BCE (TSE:BCE) Price Target Raised to C$52.00

BCE (TSE:BCE) (NYSE:BCE) had its price objective lifted by National Bankshares from C$50.00 to C$52.00 in a research report sent to investors on Thursday, BayStreet.CA reports.

A number of other research analysts also recently issued reports on the company. Canaccord Genuity Group cut their price target on BCE from C$53.00 to C$50.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, July 9th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on BCE from C$47.00 to C$48.00 in a report on Thursday, September 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on BCE from C$46.00 to C$47.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, August 2nd. Cormark cut their price target on BCE from C$53.00 to C$52.00 in a report on Friday, August 2nd. Finally, Desjardins lifted their price target on BCE from C$48.00 to C$51.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Friday, August 2nd. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of C$51.17.

BCE Trading Down 0.4 %

Shares of TSE BCE opened at C$47.56 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 197.43. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of C$46.95 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$46.18. The firm has a market cap of C$43.39 billion, a PE ratio of 22.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 0.48. BCE has a twelve month low of C$42.58 and a twelve month high of C$56.18.

BCE (TSE:BCE) (NYSE:BCE) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The company reported C$0.78 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of C$0.80 by C($0.02). The firm had revenue of C$6.01 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$6.07 billion. BCE had a net margin of 8.75% and a return on equity of 10.63%. Analysts expect that BCE will post 2.991195 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

BCE Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, October 15th will be given a dividend of $0.998 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 16th. This represents a $3.99 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 8.39%. BCE’s dividend payout ratio is currently 185.58%.

BCE Company Profile

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.