Telefônica Brasil (NYSE:VIV) Shares Gap Up - Time to Buy?

Telefônica Brasil S.A. (NYSE:VIV - Get Free Report) shares gapped up before the market opened on Thursday . The stock had previously closed at $8.99, but opened at $9.20. Telefônica Brasil shares last traded at $9.43, with a volume of 37,244 shares changing hands.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently commented on VIV shares. Scotiabank decreased their price objective on shares of Telefônica Brasil from $10.40 to $9.20 and set a "sector perform" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 27th. StockNews.com raised shares of Telefônica Brasil from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Friday, March 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their target price on Telefônica Brasil from $10.60 to $9.20 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. New Street Research downgraded Telefônica Brasil from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a research note on Monday, December 9th. Finally, Barclays raised Telefônica Brasil from an "equal weight" rating to an "overweight" rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $11.80 to $11.50 in a report on Monday, March 3rd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, three have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $9.97.

Telefônica Brasil Stock Down 0.6 %

The company has a market cap of $13.71 billion, a PE ratio of 13.15, a PEG ratio of 0.84 and a beta of 0.60. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $8.80 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $8.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a current ratio of 0.96 and a quick ratio of 0.91.

Telefônica Brasil (NYSE:VIV - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 25th. The Wireless communications provider reported $0.18 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.17 by $0.01. Telefônica Brasil had a net margin of 9.78% and a return on equity of 7.77%. The firm had revenue of $2.50 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.39 billion. On average, analysts predict that Telefônica Brasil S.A. will post 0.6 earnings per share for the current year.

Telefônica Brasil Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 25th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 25th were paid a $0.0215 dividend. This is a boost from Telefônica Brasil's previous dividend of $0.02. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, March 25th. Telefônica Brasil's dividend payout ratio is 45.90%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Laird Norton Wetherby Wealth Management LLC raised its position in Telefônica Brasil by 1.3% in the fourth quarter. Laird Norton Wetherby Wealth Management LLC now owns 82,053 shares of the Wireless communications provider's stock valued at $620,000 after purchasing an additional 1,086 shares during the period. Quantinno Capital Management LP raised its holdings in Telefônica Brasil by 3.5% in the 3rd quarter. Quantinno Capital Management LP now owns 33,370 shares of the Wireless communications provider's stock valued at $343,000 after buying an additional 1,136 shares during the period. Summit Global Investments lifted its position in Telefônica Brasil by 1.1% in the fourth quarter. Summit Global Investments now owns 137,909 shares of the Wireless communications provider's stock valued at $1,041,000 after buying an additional 1,506 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its stake in Telefônica Brasil by 67.8% during the fourth quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 3,818 shares of the Wireless communications provider's stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 1,543 shares during the period. Finally, CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co increased its position in shares of Telefônica Brasil by 0.9% during the fourth quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 195,958 shares of the Wireless communications provider's stock valued at $1,478,000 after acquiring an additional 1,653 shares during the last quarter. 5.16% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Telefônica Brasil

Telefônica Brasil SA, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a mobile telecommunications company in Brazil. Its fixed line services portfolio includes local, domestic long-distance, and international long-distance calls; and mobile portfolio comprises voice and broadband internet access through 3G, 4G, 4.5G, and 5G, as well as mobile value-added and wireless roaming services.