Autoliv (NYSE:ALV) Rating Increased to Buy at StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of Autoliv (NYSE:ALV) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report published on Friday.

Other research analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on Autoliv from $101.00 to $97.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, December 16th. Cowen initiated coverage on Autoliv in a research report on Thursday, March 6th. They issued a “buy” rating for the company. Mizuho reduced their price target on Autoliv from $115.00 to $112.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Daiwa America upgraded shares of Autoliv from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Finally, TD Cowen assumed coverage on shares of Autoliv in a report on Friday, March 7th. They set a “buy” rating and a $116.00 target price on the stock. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $117.14.

Autoliv Stock Performance

Autoliv stock opened at $90.02 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 0.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. The stock has a market cap of $7.00 billion, a PE ratio of 11.15, a P/E/G ratio of 0.73 and a beta of 1.59. Autoliv has a 12-month low of $87.55 and a 12-month high of $129.38. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $96.35 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $96.13.

Autoliv (NYSE:ALV) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 31st. The auto parts company reported $3.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.84 by $0.21. Autoliv had a net margin of 6.21% and a return on equity of 28.62%. As a group, analysts expect that Autoliv will post 9.51 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Autoliv Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 24th. Investors of record on Friday, March 7th will be given a dividend of $0.70 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 7th. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.11%. Autoliv’s payout ratio is 34.70%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Per Jonas Jademyr sold 401 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $98.85, for a total transaction of $39,638.85. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 685 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $67,712.25. This represents a 36.92 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Magnus Jarlegren sold 1,289 shares of Autoliv stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $98.83, for a total transaction of $127,391.87. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 6,142 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $607,013.86. This trade represents a 17.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 9,253 shares of company stock valued at $915,534 over the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.20% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ALV. UMB Bank n.a. increased its holdings in shares of Autoliv by 139.5% during the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 273 shares of the auto parts company’s stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 159 shares in the last quarter. AlphaQuest LLC grew its position in Autoliv by 74.4% in the 4th quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 314 shares of the auto parts company’s stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 134 shares during the period. Fred Alger Management LLC bought a new stake in Autoliv during the 3rd quarter valued at $45,000. Twin Tree Management LP acquired a new position in Autoliv during the fourth quarter worth $50,000. Finally, Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of Autoliv in the fourth quarter valued at $57,000. Institutional investors own 69.57% of the company’s stock.

Autoliv Company Profile

Autoliv, Inc, through its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and supplies passive safety systems to the automotive industry in Europe, the Americas, China, Japan, and rest of Asia. It offers passive safety systems, including modules and components for frontal-impact airbag protection systems, side-impact airbag protection systems, seatbelts, steering wheels, and inflator technologies.