BCE (TSE:BCE) Reaches New 12-Month Low – What’s Next?

BCE Inc. (TSE:BCE) (NYSE:BCE) reached a new 52-week low on Thursday . The stock traded as low as C$37.29 and last traded at C$37.35, with a volume of 1009001 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at C$37.74.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have weighed in on BCE shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on BCE from C$47.00 to C$41.00 in a report on Friday, November 8th. Cormark decreased their price objective on BCE from C$53.00 to C$52.00 in a report on Friday, August 2nd. Desjardins lifted their target price on shares of BCE from C$48.00 to C$51.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, August 2nd. National Bank Financial cut shares of BCE from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, September 30th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group lowered their target price on shares of BCE from C$41.00 to C$37.50 in a report on Friday, November 8th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of C$45.36.

BCE Stock Down 1.9 %

The company has a market cap of C$33.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.67 and a beta of 0.48. The company has a current ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 197.43. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is C$44.51 and its 200-day moving average price is C$45.49.

BCE Cuts Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 16th will be issued a $0.9975 dividend. This represents a $3.99 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 10.78%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 16th. BCE’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 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.