Ashton Thomas Securities LLC Sells 62,924 Shares of Comcast Co. (NASDAQ:CMCSA)

Ashton Thomas Securities LLC decreased its stake in shares of Comcast Co. (NASDAQ:CMCSA) by 61.3% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 39,757 shares of the cable giant’s stock after selling 62,924 shares during the period. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC’s holdings in Comcast were worth $1,493,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Promus Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Comcast in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Winch Advisory Services LLC raised its position in Comcast by 269.9% in the fourth quarter. Winch Advisory Services LLC now owns 688 shares of the cable giant’s stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 502 shares during the period. Roxbury Financial LLC purchased a new position in shares of Comcast during the 4th quarter worth $27,000. Wingate Wealth Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Comcast during the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. Finally, Safe Harbor Fiduciary LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Comcast in the 3rd quarter worth $30,000. Institutional investors own 84.32% of the company’s stock.

Comcast Trading Down 0.4 %

CMCSA stock opened at $36.60 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $138.39 billion, a PE ratio of 8.82, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.78 and a beta of 1.00. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $35.84 and a 200 day moving average price of $39.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 0.68 and a current ratio of 0.68. Comcast Co. has a fifty-two week low of $32.50 and a fifty-two week high of $45.31.

Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The cable giant reported $0.96 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.88 by $0.08. Comcast had a net margin of 13.09% and a return on equity of 19.98%. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Comcast Co. will post 4.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Comcast Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 23rd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, April 2nd will be paid a $0.33 dividend. This represents a $1.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.61%. This is a positive change from Comcast’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.31. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 2nd. Comcast’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 31.81%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms recently weighed in on CMCSA. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price target on Comcast from $50.00 to $44.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on Comcast from $45.00 to $37.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Benchmark decreased their target price on shares of Comcast from $57.00 to $55.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Loop Capital lowered their price target on shares of Comcast from $54.00 to $53.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 2nd. Finally, Rosenblatt Securities reduced their price objective on shares of Comcast from $45.00 to $36.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and three have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Comcast presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $43.83.

Comcast Company Profile

Comcast Corporation operates as a media and technology company worldwide. It operates through Residential Connectivity & Platforms, Business Services Connectivity, Media, Studios, and Theme Parks segments. The Residential Connectivity & Platforms segment provides residential broadband and wireless connectivity services, residential and business video services, sky-branded entertainment television networks, and advertising.