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

Orange S.A. (NYSE:ORAN) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in June. As of June 15th, there was short interest totalling 856,000 shares, a growth of 27.3% from the May 31st total of 672,300 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 599,200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.4 days.

Institutional Trading of Orange

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ORAN. Brandes Investment Partners LP grew its holdings 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 valued at $18,777,000 after buying an additional 620,438 shares in the last quarter. UBS Group AG grew its holdings in shares of Orange by 544.6% during the 3rd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 329,702 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $3,788,000 after purchasing an additional 278,550 shares during the period. Simplicity Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of Orange during the 1st quarter worth $3,132,000. Thornburg Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Orange by 20.6% during the 1st 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. Finally, Qube Research & Technologies Ltd grew its holdings in shares of Orange by 110.7% during the 3rd quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd now owns 254,687 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $2,926,000 after purchasing an additional 133,835 shares during the period.

Orange Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:ORAN opened at $10.14 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.88, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 0.83. The business has a fifty day moving average of $11.04 and a two-hundred day moving average of $11.41. Orange has a 52-week low of $9.82 and a 52-week high of $12.41.

Orange Increases Dividend

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

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently commented on ORAN shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. started coverage on Orange in a research report on Wednesday, April 17th. They set an “overweight” rating for the company. Sanford C. Bernstein started coverage on Orange in a research report on Friday, May 24th. They set an “outperform” rating for the company. Finally, StockNews.com cut Orange from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, April 26th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Orange presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $13.08.

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.