Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA) Shares Gap Down - Time to Sell?

Key Points

• Comcast shares gapped down from a previous close of $33.91 to open at $32.57 ahead of trading on Monday, with the latest trade at $33.60.
• Analysts have set a consensus rating of "Hold" for Comcast, with an average target price of $40.63 and varying individual ratings from "Strong Buy" to "Sell."
• Recently declared a quarterly dividend of $0.33 per share, yielding 3.9% annually, with a payout ratio of 21.82%.

Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA - Get Free Report)'s share price gapped down prior to trading on Monday . The stock had previously closed at $33.91, but opened at $32.57. Comcast shares last traded at $33.60, with a volume of 6,084,320 shares changing hands.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

CMCSA has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Arete Research upgraded Comcast to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 8th. Rosenblatt Securities boosted their price objective on Comcast from $37.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Monday, August 4th. Sanford C. Bernstein reduced their price objective on Comcast from $37.00 to $36.00 and set a "market perform" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday. Rothschild & Co Redburn reduced their price objective on Comcast from $44.00 to $35.00 in a research note on Friday, June 20th. Finally, Benchmark restated a "buy" rating on shares of Comcast in a research note on Friday, July 18th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Comcast presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $40.56.

Comcast Stock Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99. The company has a 50 day moving average of $33.79 and a 200 day moving average of $34.60. The firm has a market cap of $122.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.46, a PEG ratio of 2.00 and a beta of 0.93.

Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The cable giant reported $1.25 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.18 by $0.07. Comcast had a return on equity of 18.86% and a net margin of 18.44%.The business had revenue of $30.31 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $29.81 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.21 earnings per share. The company's revenue was up 2.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Comcast Corporation will post 4.33 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Comcast Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 22nd. Investors of record on Wednesday, October 1st will be paid a $0.33 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, October 1st. This represents a $1.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.0%. Comcast's payout ratio is 21.82%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Inlight Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Comcast in the first quarter worth about $26,000. Global Trust Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in Comcast by 906.8% in the second quarter. Global Trust Asset Management LLC now owns 745 shares of the cable giant's stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 671 shares during the last quarter. Cranbrook Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in Comcast by 86.0% in the second quarter. Cranbrook Wealth Management LLC now owns 757 shares of the cable giant's stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 350 shares during the last quarter. Avalon Trust Co increased its holdings in Comcast by 433.3% in the second quarter. Avalon Trust Co now owns 768 shares of the cable giant's stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 624 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ransom Advisory Ltd bought a new stake in Comcast in the first quarter valued at about $29,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.32% of the company's stock.

Comcast Company Profile

Comcast Corporation operates as a media and technology company worldwide. It operates through Residential Connectivity & Platforms, Business Services Connectivity, Media, Studios, and Theme Parks segments. The Residential Connectivity & Platforms segment provides residential broadband and wireless connectivity services, residential and business video services, sky-branded entertainment television networks, and advertising.