72,196 Shares in Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK) Bought by Proficio Capital Partners LLC

Proficio Capital Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 72,196 shares of the transportation company's stock, valued at approximately $4,675,000. Proficio Capital Partners LLC owned about 0.06% of Alaska Air Group as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Alaska Air Group by 3.9% in the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 2,061,596 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $93,229,000 after buying an additional 78,186 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA increased its stake in shares of Alaska Air Group by 0.4% during the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 1,593,756 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $72,054,000 after purchasing an additional 6,977 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Alaska Air Group by 0.7% during the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,432,052 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $92,725,000 after purchasing an additional 9,805 shares in the last quarter. Hennessy Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in Alaska Air Group during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $82,459,000. Finally, FMR LLC increased its holdings in shares of Alaska Air Group by 32.4% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 1,084,639 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $49,037,000 after purchasing an additional 265,343 shares during the period. 81.90% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have commented on ALK. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on Alaska Air Group from $70.00 to $79.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Alaska Air Group from $85.00 to $89.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. Bank of America lifted their price target on shares of Alaska Air Group from $70.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 17th. Susquehanna raised shares of Alaska Air Group from a "neutral" rating to a "positive" rating and set a $95.00 price objective for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Finally, Citigroup lowered their target price on shares of Alaska Air Group from $83.00 to $81.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $77.00.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Andrew R. Harrison sold 6,600 shares of Alaska Air Group stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $76.28, for a total transaction of $503,448.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 34,030 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,595,808.40. This trade represents a 16.24 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Shane R. Tackett sold 22,893 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, February 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.74, for a total transaction of $1,733,915.82. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 31,873 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,414,061.02. This represents a 41.80 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 154,725 shares of company stock valued at $11,217,263. Company insiders own 0.68% of the company's stock.

Alaska Air Group Price Performance

NYSE ALK traded down $0.10 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $52.75. 22,633,002 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,454,908. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $67.77 and a 200-day moving average of $56.77. Alaska Air Group, Inc. has a one year low of $32.62 and a one year high of $78.08. The stock has a market cap of $6.49 billion, a PE ratio of 17.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.43 and a beta of 1.50. The company has a current ratio of 0.61, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04.

Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 22nd. The transportation company reported $0.97 EPS for the quarter, beating 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%. On average, equities research analysts predict that Alaska Air Group, Inc. will post 6.03 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About Alaska Air Group

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.