Telefônica Brasil (NYSE:VIV) Reaches New 12-Month Low - Should You Sell?

Telefônica Brasil S.A. (NYSE:VIV - Get Free Report)'s stock price reached a new 52-week low during trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $9.80 and last traded at $9.84, with a volume of 22804 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $9.89.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

VIV has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Barclays raised Telefônica Brasil from an "equal weight" rating to an "overweight" rating and lowered their price target for the company from $23.60 to $23.00 in a research report on Monday, March 3rd. Wall Street Zen downgraded Telefônica Brasil from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 20th. Scotiabank cut their price objective on Telefônica Brasil from $20.80 to $18.40 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised their target price on Telefônica Brasil from $9.20 to $10.30 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $17.23.

Telefônica Brasil Stock Performance

The company's 50 day moving average price is $12.13 and its 200-day moving average price is $15.24. The company has a market cap of $17.07 billion, a PE ratio of 16.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.84 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 0.96.

Telefônica Brasil (NYSE:VIV - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 12th. The Wireless communications provider reported $0.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.12 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $2.53 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $14.41 billion. Telefônica Brasil had a return on equity of 7.77% and a net margin of 9.78%. Equities research analysts anticipate that Telefônica Brasil S.A. will post 0.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Telefônica Brasil Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 25th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 25th were issued a $0.043 dividend. This is a boost from Telefônica Brasil's previous dividend of $0.02. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 25th. Telefônica Brasil's dividend payout ratio is presently 91.80%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Telefônica Brasil

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Allworth Financial LP boosted its stake in Telefônica Brasil by 86.4% in the fourth quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 4,169 shares of the Wireless communications provider's stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 1,933 shares in the last quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of Telefônica Brasil by 39.3% in the 1st quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 3,783 shares of the Wireless communications provider's stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 1,067 shares during the last quarter. R Squared Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Telefônica Brasil in the 4th quarter valued at $37,000. Rhumbline Advisers grew its holdings in shares of Telefônica Brasil by 337.7% during the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 4,233 shares of the Wireless communications provider's stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 3,266 shares during the last quarter. Finally, SVB Wealth LLC purchased a new position in Telefônica Brasil in the 1st quarter worth $41,000. 5.16% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Telefônica Brasil

Telefônica Brasil SA, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a mobile telecommunications company in Brazil. Its fixed line services portfolio includes local, domestic long-distance, and international long-distance calls; and mobile portfolio comprises voice and broadband internet access through 3G, 4G, 4.5G, and 5G, as well as mobile value-added and wireless roaming services.