Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE:ABG) Stock Holdings Boosted by Rock Creek Group LP

Rock Creek Group LP lifted its stake in shares of Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE:ABG - Free Report) by 64.3% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 4,000 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 1,566 shares during the quarter. Rock Creek Group LP's holdings in Asbury Automotive Group were worth $972,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Madison Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Asbury Automotive Group during the 4th quarter worth $82,426,000. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Asbury Automotive Group in the fourth quarter valued at about $82,079,000. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership purchased a new position in shares of Asbury Automotive Group during the fourth quarter worth about $51,118,000. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. acquired a new position in shares of Asbury Automotive Group in the third quarter valued at approximately $14,219,000. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its holdings in Asbury Automotive Group by 18.9% in the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 186,306 shares of the company's stock valued at $45,278,000 after purchasing an additional 29,579 shares in the last quarter.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on ABG shares. Craig Hallum cut Asbury Automotive Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of Asbury Automotive Group from $290.00 to $250.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. Finally, Stephens raised their target price on shares of Asbury Automotive Group from $220.00 to $260.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 11th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $263.00.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, COO Daniel Clara sold 1,217 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $296.64, for a total transaction of $361,010.88. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 3,747 shares in the company, valued at $1,111,510.08. This represents a 24.52 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.53% of the company's stock.

Asbury Automotive Group Stock Down 7.5 %

ABG traded down $17.21 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $213.58. 158,958 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 207,112. Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $206.62 and a fifty-two week high of $312.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 1.20 and a quick ratio of 0.41. The company has a market cap of $4.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.93 and a beta of 1.22. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $264.82 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $250.74.

Asbury Automotive Group Company Profile

Asbury Automotive Group, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an automotive retailer in the United States. It offers a range of automotive products and services, including new and used vehicles; and vehicle repair and maintenance services, replacement parts, and collision repair services.