BCE Inc. (TSE:BCE) Receives C$45.36 Average PT from Analysts

BCE Inc. (TSE:BCE - Get Free Report) NYSE: BCE has been assigned an average recommendation of "Hold" from the ten analysts that are covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12 month price target among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is C$45.36.

BCE has been the topic of several recent research reports. Desjardins upped their target price on shares of BCE from C$48.00 to C$51.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, August 2nd. Canaccord Genuity Group cut their target price on shares of BCE from C$41.00 to C$37.50 in a research note on Friday, November 8th. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on shares of BCE from C$48.00 to C$51.00 in a research note on Thursday, September 19th. Cormark cut their target price on shares of BCE from C$53.00 to C$52.00 in a research note on Friday, August 2nd. Finally, National Bank Financial downgraded shares of BCE from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, September 30th.

BCE Price Performance

BCE stock opened at C$37.74 on Thursday. The company's 50 day simple moving average is C$44.51 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$45.49. The company has a market capitalization of C$34.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.67 and a beta of 0.48. BCE has a 1 year low of C$37.33 and a 1 year high of C$56.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 197.43, a quick ratio of 0.43 and a current ratio of 0.65.

BCE Cuts Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 16th will be issued a $0.9975 dividend. This represents a $3.99 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 10.57%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 16th. BCE's payout ratio is 185.58%.

About BCE

BCE Inc, a communications company, provides wireless, wireline, Internet, and television (TV) services to residential, business, and wholesale customers in Canada. The company operates through two segments, Bell Communication and Technology Services, and Bell Media. The Bell Communication and Technology Services segment provides wireless products and services including mobile data and voice plans and devices; wireline products and services comprising data, including internet access, internet protocol television, cloud-based services, and business solutions, as well as voice, and other communication services and products; and satellite TV and connectivity services for residential, small and medium-sized business, government, and large enterprise customers.