O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ:ORLY) Short Interest Up 14.9% in January

O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ:ORLY - Get Free Report) was the target of a significant growth in short interest during the month of January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 974,100 shares, a growth of 14.9% from the January 15th total of 848,000 shares. Approximately 1.7% of the shares of the company are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 344,400 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.8 days.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently weighed in on ORLY. Truist Financial lifted their target price on shares of O'Reilly Automotive from $1,290.00 to $1,313.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, October 25th. UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of O'Reilly Automotive from $1,400.00 to $1,535.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of O'Reilly Automotive from $1,325.00 to $1,425.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 28th. DA Davidson boosted their price objective on shares of O'Reilly Automotive from $1,450.00 to $1,525.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of O'Reilly Automotive from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $1,390.81.

O'Reilly Automotive Stock Performance

O'Reilly Automotive stock traded up $8.25 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $1,304.05. 32,805 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 324,458. O'Reilly Automotive has a one year low of $947.49 and a one year high of $1,350.27. The stock has a market cap of $75.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 0.94. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $1,252.18 and a 200-day moving average price of $1,199.59.

O'Reilly Automotive (NASDAQ:ORLY - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The specialty retailer reported $9.96 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $9.73 by $0.23. O'Reilly Automotive had a net margin of 14.28% and a negative return on equity of 166.88%. Sell-side analysts predict that O'Reilly Automotive will post 44.01 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, SVP Mark Joseph Merz sold 500 shares of O'Reilly Automotive stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,325.00, for a total value of $662,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 275 shares in the company, valued at $364,375. This trade represents a 64.52 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, SVP Jeffery Thomas Loafman sold 620 shares of O'Reilly Automotive stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,240.39, for a total transaction of $769,041.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 5 shares of the company's stock, valued at $6,201.95. The trade was a 99.20 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 1,968 shares of company stock worth $2,492,394. Insiders own 1.55% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On O'Reilly Automotive

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in ORLY. Creative Planning lifted its holdings in shares of O'Reilly Automotive by 4.4% in the 3rd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 21,352 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $24,589,000 after acquiring an additional 899 shares during the last quarter. Asset Dedication LLC lifted its holdings in shares of O'Reilly Automotive by 6.2% in the 3rd quarter. Asset Dedication LLC now owns 155 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $178,000 after acquiring an additional 9 shares during the last quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. raised its holdings in O'Reilly Automotive by 22.0% during the 3rd quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 899 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $1,035,000 after buying an additional 162 shares during the last quarter. Hengehold Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in O'Reilly Automotive by 15.5% during the 3rd quarter. Hengehold Capital Management LLC now owns 268 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $309,000 after buying an additional 36 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Trifecta Capital Advisors LLC raised its holdings in O'Reilly Automotive by 383.3% during the 3rd quarter. Trifecta Capital Advisors LLC now owns 29 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 23 shares during the last quarter. 85.00% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About O'Reilly Automotive

O'Reilly Automotive, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a retailer and supplier of automotive aftermarket parts, tools, supplies, equipment, and accessories in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Mexico. The company provides new and remanufactured automotive hard parts and maintenance items, such as alternators, batteries, brake system components, belts, chassis parts, driveline parts, engine parts, fuel pumps, hoses, starters, temperature control, water pumps, antifreeze, appearance products, engine additives, filters, fluids, lighting products, and oil and wiper blades; and accessories, including floor mats, seat covers, and truck accessories.