Zacks Research Issues Optimistic Outlook for BCE Earnings

BCE Inc. (TSE:BCE - Free Report) NYSE: BCE - Research analysts at Zacks Research increased their Q4 2024 earnings estimates for shares of BCE in a report released on Wednesday, November 27th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now forecasts that the company will post earnings per share of $0.74 for the quarter, up from their prior estimate of $0.72. The consensus estimate for BCE's current full-year earnings is $3.11 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for BCE's Q1 2025 earnings at $0.68 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $0.71 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $2.90 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $0.73 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $0.77 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $2.95 EPS.

BCE has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Canaccord Genuity Group lowered their target price on BCE from C$41.00 to C$37.50 in a research note on Friday, November 8th. Scotiabank reduced their target price on shares of BCE from C$45.00 to C$42.00 in a research report on Tuesday, November 26th. National Bankshares lowered their price target on shares of BCE from C$48.00 to C$42.00 in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on shares of BCE from C$47.00 to C$41.00 in a report on Friday, November 8th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on BCE from C$48.00 to C$51.00 in a research note on Thursday, September 19th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of C$44.86.

BCE Price Performance

TSE BCE traded up C$0.12 during trading hours on Monday, hitting C$38.02. The company had a trading volume of 4,886,390 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,163,091. The business's 50 day moving average is C$43.07. 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 has a fifty-two week low of C$36.95 and a fifty-two week high of C$56.18. The stock has a market cap of C$34.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.67 and a beta of 0.48.

BCE Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 16th will be paid a dividend of $0.9975 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 16th. This represents a $3.99 annualized dividend and a yield of 10.49%. 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.