Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (NYSE:BBVA) Raised to Buy at StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (NYSE:BBVA - Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report issued on Tuesday.

A number of other equities analysts also recently weighed in on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada raised shares of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria to a "moderate buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 31st. Citigroup upgraded shares of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Friday, August 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy".

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria Trading Down 2.8 %

Shares of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria stock traded down $0.27 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $9.45. The stock had a trading volume of 2,346,673 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,493,706. The firm has a market cap of $55.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.58, a P/E/G ratio of 0.96 and a beta of 1.31. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria has a 12 month low of $8.47 and a 12 month high of $12.20. The business's 50-day moving average is $10.22 and its 200 day moving average is $10.37.

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a Semi-Annual dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 25th. Investors of record on Wednesday, October 9th were paid a $0.3244 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, October 9th. This represents a yield of 5.6%. This is an increase from Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria's previous Semi-Annual dividend of $0.11. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria's payout ratio is currently 29.31%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Clearbridge Investments LLC grew its stake in shares of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria by 172.8% in the 2nd quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 3,096,738 shares of the bank's stock valued at $31,060,000 after buying an additional 1,961,553 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria by 5.9% in the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 11,103,927 shares of the bank's stock valued at $111,371,000 after buying an additional 619,836 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria by 9.9% during the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 4,412,058 shares of the bank's stock worth $44,253,000 after acquiring an additional 396,829 shares during the period. Raymond James & Associates lifted its holdings in Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria by 91.0% during the 3rd quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 776,389 shares of the bank's stock worth $8,416,000 after purchasing an additional 369,971 shares during the last quarter. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. raised its holdings in Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria by 24.2% in the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,890,079 shares of the bank's stock valued at $18,957,000 after acquiring an additional 368,660 shares in the last quarter. 2.96% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, SA provides retail banking, wholesale banking, and asset management services in the United States, Spain, Mexico, Turkey, South America, and internationally. The company offers savings account, demand deposits, and time deposits; and loan products, such as residential mortgages, other households, credit card loans, loans to enterprises and public sector, as well as consumer finance.