Telephone and Data Systems (NYSE:TDS) Downgraded by Wall Street Zen to Sell

Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Telephone and Data Systems (NYSE:TDS) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note released on Saturday.

Several other research analysts have also weighed in on the stock. Weiss Ratings lowered shares of Telephone and Data Systems from a “hold (c-)” rating to a “sell (d+)” rating in a report on Thursday. Raymond James Financial lifted their price target on shares of Telephone and Data Systems from $49.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, August 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on Telephone and Data Systems from $53.00 to $54.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, August 12th. Finally, Zacks Research raised Telephone and Data Systems from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have given a Buy rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $52.00.

Telephone and Data Systems Trading Down 1.1%

Shares of TDS stock traded down $0.41 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $38.29. 989,582 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,032,430. The stock has a market cap of $4.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -39.47 and a beta of 0.35. The company has a quick ratio of 1.65, a current ratio of 1.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85. Telephone and Data Systems has a fifty-two week low of $30.59 and a fifty-two week high of $42.74. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $38.68 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $37.32.

Telephone and Data Systems (NYSE:TDS) last released its earnings results on Friday, November 7th. The Wireless communications provider reported $0.07 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.06) by $0.13. Telephone and Data Systems had a positive return on equity of 0.92% and a negative net margin of 0.85%.The firm had revenue of $308.52 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.16 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted ($0.73) earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was down 5.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts expect that Telephone and Data Systems will post -0.31 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Telephone and Data Systems news, Director Prudence E. Carlson sold 4,452 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $38.50, for a total transaction of $171,402.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 311,005 shares in the company, valued at $11,973,692.50. This trade represents a 1.41% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, SVP Joseph R. Hanley sold 68,759 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $38.16, for a total transaction of $2,623,843.44. Following the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 60,473 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,307,649.68. The trade was a 53.21% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold 125,240 shares of company stock valued at $4,826,141 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 14.97% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Telephone and Data Systems

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Bessemer Group Inc. lifted its position in Telephone and Data Systems by 65.6% in the 3rd quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 699 shares of the Wireless communications provider’s stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 277 shares during the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp boosted its position in shares of Telephone and Data Systems by 121.3% during the third quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 830 shares of the Wireless communications provider’s stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 455 shares during the period. Assetmark Inc. grew its holdings in Telephone and Data Systems by 53.1% in the 2nd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 1,297 shares of the Wireless communications provider’s stock worth $46,000 after buying an additional 450 shares in the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in Telephone and Data Systems by 191.3% in the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,311 shares of the Wireless communications provider’s stock valued at $47,000 after acquiring an additional 861 shares during the period. Finally, Bayforest Capital Ltd boosted its position in Telephone and Data Systems by 121.8% during the 1st quarter. Bayforest Capital Ltd now owns 1,342 shares of the Wireless communications provider’s stock worth $52,000 after acquiring an additional 737 shares during the period. 80.00% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Telephone and Data Systems Company Profile

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.