Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (NYSE:TDS) Short Interest Up 22.2% in March

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (NYSE:TDS - Get Free Report) saw a large growth in short interest in the month of March. As of March 31st, there was short interest totalling 5,670,000 shares, a growth of 22.2% from the March 15th total of 4,640,000 shares. Approximately 5.7% of the company's shares are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 977,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 5.8 days.

Telephone and Data Systems Trading Down 0.5 %

NYSE TDS traded down $0.20 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $36.31. The company's stock had a trading volume of 99,782 shares, compared to its average volume of 942,861. Telephone and Data Systems has a twelve month low of $14.04 and a twelve month high of $41.21. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.14 billion, a P/E ratio of -6.72 and a beta of 0.62. The company has a quick ratio of 1.44, a current ratio of 1.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $36.36 and a 200 day moving average of $34.00.

Telephone and Data Systems (NYSE:TDS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 21st. The Wireless communications provider reported ($0.09) earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.32) by $0.23. The company had revenue of $1.24 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.23 billion. Telephone and Data Systems had a positive return on equity of 1.12% and a negative net margin of 10.72%. Equities research analysts forecast that Telephone and Data Systems will post -0.31 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Telephone and Data Systems Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 17th were given a dividend of $0.04 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 17th. This represents a $0.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.44%. Telephone and Data Systems's dividend payout ratio is -18.60%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on Telephone and Data Systems from $53.00 to $56.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, February 24th.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Telephone and Data Systems

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in TDS. Third Point LLC lifted its holdings in Telephone and Data Systems by 108.7% during the fourth quarter. Third Point LLC now owns 6,000,000 shares of the Wireless communications provider's stock worth $204,660,000 after acquiring an additional 3,125,000 shares in the last quarter. Carronade Capital Management LP bought a new position in shares of Telephone and Data Systems during the 4th quarter valued at about $62,845,000. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Telephone and Data Systems in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $23,776,000. Silver Point Capital L.P. increased its stake in Telephone and Data Systems by 47.2% during the 4th quarter. Silver Point Capital L.P. now owns 1,840,000 shares of the Wireless communications provider's stock worth $62,762,000 after purchasing an additional 590,000 shares in the last quarter. Finally, UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC raised its holdings in Telephone and Data Systems by 189.1% during the 4th quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 730,730 shares of the Wireless communications provider's stock worth $24,925,000 after buying an additional 477,945 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.00% of the company's stock.

Telephone and Data Systems Company Profile

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.