BCE Inc. (NYSE:BCE) Shares Bought by Forsta AP Fonden

Forsta AP Fonden boosted its holdings in BCE Inc. (NYSE:BCE - Free Report) TSE: BCE by 36.3% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 213,100 shares of the utilities provider's stock after acquiring an additional 56,700 shares during the period. Forsta AP Fonden's holdings in BCE were worth $4,937,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Caldwell Sutter Capital Inc. grew its position in shares of BCE by 3.9% in the third quarter. Caldwell Sutter Capital Inc. now owns 11,856 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $413,000 after purchasing an additional 445 shares during the last quarter. First Affirmative Financial Network raised its position in shares of BCE by 6.1% during the 3rd quarter. First Affirmative Financial Network now owns 8,181 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $285,000 after purchasing an additional 472 shares during the last quarter. Prospera Financial Services Inc lifted its stake in BCE by 6.8% in the 3rd quarter. Prospera Financial Services Inc now owns 7,534 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $262,000 after buying an additional 478 shares in the last quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC increased its position in BCE by 1.2% during the fourth quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 43,402 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $1,006,000 after buying an additional 520 shares in the last quarter. Finally, FMR LLC increased its position in BCE by 6.8% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 9,307 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $324,000 after buying an additional 596 shares in the last quarter. 41.46% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

BCE Trading Up 1.5 %

BCE stock traded up $0.36 on Tuesday, hitting $24.39. 2,364,312 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,254,868. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.26, a current ratio of 0.62 and a quick ratio of 0.60. The stock has a market capitalization of $22.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 348.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.94 and a beta of 0.57. BCE Inc. has a twelve month low of $21.87 and a twelve month high of $39.73. The business's fifty day moving average is $24.26 and its two-hundred day moving average is $29.95.

BCE Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Investors of record on Monday, December 16th were given a $0.737 dividend. This is a positive change from BCE's previous quarterly dividend of $0.73. This represents a $2.95 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 12.09%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 16th. BCE's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 4,028.57%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

BCE has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Canaccord Genuity Group reaffirmed a "hold" rating on shares of BCE in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. Morgan Stanley began coverage on shares of BCE in a research note on Monday, December 16th. They set an "underweight" rating on the stock. Barclays reissued an "underweight" rating on shares of BCE in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. Canaccord Genuity Group cut shares of BCE from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. Finally, Bank of America downgraded BCE from a "neutral" rating to an "underperform" rating in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, one has given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $45.00.

BCE Company Profile

BCE Inc, a communications company, provides wireless, wireline, Internet, and television (TV) services to residential, business, and wholesale customers in Canada. The company operates through two segments, Bell Communication and Technology Services, and Bell Media. The Bell Communication and Technology Services segment provides wireless products and services including mobile data and voice plans and devices; wireline products and services comprising data, including internet access, internet protocol television, cloud-based services, and business solutions, as well as voice, and other communication services and products; and satellite TV and connectivity services for residential, small and medium-sized business, government, and large enterprise customers.