Telephone and Data Systems (NYSE:TDS) Reaches New 52-Week High – Should You Buy?

Shares of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (NYSE:TDS) reached a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $39.54 and last traded at $39.85, with a volume of 700810 shares. The stock had previously closed at $38.37.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently commented on the company. Raymond James upgraded Telephone and Data Systems from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $51.00 price objective for the company in a report on Thursday, November 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Telephone and Data Systems from $39.00 to $40.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, November 4th.

Telephone and Data Systems Trading Up 0.1 %

The stock has a market capitalization of $4.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -7.33 and a beta of 0.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 1.44 and a current ratio of 1.59. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $35.44 and a 200-day moving average of $29.53.

Telephone and Data Systems Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 16th were given a $0.04 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 16th. This represents a $0.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.40%. Telephone and Data Systems’s payout ratio is currently -2.96%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Telephone and Data Systems

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in TDS. Third Point LLC boosted its position in Telephone and Data Systems by 108.7% in the 4th quarter. Third Point LLC now owns 6,000,000 shares of the Wireless communications provider’s stock valued at $204,660,000 after buying an additional 3,125,000 shares during the last quarter. Carronade Capital Management LP purchased a new position in Telephone and Data Systems in the 4th quarter valued at about $62,845,000. Silver Point Capital L.P. purchased a new position in Telephone and Data Systems in the 3rd quarter valued at about $29,062,000. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Telephone and Data Systems in the 4th quarter valued at about $23,776,000. Finally, UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC boosted its position in Telephone and Data Systems by 189.1% in the 4th quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 730,730 shares of the Wireless communications provider’s stock valued at $24,925,000 after buying an additional 477,945 shares during the last quarter. 80.00% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.