Traders Buy Large Volume of Put Options on Telephone and Data Systems (NYSE:TDS)

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (NYSE:TDS) was the recipient of some unusual options trading activity on Wednesday. Investors purchased 5,000 put options on the stock. This represents an increase of 249% compared to the typical daily volume of 1,433 put options.

Telephone and Data Systems Trading Up 0.3 %

Shares of TDS stock opened at $29.71 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $3.36 billion, a PE ratio of -6.15 and a beta of 0.81. Telephone and Data Systems has a 1 year low of $13.69 and a 1 year high of $30.44. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $24.47 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $21.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 1.51 and a quick ratio of 1.37.

Telephone and Data Systems (NYSE:TDS) last released its earnings results on Friday, August 2nd. The Wireless communications provider reported ($0.13) earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of ($0.13). Telephone and Data Systems had a positive return on equity of 0.73% and a negative net margin of 9.31%. The firm had revenue of $1.24 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.24 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted ($0.17) EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down 2.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts predict that Telephone and Data Systems will post -0.44 earnings per share for the current year.

Telephone and Data Systems Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 16th were given a $0.04 dividend. This represents a $0.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.54%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, September 16th. Telephone and Data Systems’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -3.31%.

Institutional Trading of Telephone and Data Systems

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Telephone and Data Systems by 4.8% during the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 12,248,615 shares of the Wireless communications provider’s stock valued at $224,762,000 after acquiring an additional 565,371 shares in the last quarter. Diversified Trust Co lifted its holdings in shares of Telephone and Data Systems by 4.5% in the 1st quarter. Diversified Trust Co now owns 29,359 shares of the Wireless communications provider’s stock worth $470,000 after buying an additional 1,277 shares during the period. BNP Paribas Financial Markets grew its position in shares of Telephone and Data Systems by 26.1% during the 1st quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 86,106 shares of the Wireless communications provider’s stock worth $1,379,000 after buying an additional 17,825 shares in the last quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division purchased a new position in shares of Telephone and Data Systems during the first quarter valued at $423,000. Finally, Texas Permanent School Fund Corp lifted its stake in Telephone and Data Systems by 1.4% in the first quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp now owns 86,276 shares of the Wireless communications provider’s stock worth $1,382,000 after acquiring an additional 1,154 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.00% of the company’s stock.

About Telephone and Data Systems

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.