Traders Buy High Volume of Call Options on Telephone and Data Systems (NYSE:TDS)

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (NYSE:TDS) was the recipient of some unusual options trading on Monday. Stock traders acquired 3,992 call options on the company. This is an increase of 50% compared to the average daily volume of 2,664 call options.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in TDS. Principal Securities Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Telephone and Data Systems during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Anchor Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Telephone and Data Systems during the fourth quarter worth about $46,000. Quarry LP bought a new position in Telephone and Data Systems during the fourth quarter worth about $60,000. GAMMA Investing LLC acquired a new position in shares of Telephone and Data Systems during the 4th quarter worth about $93,000. Finally, Quadrant Capital Group LLC increased its stake in shares of Telephone and Data Systems by 14.0% in the 4th quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 5,062 shares of the Wireless communications provider’s stock valued at $93,000 after acquiring an additional 622 shares during the last quarter. 80.00% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Telephone and Data Systems Price Performance

TDS opened at $15.40 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 1.58 and a quick ratio of 1.40. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $15.64 and its 200-day simple moving average is $17.34. Telephone and Data Systems has a one year low of $6.43 and a one year high of $21.75. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.74 billion, a P/E ratio of -3.16 and a beta of 0.81.

Telephone and Data Systems (NYSE:TDS) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, May 3rd. The Wireless communications provider reported $0.10 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.05) by $0.15. The firm had revenue of $1.26 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.26 billion. Telephone and Data Systems had a positive return on equity of 0.62% and a negative net margin of 9.36%. The business’s quarterly revenue was down 3.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned ($0.08) EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Telephone and Data Systems will post -1 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Telephone and Data Systems Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 28th. Investors of record on Friday, March 15th were given a $0.19 dividend. This represents a $0.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.94%. This is a positive change from Telephone and Data Systems’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.19. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 14th. Telephone and Data Systems’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -15.61%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, StockNews.com raised Telephone and Data Systems from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday.

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.