Telefónica (NYSE:TEF) Lowered to “Hold” Rating by StockNews.com

StockNews.com downgraded shares of Telefónica (NYSE:TEF) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note published on Tuesday morning.

Telefónica Stock Performance

TEF opened at $4.47 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.33. The company has a market cap of $25.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -17.17 and a beta of 0.68. Telefónica has a 1-year low of $3.89 and a 1-year high of $4.93. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $4.09 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $4.43.

Telefónica Cuts Dividend

The company also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 10th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, December 18th were issued a $0.1576 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 5.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, December 18th. Telefónica’s payout ratio is -84.62%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Telefónica

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of TEF. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its holdings in shares of Telefónica by 71.6% in the fourth quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 6,236 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 2,603 shares in the last quarter. Callan Family Office LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Telefónica in the fourth quarter worth about $44,000. Sanctuary Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Telefónica in the third quarter worth about $45,000. Drive Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Telefónica in the fourth quarter worth about $45,000. Finally, Prospect Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Telefónica in the fourth quarter worth about $45,000. 1.14% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Telefónica Company Profile

Telefónica, SA, together with its subsidiaries, provides telecommunications services in Europe and Latin America. The company offers mobile and related services and products, such as mobile voice, value added, mobile data and internet, wholesale, corporate, roaming, fixed wireless, and trunking and paging services.