Telephone and Data Systems Target of Unusually Large Options Trading (NYSE:TDS)

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (NYSE:TDS) saw unusually large options trading activity on Wednesday. Stock traders purchased 5,000 put options on the company. This is an increase of 249% compared to the average daily volume of 1,433 put options.

Telephone and Data Systems Stock Up 0.8 %

Telephone and Data Systems stock traded up $0.22 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $29.26. 131,475 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,086,073. Telephone and Data Systems has a one year low of $13.69 and a one year high of $30.44. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $24.12 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $21.08. The company has a current ratio of 1.51, a quick ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84. The company has a market cap of $3.31 billion, a PE ratio of -6.01 and a beta of 0.81.

Telephone and Data Systems (NYSE:TDS) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, August 2nd. The Wireless communications provider reported ($0.13) earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.13). Telephone and Data Systems had a negative net margin of 9.31% and a positive return on equity of 0.73%. The business had revenue of $1.24 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.24 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned ($0.17) earnings per share. The business’s revenue was down 2.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts forecast that Telephone and Data Systems will post -0.44 EPS for the current year.

Telephone and Data Systems Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 16th were issued a dividend of $0.04 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, September 16th. This represents a $0.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.55%. Telephone and Data Systems’s payout ratio is presently -3.31%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Telephone and Data Systems

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of TDS. TCW Group Inc. raised its holdings in Telephone and Data Systems by 15.8% in the second quarter. TCW Group Inc. now owns 549,432 shares of the Wireless communications provider’s stock worth $11,390,000 after buying an additional 74,913 shares during the last quarter. Susquehanna Fundamental Investments LLC purchased a new stake in Telephone and Data Systems during the 1st quarter valued at $745,000. Tidal Investments LLC bought a new stake in shares of Telephone and Data Systems in the 1st quarter worth $1,048,000. UniSuper Management Pty Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Telephone and Data Systems in the first quarter worth $401,000. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Telephone and Data Systems by 2.6% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 12,569,591 shares of the Wireless communications provider’s stock valued at $201,365,000 after purchasing an additional 320,976 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.00% of the company’s stock.

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.