Principal Financial Group Inc. Boosts Stock Position in Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (NYSE:TDS)

Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its position in Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (NYSE:TDS - Free Report) by 2.9% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 472,988 shares of the Wireless communications provider's stock after purchasing an additional 13,208 shares during the quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. owned approximately 0.42% of Telephone and Data Systems worth $16,134,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D bought a new position in Telephone and Data Systems in the fourth quarter worth $2,272,000. Congress Asset Management Co. raised its holdings in Telephone and Data Systems by 15.4% in the fourth quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. now owns 214,801 shares of the Wireless communications provider's stock worth $7,327,000 after purchasing an additional 28,671 shares in the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers raised its holdings in Telephone and Data Systems by 1.2% in the fourth quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 304,735 shares of the Wireless communications provider's stock worth $10,394,000 after purchasing an additional 3,688 shares in the last quarter. Consolidated Planning Corp raised its holdings in Telephone and Data Systems by 35.4% in the fourth quarter. Consolidated Planning Corp now owns 38,516 shares of the Wireless communications provider's stock worth $1,314,000 after purchasing an additional 10,063 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Savant Capital LLC bought a new position in Telephone and Data Systems in the fourth quarter worth $203,000. Institutional investors own 80.00% of the company's stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on TDS. Raymond James upgraded Telephone and Data Systems from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $51.00 price target for the company in a report on Thursday, November 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Telephone and Data Systems from $53.00 to $56.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday, February 24th.

Telephone and Data Systems Stock Up 1.5 %

Shares of NYSE:TDS traded up $0.55 on Friday, hitting $36.08. 907,149 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 856,822. Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. has a 52 week low of $14.04 and a 52 week high of $41.21. The company has a quick ratio of 1.44, a current ratio of 1.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $35.82 and a 200-day simple moving average of $30.28. The company has a market cap of $4.08 billion, a PE ratio of -6.68 and a beta of 0.80.

Telephone and Data Systems (NYSE:TDS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 21st. The Wireless communications provider reported ($0.09) EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.32) by $0.23. Telephone and Data Systems had a positive return on equity of 1.12% and a negative net margin of 10.72%. The company had revenue of $1.24 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.23 billion. As a group, research analysts expect that Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. will post -0.31 earnings per share for the current year.

Telephone and Data Systems Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Monday, March 17th will be issued a $0.04 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 17th. This represents a $0.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.44%. Telephone and Data Systems's payout ratio is -18.60%.

Telephone and Data Systems Company Profile

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc, a telecommunications company, provides communications services in the United States. It operates through two segments: UScellular and TDS Telecom. The company offers wireless solutions to consumers, and business and government customers, including a suite of connected Internet of things (IoT) solutions, and software applications for monitor and control, business automation/operations, communication, fleet and asset management, smart water solutions, private cellular networks and custom, and end-to-end IoT solutions; wireless priority services and quality priority and preemption options; smartphones and other handsets, tablets, wearables, mobile hotspots, fixed wireless home internet, and IoT devices; and accessories, such as cases, screen protectors, chargers, and memory cards, as well as consumer electronics, including audio, home automation and networking products.