Insider Selling: Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (NYSE:TDS) CFO Sells 58,452 Shares of Stock

Key Points

• Vicki L. Villacrez, the CFO of Telephone and Data Systems, sold 58,452 shares of the company's stock for over $2.25 million, significantly reducing her ownership by 68.57%.
• The company's stock is currently down 0.8% and has a market capitalization of $4.39 billion.
• Telephone and Data Systems recently announced a $0.04 quarterly dividend, providing a yield of 0.4%, with a payout ratio of -16.49%.

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (NYSE:TDS - Get Free Report) CFO Vicki L. Villacrez sold 58,452 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Friday, August 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $38.56, for a total transaction of $2,253,909.12. Following the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 26,788 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,032,945.28. The trade was a 68.57% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink.

Telephone and Data Systems Stock Down 0.8%

Shares of TDS traded down $0.31 on Friday, reaching $38.51. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,449,238 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,066,919. The company has a current ratio of 1.78, a quick ratio of 1.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85. Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. has a twelve month low of $20.04 and a twelve month high of $42.74. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.39 billion, a PE ratio of -39.70 and a beta of 0.54. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $36.92 and a 200-day moving average of $36.26.

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 firm had revenue of $1.19 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations 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 quarterly revenue was down 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted ($0.13) EPS. Equities analysts predict that Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. will post -0.31 EPS for the current year.

Telephone and Data Systems Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 15th will be paid a $0.04 dividend. 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 (DPR) is -16.49%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have recently issued reports on TDS. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Telephone and Data Systems from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Saturday, August 9th. Raymond James Financial boosted their target price on shares of Telephone and Data Systems from $49.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Tuesday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on Telephone and Data Systems from $53.00 to $54.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Telephone and Data Systems

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Federated Hermes Inc. purchased a new position in Telephone and Data Systems during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $56,000. Bank of Montreal Can boosted its position in Telephone and Data Systems by 5.5% during the 4th quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 42,642 shares of the Wireless communications provider's stock valued at $1,455,000 after buying an additional 2,241 shares during the period. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Telephone and Data Systems in the 4th quarter worth approximately $5,619,000. Sterling Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Telephone and Data Systems by 33.7% in the fourth quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 11,238 shares of the Wireless communications provider's stock worth $383,000 after buying an additional 2,835 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Summit Investment Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in Telephone and Data Systems by 4.9% in the fourth quarter. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 10,319 shares of the Wireless communications provider's stock worth $352,000 after buying an additional 482 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.00% of the company's stock.

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.

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