Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK) Price Target Raised to $82.00 at UBS Group

Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK - Get Free Report) had its target price boosted by equities researchers at UBS Group from $81.00 to $82.00 in a report released on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a "buy" rating on the transportation company's stock. UBS Group's price target would indicate a potential upside of 25.36% from the stock's current price.

Several other equities research analysts also recently issued reports on ALK. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Alaska Air Group from $58.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. Bank of America increased their target price on Alaska Air Group from $50.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, September 13th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Alaska Air Group from $70.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a "buy" rating and set a $70.00 price objective on shares of Alaska Air Group in a research report on Friday, November 15th. Finally, Citigroup raised their price objective on shares of Alaska Air Group from $63.00 to $74.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, December 16th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $70.14.

Alaska Air Group Trading Up 1.6 %

Shares of Alaska Air Group stock traded up $1.01 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $65.41. 4,309,537 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,733,109. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93, a current ratio of 0.60 and a quick ratio of 0.57. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.24 and a beta of 1.54. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $57.35 and its 200 day moving average price is $45.90. Alaska Air Group has a 1-year low of $32.62 and a 1-year high of $67.73.

Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 31st. The transportation company reported $2.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.22 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $3.07 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3 billion. Alaska Air Group had a net margin of 2.99% and a return on equity of 12.81%. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 8.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.83 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Alaska Air Group will post 4.3 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Alaska Air Group news, VP Emily Halverson sold 1,329 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.41, for a total transaction of $85,600.89. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 7,150 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $460,531.50. This represents a 15.67 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Andrew R. Harrison sold 13,880 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.01, for a total transaction of $888,458.80. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 20,638 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,321,038.38. This represents a 40.21 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 34,473 shares of company stock worth $2,198,342. Corporate insiders own 0.68% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Alaska Air Group

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Altshuler Shaham Ltd bought a new position in shares of Alaska Air Group during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Pacific Center for Financial Services bought a new position in Alaska Air Group during the third quarter worth $45,000. Venturi Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Alaska Air Group by 86.0% in the third quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,025 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $46,000 after purchasing an additional 474 shares during the last quarter. Pacifica Partners Inc. raised its position in shares of Alaska Air Group by 952.4% in the third quarter. Pacifica Partners Inc. now owns 1,105 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $50,000 after purchasing an additional 1,000 shares during the period. Finally, True Wealth Design LLC bought a new position in shares of Alaska Air Group in the third quarter valued at about $52,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.90% of the company's stock.

Alaska Air Group Company Profile

Alaska Air Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates airlines. It operates through three segments: Mainline, Regional, and Horizon. The company offers scheduled air transportation services on Boeing jet aircraft for passengers and cargo in the United States, and in parts of Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize, Guatemala, and the Bahamas; and for passengers across a shorter distance network within the United States, Canada, and Mexico.