Nkcfo LLC Acquires Shares of 17,000 Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK)

Nkcfo LLC bought a new stake in Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 17,000 shares of the transportation company's stock, valued at approximately $1,101,000.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Allworth Financial LP increased its position in shares of Alaska Air Group by 41.0% during the 4th quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 4,076 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $275,000 after purchasing an additional 1,186 shares during the last quarter. Supplemental Annuity Collective Trust of NJ purchased a new stake in Alaska Air Group in the fourth quarter worth approximately $227,000. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System grew its position in Alaska Air Group by 0.7% during the fourth quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 61,400 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $3,976,000 after acquiring an additional 400 shares during the last quarter. Savant Capital LLC raised its stake in shares of Alaska Air Group by 3.4% during the fourth quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 6,284 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $407,000 after acquiring an additional 206 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Empowered Funds LLC bought a new stake in shares of Alaska Air Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $260,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.90% of the company's stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, SVP Andrea L. Schneider sold 800 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $63.89, for a total value of $51,112.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 20,286 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,296,072.54. This represents a 3.79 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, COO Muehlen Constance E. Von sold 4,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Friday, December 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $63.09, for a total value of $252,360.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 12,162 shares in the company, valued at approximately $767,300.58. The trade was a 24.75 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 182,598 shares of company stock worth $12,912,156 over the last three months. Company insiders own 0.92% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts recently commented on ALK shares. UBS Group increased their target price on shares of Alaska Air Group from $81.00 to $82.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Barclays raised their price objective on Alaska Air Group from $55.00 to $80.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, November 14th. TD Cowen lifted their price objective on Alaska Air Group from $85.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Susquehanna upgraded Alaska Air Group from a "neutral" rating to a "positive" rating and set a $95.00 target price for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on Alaska Air Group from $70.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Alaska Air Group presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $74.86.

Alaska Air Group Trading Up 1.7 %

Shares of Alaska Air Group stock traded up $1.31 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $76.65. 2,883,361 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,771,303. The company has a market cap of $9.73 billion, a PE ratio of 25.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.69 and a beta of 1.55. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $68.87 and a 200-day moving average of $52.88. Alaska Air Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $32.62 and a 12 month high of $78.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a current ratio of 0.61.

Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 22nd. The transportation company reported $0.97 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.45 by $0.52. Alaska Air Group had a net margin of 3.37% and a return on equity of 14.66%. As a group, equities analysts expect that Alaska Air Group, Inc. will post 6.03 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Alaska Air Group Profile

Alaska Air Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates airlines. It operates through three segments: Mainline, Regional, and Horizon. The company offers scheduled air transportation services on Boeing jet aircraft for passengers and cargo in the United States, and in parts of Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize, Guatemala, and the Bahamas; and for passengers across a shorter distance network within the United States, Canada, and Mexico.