friday, May 3rd. The Wireless communications provider reported $0.10 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.05) by $0.15. Telephone and Data Systems had a positive return on equity of 0.62% and a negative net margin of 9.36%. The company had revenue of $1.26 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.26 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned ($0.08) earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down 3.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Telephone and Data Systems will post -1 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Telephone and Data Systems Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 15th were paid a $0.19 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 14th. This is an increase from Telephone and Data Systems’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.19. This represents a $0.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.86%. Telephone and Data Systems’s payout ratio is currently -15.61%.

Institutional Trading of Telephone and Data Systems

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Principal Securities Inc. acquired a new position in Telephone and Data Systems during the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Anchor Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Telephone and Data Systems during the fourth quarter worth $46,000. Quarry LP acquired a new position in shares of Telephone and Data Systems during the fourth quarter valued at $60,000. GAMMA Investing LLC bought a new position in Telephone and Data Systems in the fourth quarter valued at about $93,000. Finally, Quadrant Capital Group LLC increased its position in Telephone and Data Systems by 14.0% in the fourth quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 5,062 shares of the Wireless communications provider’s stock worth $93,000 after purchasing an additional 622 shares during the period. 80.00% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Telephone and Data Systems

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc, a telecommunications company, provides communications services in the United States. It operates through two segments: UScellular and TDS Telecom. The company offers wireless solutions to consumers, and business and government customers, including a suite of connected Internet of things (IoT) solutions, and software applications for monitor and control, business automation/operations, communication, fleet and asset management, smart water solutions, private cellular networks and custom, and end-to-end IoT solutions; wireless priority services and quality priority and preemption options; smartphones and other handsets, tablets, wearables, mobile hotspots, fixed wireless home internet, and IoT devices; and accessories, such as cases, screen protectors, chargers, and memory cards, as well as consumer electronics, including audio, home automation and networking products.