Zacks Investment Research downgraded shares of News Corp (NASDAQ:NWS) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note published on Wednesday morning, Analyst Ratings Network.com reports.

According to Zacks, “News Corp. provides media and information services. It is focused on creating and distributing authoritative and engaging content to consumers. The company’s business comprises of media, which includes news and information services, sports programming primarily in Australia, digital real estate services, book publishing, digital education and pay-TV distribution primarily in Australia. It operates primarily in the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom. News Corp. is headquartered in New York. “

Shares of News Corp (NASDAQ:NWS) traded down 0.9719% during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $13.3985. 447,072 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged. The company’s 50-day moving average is $12.20 and its 200-day moving average is $13.34. News Corp has a one year low of $10.74 and a one year high of $16.20. The stock’s market cap is $7.78 billion.

The company also recently declared a semiannual dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 13th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 9th will be given a $0.10 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 1.84%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 7th. This is a boost from News Corp’s previous semiannual dividend of $0.09.

Other analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. FBR & Co. reissued an outperform rating and issued a $18.00 price target (down from $19.00) on shares of News Corp in a report on Monday, February 1st. Jefferies Group reiterated a buy rating and issued a $18.00 price target (down previously from $19.00) on shares of News Corp in a report on Monday, February 8th.

A number of hedge funds and institutional investors have modified their holdings of the stock. Stifel Financial Corp acquired a new position in shares of News Corp during the fourth quarter valued at $1,900,000. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings raised its position in News Corp by 0.7% in the fourth quarter. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings now owns 87,126 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,216,000 after buying an additional 581 shares during the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers raised its position in News Corp by 27.0% in the fourth quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 120,832 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,687,000 after buying an additional 25,664 shares during the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. raised its position in News Corp by 2.4% in the fourth quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 162,252 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,265,000 after buying an additional 3,738 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First Quadrant L P CA acquired a new position in News Corp during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $2,430,000.

News Corporation is a diversified media and information services company. The Company operates in five segments: News and Information Services, Cable Network Programming, Digital Real Estate Services, Book Publishing, and Other. The Company’s business consists of range of media, including news and information services, sports programming in Australia, digital real estate services, book publishing, and pay-television (NASDAQ:NWS) distribution in Australia, that are distributed under the brands, including The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones, Herald Sun, The Sun, The Times, HarperCollins Publishers, FOX SPORTS Australia and realestate.com.au.

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