BCE (NYSE:BCE) Trading 1.5% Higher - What's Next?

BCE Inc. (NYSE:BCE - Get Free Report) TSE: BCE's stock price rose 1.5% on Monday . The company traded as high as $23.24 and last traded at $23.16. Approximately 2,840,402 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 24% from the average daily volume of 3,751,226 shares. The stock had previously closed at $22.82.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have recently commented on BCE. Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on shares of BCE in a report on Monday, December 16th. They issued an "underweight" rating for the company. National Bank Financial downgraded shares of BCE from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, September 30th. Canaccord Genuity Group cut BCE from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. Edward Jones lowered BCE from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. Finally, Barclays decreased their price objective on BCE from $34.00 to $30.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating, one has given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $45.00.

BCE Stock Up 1.5 %

The company has a current ratio of 0.62, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.26. The business's 50-day simple moving average is $25.03 and its 200-day simple moving average is $30.63. The company has a market capitalization of $21.12 billion, a PE ratio of 330.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.76 and a beta of 0.56.

BCE Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 16th were paid a dividend of $0.737 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 16th. This represents a $2.95 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 12.73%. This is a positive change from BCE's previous quarterly dividend of $0.73. BCE's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 4,028.57%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. grew its position in BCE by 6.9% during the second quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. now owns 27,614 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $894,000 after buying an additional 1,779 shares during the period. AE Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of BCE by 2.6% in the 2nd quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 14,383 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $466,000 after purchasing an additional 367 shares in the last quarter. Legacy Financial Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in BCE in the 2nd quarter worth about $232,000. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC raised its stake in shares of BCE by 0.3% during the 2nd quarter. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC now owns 222,092 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $7,189,000 after buying an additional 685 shares during the period. Finally, Mount Yale Investment Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of BCE by 28.0% during the 2nd quarter. Mount Yale Investment Advisors LLC now owns 20,361 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $659,000 after buying an additional 4,456 shares in the last quarter. 41.46% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.