Artisan Partners Limited Partnership Invests $51.12 Million in Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE:ABG)

Artisan Partners Limited Partnership acquired a new stake in shares of Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE:ABG - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm acquired 210,335 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $51,118,000. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership owned approximately 1.07% of Asbury Automotive Group as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in ABG. EntryPoint Capital LLC raised its stake in shares of Asbury Automotive Group by 38.4% during the fourth quarter. EntryPoint Capital LLC now owns 1,283 shares of the company's stock worth $312,000 after acquiring an additional 356 shares in the last quarter. LPL Financial LLC grew its holdings in shares of Asbury Automotive Group by 12.4% during the 4th quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 4,638 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,127,000 after purchasing an additional 512 shares during the last quarter. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS purchased a new position in Asbury Automotive Group in the 4th quarter worth $924,000. Sei Investments Co. raised its position in Asbury Automotive Group by 1.6% in the 4th quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 18,290 shares of the company's stock worth $4,445,000 after purchasing an additional 292 shares during the period. Finally, Quantbot Technologies LP lifted its stake in Asbury Automotive Group by 1.8% in the fourth quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP now owns 14,449 shares of the company's stock worth $3,512,000 after purchasing an additional 258 shares during the last quarter.

Asbury Automotive Group Trading Up 1.2 %

ABG traded up $2.75 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $228.00. 83,485 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 205,458. Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. has a 52 week low of $206.62 and a 52 week high of $312.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 1.20 and a quick ratio of 0.41. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $265.96 and a two-hundred day moving average of $250.86. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.61 and a beta of 1.22.

Insider Buying and Selling at Asbury Automotive Group

In other Asbury Automotive Group news, COO Daniel Clara sold 1,217 shares of Asbury Automotive Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $296.64, for a total transaction of $361,010.88. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 3,747 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,111,510.08. The trade was a 24.52 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.53% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on ABG shares. Craig Hallum cut Asbury Automotive Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 18th. Stephens lifted their price target on Asbury Automotive Group from $220.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 11th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on Asbury Automotive Group from $290.00 to $250.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $263.00.

Asbury Automotive Group Company Profile

Asbury Automotive Group, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an automotive retailer in the United States. It offers a range of automotive products and services, including new and used vehicles; and vehicle repair and maintenance services, replacement parts, and collision repair services.