Orange S.A. (NYSE:ORAN) Sees Significant Decline in Short Interest

Orange S.A. (NYSE:ORAN) saw a large decline in short interest during the month of July. As of July 15th, there was short interest totalling 873,600 shares, a decline of 16.8% from the June 30th total of 1,050,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 645,500 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.4 days.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently commented on ORAN. JPMorgan Chase & Co. began coverage on shares of Orange in a research note on Wednesday, April 17th. They set an “overweight” rating for the company. New Street Research upgraded Orange to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Monday, July 8th. Sanford C. Bernstein began coverage on Orange in a research note on Friday, May 24th. They set an “outperform” rating for the company. Finally, StockNews.com raised Orange from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday. Five analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Orange currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $13.08.

Orange Stock Up 0.5 %

Shares of ORAN stock traded up $0.06 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $11.17. 296,477 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 491,659. The company has a quick ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.88. Orange has a 1-year low of $9.82 and a 1-year high of $12.41. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $10.80 and a 200 day moving average price of $11.30.

Orange Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 21st. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 3rd were paid a dividend of $0.4523 per share. This is an increase from Orange’s previous semi-annual dividend of $0.32. This represents a yield of 5.1%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 3rd.

Institutional Trading of Orange

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of ORAN. Brandes Investment Partners LP lifted its stake in Orange by 60.7% in the 4th quarter. Brandes Investment Partners LP now owns 1,642,782 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $18,777,000 after acquiring an additional 620,438 shares in the last quarter. Simplicity Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Orange in the first quarter worth approximately $3,132,000. Thornburg Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Orange by 20.6% during the first quarter. Thornburg Investment Management Inc. now owns 909,419 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $10,661,000 after purchasing an additional 155,549 shares during the period. Leo Wealth LLC purchased a new position in Orange during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $1,225,000. Finally, BNP Paribas Financial Markets increased its stake in Orange by 75.7% in the 4th quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 133,502 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $1,526,000 after buying an additional 57,505 shares during the period.

Orange Company Profile

Orange SA provides various fixed telephony and mobile telecommunications, data transmission, and other value-added services to customers, businesses, and other telecommunications operators in France and internationally. The company operates through France; Spain and Other European Countries; The Africa and Middle East; Enterprise; Orange business; Totem; International Carriers & Shared Services; and Mobile Financial Services segments.