Zacks Research Issues Pessimistic Outlook for BCE Earnings

BCE Inc. (NYSE:BCE) (TSE:BCE) – Investment analysts at Zacks Research reduced their Q1 2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of BCE in a report released on Tuesday, February 25th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now forecasts that the utilities provider will earn $0.47 per share for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $0.50. The consensus estimate for BCE’s current full-year earnings is $1.94 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for BCE’s Q2 2025 earnings at $0.50 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $2.00 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $0.48 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $0.48 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $0.49 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $0.48 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $1.93 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $1.95 EPS.

Other research analysts have also issued reports about the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered BCE from a “neutral” rating to an “underweight” rating in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Canaccord Genuity Group lowered BCE from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. Canaccord Genuity Group reaffirmed a “hold” rating on shares of BCE in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on BCE in a research report on Monday, December 16th. They set an “underweight” rating on the stock. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a “sector perform” rating and set a $39.00 target price on shares of BCE in a research report on Tuesday. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, one has given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $40.00.

BCE Trading Down 2.2 %

Shares of BCE opened at $23.39 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 0.62, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.26. The firm has a market capitalization of $21.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 194.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.13 and a beta of 0.57. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $23.39 and its 200 day simple moving average is $28.76. BCE has a twelve month low of $21.87 and a twelve month high of $37.47.

BCE (NYSE:BCE) (TSE:BCE) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The utilities provider reported $0.56 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.53 by $0.03. BCE had a return on equity of 17.89% and a net margin of 0.99%.

BCE Cuts Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.6965 per share. This represents a $2.79 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 11.91%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. BCE’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 2,350.00%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On BCE

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Allworth Financial LP grew its holdings in shares of BCE by 217.6% during the fourth quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 1,153 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 790 shares in the last quarter. WealthCollab LLC acquired a new stake in BCE during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its holdings in BCE by 1,147.3% during the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,397 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 1,285 shares during the last quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. acquired a new position in BCE in the 3rd quarter valued at $51,000. Finally, Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new position in BCE in the 3rd quarter valued at $65,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 41.46% of the company’s stock.

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.