Entropy Technologies LP Purchases 34,600 Shares of Vodafone Group PLC (NASDAQ:VOD)

Key Points

• Entropy Technologies LP significantly increased its stake in Vodafone Group PLC by 268.2%, acquiring an additional 34,600 shares, bringing its total holdings to 47,500 shares valued at approximately $445,000.
• Vodafone announced a semi-annual dividend of $0.2355 per share, resulting in a 660.0% dividend yield, while its current dividend payout ratio stands at 42.98%.
• Analysts have mixed sentiments about Vodafone, with a consensus rating of "Hold" and varying price targets, indicating cautious optimism regarding its market performance.

Entropy Technologies LP lifted its stake in shares of Vodafone Group PLC (NASDAQ:VOD - Free Report) by 268.2% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 47,500 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock after acquiring an additional 34,600 shares during the quarter. Entropy Technologies LP's holdings in Vodafone Group were worth $445,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. boosted its position in Vodafone Group by 65.5% during the first quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. now owns 3,159 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 1,250 shares during the last quarter. Brucke Financial Inc. boosted its position in Vodafone Group by 9.8% during the first quarter. Brucke Financial Inc. now owns 14,700 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock valued at $143,000 after purchasing an additional 1,308 shares during the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP boosted its position in Vodafone Group by 4.9% during the first quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 28,435 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock valued at $265,000 after purchasing an additional 1,332 shares during the last quarter. Valeo Financial Advisors LLC boosted its position in Vodafone Group by 11.2% during the first quarter. Valeo Financial Advisors LLC now owns 13,531 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock valued at $127,000 after purchasing an additional 1,364 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cahill Financial Advisors Inc. lifted its position in shares of Vodafone Group by 8.6% in the fourth quarter. Cahill Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 20,395 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock worth $173,000 after buying an additional 1,611 shares during the last quarter. 7.84% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Vodafone Group Stock Performance

Shares of Vodafone Group stock traded up $0.03 during trading on Friday, reaching $11.67. The company's stock had a trading volume of 3,318,123 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,787,670. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a current ratio of 1.26. The business's fifty day moving average price is $10.82 and its 200-day moving average price is $9.78. The firm has a market cap of $28.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.56 and a beta of 0.62. Vodafone Group PLC has a one year low of $8.00 and a one year high of $11.69.

Vodafone Group Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 6th were paid a $0.2355 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 6th. This represents a dividend yield of 660.0%. Vodafone Group's payout ratio is presently 42.98%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have weighed in on the company. Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on Vodafone Group in a research report on Wednesday, July 2nd. They issued an "equal weight" rating for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed an "underweight" rating on shares of Vodafone Group in a research report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Wall Street Zen cut Vodafone Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 27th. Berenberg Bank raised Vodafone Group to a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, June 26th. Finally, Zacks Research raised Vodafone Group to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $136.00.

Vodafone Group Company Profile

Vodafone Group Public Limited Company provides telecommunication services in Europe and internationally. It offers mobile connectivity services comprising end-to-end services for mobile voice and data, messaging, device management, BYOx, and telecoms management, as well as professional and consulting services; and fixed line connectivity, such as fixed voice and data, broadband, software-defined networks, managed WAN, LAN, ethernet, and satellite; and financial services, as well as business and merchant services.