Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. Has $2.23 Million Holdings in BCE Inc. (NYSE:BCE)

Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. decreased its holdings in shares of BCE Inc. (NYSE:BCE) (TSE:BCE) by 41.6% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 64,177 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 45,634 shares during the period. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc.’s holdings in BCE were worth $2,233,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in BCE. ESL Trust Services LLC bought a new stake in BCE during the first quarter worth $31,000. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV raised its position in BCE by 3,480.0% during the second quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 1,074 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 1,044 shares in the last quarter. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC raised its position in BCE by 121.2% during the third quarter. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC now owns 1,232 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $43,000 after acquiring an additional 675 shares in the last quarter. Brown Lisle Cummings Inc. raised its position in BCE by 60.0% during the second quarter. Brown Lisle Cummings Inc. now owns 1,600 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $52,000 after acquiring an additional 600 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC raised its position in BCE by 321.0% during the third quarter. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC now owns 1,663 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $58,000 after acquiring an additional 1,268 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 41.46% of the company’s stock.

BCE Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:BCE opened at $27.69 on Wednesday. The company’s 50-day moving average is $33.46 and its 200 day moving average is $33.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.00, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.65. The company has a market capitalization of $25.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 387.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.26 and a beta of 0.59. BCE Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $27.11 and a fifty-two week high of $41.77.

BCE Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Investors of record on Monday, December 16th will be issued a $0.737 dividend. This is an increase from BCE’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.73. This represents a $2.95 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 10.65%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 16th. BCE’s payout ratio is 4,228.57%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts recently commented on the stock. Canaccord Genuity Group reaffirmed a “hold” rating on shares of BCE in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. National Bank Financial downgraded shares of BCE from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, September 30th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on shares of BCE from $48.00 to $51.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research note on Thursday, September 19th. Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of BCE from $34.00 to $30.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Monday. Finally, Cibc World Mkts upgraded shares of BCE from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Friday, August 2nd. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, one has assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $45.00.

About BCE

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.