Vodafone Group PLC (NASDAQ:VOD) Stake Lifted by Proficio Capital Partners LLC

Proficio Capital Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Vodafone Group PLC (NASDAQ:VOD - Free Report) by 127.9% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 577,602 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock after acquiring an additional 324,135 shares during the quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC's holdings in Vodafone Group were worth $5,412,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. increased its stake in shares of 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 worth $30,000 after buying an additional 1,250 shares during the period. Wayfinding Financial LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Vodafone Group during the first quarter worth $31,000. NBC Securities Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Vodafone Group by 116,833.3% during the first quarter. NBC Securities Inc. now owns 3,508 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 3,505 shares during the period. GeoWealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in Vodafone Group by 258.0% in the fourth quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC now owns 5,180 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock valued at $44,000 after acquiring an additional 3,733 shares during the period. Finally, CoreCap Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Vodafone Group by 509.7% in the fourth quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC now owns 6,829 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock valued at $58,000 after acquiring an additional 5,709 shares during the period. 7.84% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Vodafone Group Stock Down 1.2%

VOD stock traded down $0.14 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $11.39. 4,748,359 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 12,505,131. The company has a current ratio of 1.26, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85. Vodafone Group PLC has a 12-month low of $8.00 and a 12-month high of $11.66. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $10.49 and a 200-day moving average price of $9.45. The stock has a market capitalization of $29.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.55 and a beta of 0.59.

Vodafone Group Cuts Dividend

The company also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 6th will be issued a $0.2355 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 6th. This represents a dividend yield of 6.6%. Vodafone Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 41.23%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

VOD has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Berenberg Bank upgraded Vodafone Group to a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, June 26th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed an "underweight" rating on shares of Vodafone Group in a research note on Wednesday, April 23rd. Morgan Stanley began coverage on Vodafone Group in a research note on Wednesday, July 2nd. They issued an "equal weight" rating on the stock. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered Vodafone Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 27th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Vodafone Group currently has a consensus rating of "Hold".

About Vodafone Group

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.