Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (NYSE:TDS) CAO Anita J. Kroll Sells 29,047 Shares

Key Points

• Anita J. Kroll, the Chief Accounting Officer of Telephone and Data Systems, sold 29,047 shares of the company's stock for approximately $1.13 million, which reflects a 59.35% decrease in her ownership position.
• In the recent quarterly earnings report, the company missed the consensus earnings estimate, reporting an EPS of ($0.05), while revenue was down 5.7% year-over-year at $1.19 billion.
• Telephone and Data Systems plans to distribute a quarterly dividend of $0.04 per share on September 30th, with a current annualized yield of 0.4%.

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (NYSE:TDS - Get Free Report) CAO Anita J. Kroll sold 29,047 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $39.02, for a total value of $1,133,413.94. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer directly owned 19,892 shares of the company's stock, valued at $776,185.84. This represents a 59.35% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website.

Telephone and Data Systems Stock Performance

TDS traded up $0.02 on Thursday, reaching $38.83. 1,247,169 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,064,433. The company's 50-day moving average price is $36.76 and its 200 day moving average price is $36.22. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.43 billion, a PE ratio of -40.03 and a beta of 0.54. Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $20.04 and a fifty-two week high of $42.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 1.78 and a quick ratio of 1.55.

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) earnings per share (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 analyst estimates of $1.17 billion. Telephone and Data Systems had a positive return on equity of 0.92% and a negative net margin of 0.85%. The company's quarterly revenue was down 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted ($0.13) earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. will post -0.31 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Telephone and Data Systems Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 15th will be given a dividend of $0.04 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 15th. This represents a $0.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.4%. Telephone and Data Systems's dividend payout ratio is currently -15.24%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on TDS. Raymond James Financial upped 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. Wall Street Zen downgraded Telephone and Data Systems from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research report on Saturday, August 9th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped 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.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Telephone and Data Systems

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Federated Hermes Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Telephone and Data Systems during the fourth quarter worth about $56,000. Bank of Montreal Can grew its holdings 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 last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in Telephone and Data Systems during the 4th quarter valued at $5,619,000. Sterling Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Telephone and Data Systems by 33.7% in the 4th quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 11,238 shares of the Wireless communications provider's stock worth $383,000 after acquiring an additional 2,835 shares during the period. Finally, Summit Investment Advisors Inc. grew its stake in Telephone and Data Systems by 4.9% in the 4th quarter. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 10,319 shares of the Wireless communications provider's stock worth $352,000 after acquiring 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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