Vodafone Group (NASDAQ:VOD) Sets New 1-Year High - Still a Buy?

Key Points

• Vodafone Group shares reached a new 52-week high of $11.67, with last trading at $11.63, indicating positive market sentiment.
• Various analysts have assigned ratings ranging from "buy" to "sell," resulting in an average rating of "Hold" and a price target of $136.00.
• The company declared a semi-annual dividend of $0.2355 per share, with a significant dividend yield of 660.0%, despite its payout ratio being 42.98%.

Vodafone Group PLC (NASDAQ:VOD - Get Free Report) shares hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $11.67 and last traded at $11.63, with a volume of 16117 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $11.54.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on shares of Vodafone Group in a research note on Wednesday, July 2nd. They set an "equal weight" rating for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed an "underweight" rating on shares of Vodafone Group in a research note on Wednesday, April 23rd. Berenberg Bank raised shares of Vodafone Group to a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, June 26th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Vodafone Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 27th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group cut shares of Vodafone Group from a "neutral" rating to a "sell" rating and set a $136.00 price target on the stock. in a research report on Thursday, July 31st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $136.00.

Vodafone Group Stock Up 0.9%

The company has a market capitalization of $28.26 billion, a PE ratio of 10.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.55 and a beta of 0.62. The firm's 50-day simple moving average is $10.73 and its 200 day simple moving average is $9.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a current ratio of 1.26.

Vodafone Group Cuts Dividend

The company also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 6th were paid a dividend of $0.2355 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 660.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 6th. Vodafone Group's payout ratio is 42.98%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. V Square Quantitative Management LLC acquired a new position in Vodafone Group in the 2nd quarter valued at about $25,000. Atwood & Palmer Inc. purchased a new position in Vodafone Group in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. boosted its holdings in Vodafone Group by 65.5% in the 1st quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. now owns 3,159 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 1,250 shares during the period. Wayfinding Financial LLC purchased a new position in Vodafone Group in the 1st quarter worth approximately $31,000. Finally, NBC Securities Inc. boosted its holdings in Vodafone Group by 116,833.3% in the 1st quarter. NBC Securities Inc. now owns 3,508 shares of the cell phone carrier's stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 3,505 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 7.84% of the company's stock.

About Vodafone Group

Vodafone Group Public Limited Company provides telecommunication services in Europe and internationally. It offers mobile connectivity services comprising end-to-end services for mobile voice and data, messaging, device management, BYOx, and telecoms management, as well as professional and consulting services; and fixed line connectivity, such as fixed voice and data, broadband, software-defined networks, managed WAN, LAN, ethernet, and satellite; and financial services, as well as business and merchant services.

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