Inspire Investing LLC Has $1.18 Million Position in Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. $TDS

Key Points

• Inspire Investing LLC increased its stake in Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. by 158.2% within the first quarter, owning 30,323 shares valued at approximately $1.175 million.
• Insiders of Telephone and Data Systems sold a total of 276,650 shares, worth nearly $10.69 million, over the last quarter, reflecting significant decreases in their individual holdings.
• Despite a reported net loss of ($0.05) earnings per share for the latest quarter, analysts maintained a Moderate Buy consensus rating with an average price target of $52.00 for the stock.

Inspire Investing LLC increased its stake in Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (NYSE:TDS - Free Report) by 158.2% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 30,323 shares of the Wireless communications provider's stock after purchasing an additional 18,577 shares during the period. Inspire Investing LLC's holdings in Telephone and Data Systems were worth $1,175,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Bayforest Capital Ltd raised its position in shares of Telephone and Data Systems by 121.8% during the first quarter. Bayforest Capital Ltd now owns 1,342 shares of the Wireless communications provider's stock worth $52,000 after acquiring an additional 737 shares during the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC lifted its position in Telephone and Data Systems by 85.6% during the 4th quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 4,092 shares of the Wireless communications provider's stock valued at $139,000 after purchasing an additional 1,887 shares during the period. Forum Financial Management LP bought a new position in shares of Telephone and Data Systems in the 1st quarter valued at about $200,000. Greenleaf Trust acquired a new stake in shares of Telephone and Data Systems during the 1st quarter worth approximately $202,000. Finally, Highland Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Telephone and Data Systems during the 1st quarter worth approximately $205,000. 80.00% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. Zacks Research raised shares of Telephone and Data Systems from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 13th. Raymond James Financial lifted their price objective on Telephone and Data Systems from $49.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 12th. Wall Street Zen raised Telephone and Data Systems from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Sunday, August 17th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on Telephone and Data Systems from $53.00 to $54.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 12th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $52.00.

Telephone and Data Systems Stock Down 1.3%

Shares of Telephone and Data Systems stock traded down $0.51 on Thursday, hitting $37.83. The company had a trading volume of 428,860 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,063,868. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $38.91 and a 200-day moving average of $36.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 1.78 and a quick ratio of 1.65. Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. has a twelve month low of $22.51 and a twelve month high of $42.74. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.35 billion, a P/E ratio of -39.07 and a beta of 0.48.

Telephone and Data Systems (NYSE:TDS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, August 11th. The Wireless communications provider reported ($0.05) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.01) by ($0.04). The company had revenue of $1.19 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.17 billion. Telephone and Data Systems had a negative net margin of 0.85% and a positive return on equity of 0.92%. The company's revenue was down 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted ($0.13) earnings per share. Research analysts predict that Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. will post -0.31 earnings per share for the current year.

Telephone and Data Systems Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Monday, September 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.04 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 15th. This represents a $0.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.4%. Telephone and Data Systems's dividend payout ratio is presently -16.49%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Telephone and Data Systems news, SVP Joseph R. Hanley sold 68,759 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, August 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $38.16, for a total value of $2,623,843.44. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president owned 60,473 shares in the company, valued at $2,307,649.68. This trade represents a 53.21% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CAO Anita J. Kroll sold 29,047 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $39.02, for a total transaction of $1,133,413.94. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer directly owned 19,892 shares in the company, valued at approximately $776,185.84. The trade was a 59.35% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 276,650 shares of company stock worth $10,690,789 over the last 90 days. 14.97% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

About Telephone and Data Systems

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.