Telephone and Data Systems (NYSE:TDS) Stock Passes Above 200 Day Moving Average – Time to Sell?

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (NYSE:TDS)’s share price crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $41.07 and traded as high as $43.29. Telephone and Data Systems shares last traded at $43.1650, with a volume of 590,020 shares trading hands.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have commented on TDS shares. Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of Telephone and Data Systems from $51.00 to $56.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, February 23rd. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Telephone and Data Systems from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, January 1st. Wall Street Zen lowered Telephone and Data Systems from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Sunday, March 1st. Finally, Weiss Ratings raised Telephone and Data Systems from a “sell (d+)” rating to a “hold (c-)” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 24th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Telephone and Data Systems currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $53.33.

Telephone and Data Systems Stock Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $4.96 billion, a PE ratio of -66.41 and a beta of 0.34. The business’s 50 day moving average is $44.58 and its 200 day moving average is $41.07. The company has a current ratio of 2.10, a quick ratio of 2.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20.

Telephone and Data Systems (NYSE:TDS) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 20th. The Wireless communications provider reported $0.32 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.09 by $0.23. The company had revenue of $330.71 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $319.28 million. Telephone and Data Systems had a negative net margin of 0.21% and a positive return on equity of 2.25%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 12.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted ($0.10) EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. will post -0.31 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Telephone and Data Systems Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 16th will be issued a $0.04 dividend. This represents a $0.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 16th. Telephone and Data Systems’s dividend payout ratio is presently -24.62%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Telephone and Data Systems

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Captrust Financial Advisors increased its stake in Telephone and Data Systems by 3.8% in the fourth quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 6,026 shares of the Wireless communications provider’s stock worth $247,000 after purchasing an additional 220 shares during the period. Salomon & Ludwin LLC boosted its stake in shares of Telephone and Data Systems by 51.3% during the fourth quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 681 shares of the Wireless communications provider’s stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 231 shares during the period. CIBC Asset Management Inc boosted its stake in shares of Telephone and Data Systems by 2.4% during the fourth quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 9,804 shares of the Wireless communications provider’s stock valued at $402,000 after purchasing an additional 232 shares during the period. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System grew its holdings in shares of Telephone and Data Systems by 1.6% in the fourth quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System now owns 14,362 shares of the Wireless communications provider’s stock worth $589,000 after purchasing an additional 233 shares during the last quarter. Finally, HighTower Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Telephone and Data Systems by 4.3% in the fourth quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 5,866 shares of the Wireless communications provider’s stock worth $241,000 after purchasing an additional 240 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.00% of the company’s stock.

Telephone and Data Systems Company Profile

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc (NYSE: TDS) is a diversified telecommunications company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides a broad array of communications services, including wireless voice and data, wireline broadband and voice, cable television, and managed IT and cloud solutions. Its two primary operating units—TDS Telecom and U.S. Cellular—serve residential, business and wholesale customers across the United States.

TDS Telecom focuses on delivering broadband internet, digital voice, video and data communications services in primarily rural and suburban markets.