America's Car-Mart (NASDAQ:CRMT) Upgraded at StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of America's Car-Mart (NASDAQ:CRMT - Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday.

America's Car-Mart Price Performance

CRMT stock traded down $1.10 on Wednesday, reaching $46.95. The company's stock had a trading volume of 12,692 shares, compared to its average volume of 98,540. America's Car-Mart has a 52 week low of $36.40 and a 52 week high of $72.26. The company has a market capitalization of $387.90 million, a P/E ratio of -57.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 1.40. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $45.87 and a two-hundred day moving average of $46.37.

America's Car-Mart (NASDAQ:CRMT - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 6th. The company reported $0.37 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.01) by $0.38. The company had revenue of $325.73 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $282.83 million. America's Car-Mart had a negative net margin of 0.29% and a negative return on equity of 2.26%. As a group, equities analysts expect that America's Car-Mart will post 0.86 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Jonathan Z. Buba bought 75,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 10th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $43.80 per share, with a total value of $3,285,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 619,686 shares in the company, valued at approximately $27,142,246.80. The trade was a 13.77 % increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Insiders own 19.60% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of America's Car-Mart

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Flaharty Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of America's Car-Mart by 75.0% during the 4th quarter. Flaharty Asset Management LLC now owns 7,000 shares of the company's stock valued at $359,000 after acquiring an additional 3,000 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its position in America's Car-Mart by 351.6% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 73,601 shares of the company's stock worth $3,085,000 after buying an additional 57,304 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in America's Car-Mart by 2.0% during the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 140,625 shares of the company's stock valued at $5,896,000 after purchasing an additional 2,807 shares during the last quarter. Argent Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of America's Car-Mart during the fourth quarter valued at about $315,000. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of America's Car-Mart by 8.2% in the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 75,887 shares of the company's stock worth $3,889,000 after acquiring an additional 5,734 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.10% of the company's stock.

About America's Car-Mart

America's Car-Mart, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates as an automotive retailer for the used car market in the United States. It primarily sells older model used vehicles and provides financing for its customers. The company was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Rogers, Arkansas.