Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC Has $879,000 Stock Holdings in Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK)

Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC increased its holdings in shares of Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK - Free Report) by 165.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 19,444 shares of the transportation company's stock after purchasing an additional 12,126 shares during the quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC's holdings in Alaska Air Group were worth $879,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in ALK. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Alaska Air Group during the first quarter worth $217,000. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in Alaska Air Group in the first quarter valued at $499,000. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC lifted its stake in Alaska Air Group by 3.2% in the first quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 17,780 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $764,000 after acquiring an additional 559 shares during the last quarter. swisspartners Advisors Ltd lifted its stake in Alaska Air Group by 3.4% in the first quarter. swisspartners Advisors Ltd now owns 130,209 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $5,598,000 after acquiring an additional 4,270 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. lifted its stake in Alaska Air Group by 31.7% in the first quarter. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. now owns 42,133 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $1,811,000 after acquiring an additional 10,137 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.90% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have commented on ALK. Barclays began coverage on shares of Alaska Air Group in a research note on Monday, October 21st. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $55.00 price target for the company. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on shares of Alaska Air Group from $75.00 to $70.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, July 22nd. Melius raised shares of Alaska Air Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $56.00 target price for the company in a report on Monday, October 28th. Citigroup reduced their target price on shares of Alaska Air Group from $51.00 to $48.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, August 29th. Finally, TD Cowen reduced their target price on shares of Alaska Air Group from $52.00 to $50.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 3rd. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $54.17.

Alaska Air Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:ALK traded up $3.06 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $51.62. The stock had a trading volume of 3,084,361 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,279,748. The company's 50-day moving average price is $42.69 and its 200-day moving average price is $40.89. The company has a market capitalization of $6.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 1.59. The company has a quick ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93. Alaska Air Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $32.00 and a fifty-two week high of $51.91.

Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The transportation company reported $2.25 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.22 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $3.07 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3 billion. Alaska Air Group had a net margin of 2.99% and a return on equity of 12.81%. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 8.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.83 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Alaska Air Group, Inc. will post 4.31 EPS 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.