PLDT Inc. (NYSE:PHI) Short Interest Update

Key Points

• PLDT Inc. saw a significant increase in short interest, rising by 28.2% in August, with total short interest reaching 342,600 shares.
• Several institutional investors increased their stakes in PLDT, with GAMMA Investing LLC showing the largest growth at 51.7%.
• PLDT declared a semi-annual dividend of $0.8414, representing a dividend yield of 530.0%, an increase from the previous dividend of $0.81.

PLDT Inc. (NYSE:PHI - Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest during the month of August. As of August 31st, there was short interest totaling 342,600 shares, a growth of 28.2% from the August 15th total of 267,200 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 86,900 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.9 days. Approximately 0.2% of the company's shares are sold short. Approximately 0.2% of the company's shares are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 86,900 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.9 days.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its position in shares of PLDT by 51.7% during the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,201 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $48,000 after purchasing an additional 750 shares in the last quarter. MAI Capital Management bought a new position in shares of PLDT during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $65,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of PLDT by 155.1% in the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 3,069 shares of the technology company's stock worth $67,000 after buying an additional 1,866 shares during the last quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. grew its holdings in shares of PLDT by 759.7% in the second quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 3,774 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $82,000 after acquiring an additional 3,335 shares in the last quarter. Finally, BNP Paribas Financial Markets increased its position in shares of PLDT by 49.4% during the fourth quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 4,396 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $97,000 after acquiring an additional 1,453 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 2.26% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have issued reports on PHI shares. UBS Group lowered shares of PLDT from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 27th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of PLDT from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, June 6th. Finally, Zacks Research raised PLDT to a "strong sell" rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 12th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Reduce".

PLDT Stock Up 0.3%

PHI traded up $0.05 during trading on Friday, hitting $19.58. 324,797 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 144,743. PLDT has a fifty-two week low of $19.22 and a fifty-two week high of $27.93. The stock has a market cap of $4.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.56, a PEG ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 0.66. The business's 50 day moving average is $21.67 and its two-hundred day moving average is $22.33. The company has a quick ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 0.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.16.

PLDT Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 24th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, August 27th will be paid a $0.8414 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 530.0%. This is a boost from PLDT's previous semi-annual dividend of $0.81. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, August 27th. PLDT's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 47.10%.

PLDT Company Profile

PLDT Inc provides telecommunications and digital services in the Philippines. The company operates through three segments: Wireless, Fixed Line, and Others. It offers cellular mobile, Internet broadband distribution, operations support, software development, and satellite information and messaging services; and sells Wi-Fi access equipment.