Autoliv (NYSE:ALV) Shares Gap Up - What's Next?

Shares of Autoliv, Inc. (NYSE:ALV - Get Free Report) gapped up prior to trading on Wednesday . The stock had previously closed at $92.50, but opened at $97.08. Autoliv shares last traded at $96.19, with a volume of 56,346 shares trading hands.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on ALV. Daiwa America raised Autoliv from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. StockNews.com raised Autoliv from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday. Hsbc Global Res cut Autoliv from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on Autoliv from $101.00 to $97.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, December 16th. Finally, Pareto Securities cut Autoliv to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $117.14.

Autoliv Stock Up 0.2 %

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 business has a 50-day moving average price of $96.51 and a 200-day moving average price of $96.47. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.57 billion, a PE ratio of 12.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.73 and a beta of 1.59.

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Autoliv (NYSE:ALV - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 31st. The auto parts company reported $3.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating 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 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Autoliv Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 24th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 7th will be given a $0.70 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 7th. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.87%. Autoliv's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 34.70%.

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Mikael Bratt sold 5,760 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $98.90, for a total value of $569,664.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 23,307 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,305,062.30. This represents a 19.82 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Per Jonas Jademyr sold 401 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $98.85, for a total value of $39,638.85. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 685 shares of the company's stock, valued at $67,712.25. The trade was a 36.92 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 9,253 shares of company stock worth $915,534 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.20% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its stake in Autoliv by 139.5% during the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 273 shares of the auto parts company's stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 159 shares in the last quarter. AlphaQuest LLC lifted its stake in Autoliv by 74.4% during the fourth quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 314 shares of the auto parts company's stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 134 shares in the last quarter. Fred Alger Management LLC acquired a new position in Autoliv during the third quarter worth $45,000. Twin Tree Management LP acquired a new position in Autoliv during the fourth quarter worth $50,000. Finally, Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in Autoliv during the fourth quarter worth $57,000. 69.57% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Autoliv

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.