Brokerages Set Vodafone Group PLC (NASDAQ:VOD) Price Target at $136.00

Vodafone Group PLC (NASDAQ:VOD) has received an average recommendation of “Reduce” from the six analysts that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have issued a hold recommendation and one has assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $136.00.

Several equities analysts recently commented on VOD shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued an “underweight” rating on shares of Vodafone Group in a research report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Morgan Stanley started coverage on Vodafone Group in a research report on Wednesday, July 2nd. They set an “equal weight” rating on the stock. Berenberg Bank raised Vodafone Group to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, June 26th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered Vodafone Group from a “neutral” rating to a “sell” rating and set a $136.00 price target on the stock. in a research report on Thursday, July 31st. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered Vodafone Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 27th.

Vodafone Group Stock Performance

Vodafone Group stock opened at $11.36 on Monday. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $10.68 and its 200 day moving average price is $9.68. The firm has a market capitalization of $27.57 billion, a PE ratio of 9.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.54 and a beta of 0.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a current ratio of 1.26. Vodafone Group has a one year low of $8.00 and a one year high of $11.66.

Vodafone Group Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 6th were given a $0.2355 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 660.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 6th. Vodafone Group’s dividend payout ratio is presently 42.98%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Vodafone Group

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Sei Investments Co. raised its position in shares of Vodafone Group by 2.7% during the 4th quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 162,619 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $1,381,000 after acquiring an additional 4,269 shares in the last quarter. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC raised its position in shares of Vodafone Group by 115.0% during the 4th quarter. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC now owns 28,668 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $243,000 after acquiring an additional 15,332 shares in the last quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC raised its position in shares of Vodafone Group by 84.2% during the 4th quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 10,598 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $87,000 after acquiring an additional 4,846 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP acquired a new stake in shares of Vodafone Group during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $970,000. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Vodafone Group by 39.7% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 611,461 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $5,191,000 after acquiring an additional 173,816 shares in the last quarter. 7.84% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Vodafone Group

Vodafone Group Public Limited Company provides telecommunication services in Europe and internationally. It offers mobile connectivity services comprising end-to-end services for mobile voice and data, messaging, device management, BYOx, and telecoms management, as well as professional and consulting services; and fixed line connectivity, such as fixed voice and data, broadband, software-defined networks, managed WAN, LAN, ethernet, and satellite; and financial services, as well as business and merchant services.