Optas LLC Raises Stock Holdings in Telefónica, S.A. (NYSE:TEF)

Optas LLC boosted its holdings in Telefónica, S.A. (NYSE:TEF) by 23.3% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 33,241 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 6,276 shares during the period. Optas LLC’s holdings in Telefónica were worth $147,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Mainstay Capital Management LLC ADV purchased a new position in Telefónica in the fourth quarter valued at about $1,200,000. Intelligence Driven Advisers LLC raised its stake in Telefónica by 50.1% during the fourth quarter. Intelligence Driven Advisers LLC now owns 23,645 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $97,000 after buying an additional 7,895 shares in the last quarter. EWA LLC acquired a new stake in Telefónica during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $85,000. 180 Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in Telefónica by 11.4% during the first quarter. 180 Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 39,655 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $175,000 after buying an additional 4,050 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Dorsey & Whitney Trust CO LLC raised its stake in Telefónica by 121.4% during the fourth quarter. Dorsey & Whitney Trust CO LLC now owns 44,488 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $174,000 after buying an additional 24,395 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 1.14% of the company’s stock.

Telefónica Stock Down 2.3 %

Shares of Telefónica stock opened at $4.21 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $4.46 and its 200-day simple moving average is $4.23. Telefónica, S.A. has a twelve month low of $3.71 and a twelve month high of $4.80.

Telefónica (NYSE:TEF) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 9th. The utilities provider reported $0.11 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.09 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $11.01 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $10.96 billion. Telefónica had a positive return on equity of 7.84% and a negative net margin of 1.57%. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Telefónica, S.A. will post 0.34 EPS for the current year.

Telefónica Cuts Dividend

The business also recently declared a Semi-Annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 11th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, June 18th will be given a dividend of $0.1628 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 5.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, June 18th. Telefónica’s payout ratio is -143.75%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have issued reports on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut Telefónica from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Thursday, June 13th. StockNews.com upgraded Telefónica from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, June 8th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Telefónica currently has an average rating of “Hold”.

Telefónica Profile

Telefónica, SA, together with its subsidiaries, provides telecommunications services in Europe and Latin America. The company offers mobile and related services and products, such as mobile voice, value added, mobile data and internet, wholesale, corporate, roaming, fixed wireless, and trunking and paging services.