Autoliv (NYSE:ALV) Hits New 52-Week Low - Should You Sell?

Autoliv, Inc. (NYSE:ALV - Get Free Report)'s share price reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $75.49 and last traded at $76.61, with a volume of 749441 shares. The stock had previously closed at $79.72.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on ALV shares. TD Cowen initiated coverage on shares of Autoliv in a research report on Friday, March 7th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $116.00 price objective for the company. Cowen began coverage on Autoliv in a research note on Thursday, March 6th. They set a "buy" rating on the stock. Hsbc Global Res cut Autoliv from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price 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. Finally, Pareto Securities downgraded Autoliv to a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Autoliv has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $115.93.

Autoliv Price Performance

The firm has a market cap of $6.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.03, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.73 and a beta of 1.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a current ratio of 0.96. The company's fifty day moving average is $91.55 and its two-hundred day moving average is $94.64.

Autoliv (NYSE:ALV - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 31st. The auto parts company reported $3.05 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.84 by $0.21. Autoliv had a return on equity of 28.62% and a net margin of 6.21%. Equities research analysts forecast that Autoliv, Inc. will post 9.51 EPS for the current year.

Autoliv Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 24th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 7th were given a $0.70 dividend. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.46%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 7th. Autoliv's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 34.70%.

Insider Activity at Autoliv

In other Autoliv news, insider Magnus Jarlegren sold 1,289 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $98.83, for a total value of $127,391.87. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 6,142 shares of the company's stock, valued at $607,013.86. This represents a 17.35 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Per Jonas Jademyr sold 401 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $98.85, for a total value of $39,638.85. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 685 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $67,712.25. This trade represents a 36.92 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 9,253 shares of company stock valued at $915,534. Corporate insiders own 0.20% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Autoliv

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ALV. Legend Financial Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of Autoliv by 1.8% in the 4th quarter. Legend Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 6,344 shares of the auto parts company's stock worth $595,000 after purchasing an additional 115 shares during the last quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc grew its stake in Autoliv by 5.2% in the fourth quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 2,501 shares of the auto parts company's stock worth $235,000 after purchasing an additional 124 shares in the last quarter. US Bancorp DE increased its holdings in Autoliv by 3.5% in the fourth quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 3,820 shares of the auto parts company's stock valued at $358,000 after buying an additional 130 shares during the last quarter. AlphaQuest LLC raised its stake in Autoliv by 74.4% during the fourth quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 314 shares of the auto parts company's stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 134 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Deutsche Bank AG lifted its holdings in Autoliv by 2.3% during the 4th quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 5,886 shares of the auto parts company's stock worth $552,000 after buying an additional 135 shares during the last quarter. 69.57% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.