BCE (TSE:BCE) Reaches New 12-Month Low - Time to Sell?

BCE Inc. (TSE:BCE - Get Free Report) NYSE: BCE's stock price hit a new 52-week low on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as C$33.44 and last traded at C$33.50, with a volume of 3795194 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at C$34.05.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms recently issued reports on BCE. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on shares of BCE from C$47.00 to C$41.00 in a report on Friday, November 8th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on BCE from C$48.00 to C$51.00 in a report on Thursday, September 19th. Canaccord Genuity Group dropped their price objective on BCE from C$41.00 to C$37.50 in a report on Friday, November 8th. Barclays reduced their target price on BCE from C$46.00 to C$41.00 in a report on Monday, November 11th. Finally, TD Securities lowered their price target on shares of BCE from C$39.00 to C$37.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, December 3rd. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of C$44.68.

BCE Stock Down 0.8 %

The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of C$40.63 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$44.28. The company has a market cap of C$30.83 billion, a PE ratio of 15.72, a P/E/G ratio of 4.67 and a beta of 0.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 197.43, a current ratio of 0.65 and a quick ratio of 0.43.

BCE Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, January 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.9975 per share. This represents a $3.99 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 11.81%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 16th. BCE's dividend payout ratio is presently 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.