Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd Makes New Investment in Lithia Motors, Inc. (NYSE:LAD)

Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Lithia Motors, Inc. (NYSE:LAD - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 2,369 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $847,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Atlas Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Lithia Motors in the fourth quarter worth approximately $34,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of Lithia Motors during the fourth quarter valued at $35,000. UMB Bank n.a. grew its stake in Lithia Motors by 69.9% during the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 124 shares of the company's stock valued at $44,000 after acquiring an additional 51 shares in the last quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Lithia Motors by 33.9% in the fourth quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 146 shares of the company's stock worth $52,000 after purchasing an additional 37 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Rakuten Securities Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Lithia Motors by 1,420.0% during the 4th quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 152 shares of the company's stock valued at $54,000 after acquiring an additional 142 shares in the last quarter.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

LAD has been the subject of several analyst reports. Evercore ISI lifted their price objective on shares of Lithia Motors from $400.00 to $440.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 18th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Lithia Motors from $346.00 to $397.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. StockNews.com upgraded Lithia Motors from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on shares of Lithia Motors from $420.00 to $360.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. Finally, Benchmark reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $400.00 price target on shares of Lithia Motors in a report on Thursday, February 20th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Lithia Motors presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $365.91.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, COO Adam Chamberlain sold 403 shares of Lithia Motors stock in a transaction on Friday, February 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $384.28, for a total value of $154,864.84. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 2,605 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,001,049.40. This trade represents a 13.40 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Shauna Mcintyre sold 248 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Friday, March 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $290.84, for a total value of $72,128.32. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 1,297 shares in the company, valued at $377,219.48. This trade represents a 16.05 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 1,246 shares of company stock valued at $433,724. Insiders own 0.87% of the company's stock.

Lithia Motors Price Performance

Shares of LAD traded down $3.71 on Friday, hitting $288.80. The company's stock had a trading volume of 97,493 shares, compared to its average volume of 310,516. The company has a market capitalization of $7.59 billion, a PE ratio of 9.69, a PEG ratio of 4.65 and a beta of 1.61. Lithia Motors, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $243.00 and a fifty-two week high of $405.68. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $324.58 and a 200 day moving average price of $342.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22, a current ratio of 1.19 and a quick ratio of 0.28.

Lithia Motors (NYSE:LAD - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 12th. The company reported $7.79 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $7.33 by $0.46. Lithia Motors had a return on equity of 12.43% and a net margin of 2.21%. On average, research analysts anticipate that Lithia Motors, Inc. will post 34.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Lithia Motors Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 21st. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 7th were given a $0.53 dividend. This represents a $2.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.73%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 7th. Lithia Motors's payout ratio is presently 7.14%.

Lithia Motors Company Profile

Lithia Motors, Inc operates as an automotive retailer worldwide. It operates in two segments, Vehicle Operations and Financing Operations. The company's Vehicle Operations segment sells new and used vehicles; provides parts, repair, and maintenance services; vehicle finance; and insurance products. Its Financing Operations segment provides financing to customers buying and leasing retail vehicles.