BCE FY2024 EPS Estimate Boosted by National Bank Financial

BCE Inc. (TSE:BCE) (NYSE:BCE) – Investment analysts at National Bank Financial boosted their FY2024 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for BCE in a research note issued on Wednesday, December 18th. National Bank Financial analyst A. Shine now expects that the company will earn $2.98 per share for the year, up from their previous forecast of $2.89. National Bank Financial currently has a “Hold” rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for BCE’s current full-year earnings is $3.11 per share.

Several other analysts have also weighed in on the company. Barclays decreased their price objective on BCE from C$46.00 to C$41.00 in a report on Monday, November 11th. Canaccord Genuity Group reduced their target price on shares of BCE from C$37.50 to C$33.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on BCE from C$48.00 to C$51.00 in a research note on Thursday, September 19th. National Bankshares dropped their price target on BCE from C$48.00 to C$42.00 in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group decreased their price objective on BCE from C$41.00 to C$37.50 in a research report on Friday, November 8th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of C$43.38.

BCE Stock Performance

Shares of TSE BCE opened at C$33.28 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of C$30.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.48, a P/E/G ratio of 4.67 and a beta of 0.48. BCE has a 52 week low of C$32.95 and a 52 week high of C$56.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 197.43, a quick ratio of 0.43 and a current ratio of 0.65. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is C$39.90 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$44.03.

BCE Cuts Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, January 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.9975 per share. This represents a $3.99 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 11.99%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 16th. BCE’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 185.58%.

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.