United States Cellular (NYSE:USM) Hits New 52-Week High – Time to Buy?

United States Cellular Co. (NYSE:USM)’s stock price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $60.43 and last traded at $60.43, with a volume of 3522 shares. The stock had previously closed at $59.67.

United States Cellular Stock Down 1.7 %

The firm has a market cap of $5.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 72.83 and a beta of 0.48. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $55.16 and a 200 day simple moving average of $50.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 1.55 and a quick ratio of 1.39.

United States Cellular (NYSE:USM) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, August 2nd. The Wireless communications provider reported $0.20 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.14 by $0.06. United States Cellular had a return on equity of 1.55% and a net margin of 1.88%. The firm had revenue of $927.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $924.96 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.05 EPS. The firm’s revenue was down 3.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts forecast that United States Cellular Co. will post 0.61 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at United States Cellular

In other news, EVP Kevin R. Lowell sold 37,597 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.34, for a total transaction of $1,855,035.98. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 1.00% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of United States Cellular

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Point72 Asset Management L.P. purchased a new stake in shares of United States Cellular in the second quarter valued at about $22,394,000. Jericho Capital Asset Management L.P. grew its stake in shares of United States Cellular by 13.1% in the 1st quarter. Jericho Capital Asset Management L.P. now owns 1,592,792 shares of the Wireless communications provider’s stock valued at $58,137,000 after buying an additional 184,000 shares during the period. TCW Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of United States Cellular by 200.8% during the 2nd quarter. TCW Group Inc. now owns 212,294 shares of the Wireless communications provider’s stock worth $11,850,000 after buying an additional 141,713 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in shares of United States Cellular by 3.3% during the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 2,299,323 shares of the Wireless communications provider’s stock valued at $128,349,000 after buying an additional 72,843 shares during the period. Finally, Edmond DE Rothschild Holding S.A. raised its position in shares of United States Cellular by 22.0% during the 1st quarter. Edmond DE Rothschild Holding S.A. now owns 360,000 shares of the Wireless communications provider’s stock valued at $13,140,000 after buying an additional 65,000 shares during the period. 18.03% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

United States Cellular Company Profile

United States Cellular Corporation provides wireless telecommunications services in the United States. The company offers wireless services, including voice, messaging, and data services. It also provides wireless devices, such as handsets, tablets, mobile hotspots, home phones, and routers, as well as wireless essentials, including cases, screen protectors, chargers, and memory cards; and consumer electronics comprising audio, home automation, and networking products.