Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (NYSE:GPI) Shares Sold by B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG

B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG lowered its stake in shares of Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (NYSE:GPI - Free Report) by 14.0% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 7,380 shares of the company's stock after selling 1,199 shares during the quarter. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG owned about 0.06% of Group 1 Automotive worth $3,111,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. FMR LLC lifted its stake in shares of Group 1 Automotive by 133.0% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 407,930 shares of the company's stock worth $156,253,000 after acquiring an additional 232,846 shares during the period. Glenmede Trust Co. NA lifted its position in Group 1 Automotive by 33.2% in the third quarter. Glenmede Trust Co. NA now owns 1,059 shares of the company's stock valued at $406,000 after purchasing an additional 264 shares during the period. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank boosted its holdings in Group 1 Automotive by 4.3% in the 3rd quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 3,328 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,275,000 after purchasing an additional 137 shares in the last quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. acquired a new position in Group 1 Automotive during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $13,117,000. Finally, Captrust Financial Advisors purchased a new position in shares of Group 1 Automotive during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $210,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.92% of the company's stock.

Group 1 Automotive Price Performance

Shares of GPI stock traded up $7.96 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $380.26. The company's stock had a trading volume of 284,467 shares, compared to its average volume of 142,018. The company has a current ratio of 1.03, a quick ratio of 0.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92. The business has a fifty day moving average of $436.56 and a 200-day moving average of $414.32. Group 1 Automotive, Inc. has a twelve month low of $262.31 and a twelve month high of $490.09. The stock has a market cap of $5.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.35 and a beta of 1.05.

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Group 1 Automotive (NYSE:GPI - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The company reported $10.02 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $8.77 by $1.25. Group 1 Automotive had a return on equity of 18.09% and a net margin of 2.47%. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Group 1 Automotive, Inc. will post 41 EPS for the current year.

Group 1 Automotive Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 3rd were paid a dividend of $0.50 per share. This is a boost from Group 1 Automotive's previous quarterly dividend of $0.47. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.53%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 3rd. Group 1 Automotive's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 5.44%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on GPI. Stephens reaffirmed an "equal weight" rating and set a $460.00 price objective on shares of Group 1 Automotive in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of Group 1 Automotive in a report on Friday, December 13th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $500.00 price target for the company. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of Group 1 Automotive from $495.00 to $435.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 27th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $450.33.

Group 1 Automotive Profile

Group 1 Automotive, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates in the automotive retail industry in the United States and the United Kingdom. The company sells new and used cars, light trucks, and vehicle parts, as well as service and insurance contracts; arranges related vehicle financing; and offers automotive maintenance and repair services.