Autoliv (NYSE:ALV) Earns Buy Rating from Analysts at StockNews.com

StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Autoliv (NYSE:ALV – Get Rating) in a research report sent to investors on Thursday morning. The brokerage issued a buy rating on the auto parts company’s stock.

Other analysts have also issued reports about the company. Barclays began coverage on Autoliv in a research note on Tuesday, February 14th. They issued an equal weight rating and a $100.00 target price on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on shares of Autoliv from $85.00 to $115.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, January 31st. Citigroup lifted their target price on shares of Autoliv from $87.00 to $97.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 7th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Autoliv from $81.00 to $94.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, January 30th. Finally, Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on shares of Autoliv from $93.00 to $99.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, January 30th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Autoliv has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $99.33.

Autoliv Price Performance

ALV opened at $87.38 on Thursday. Autoliv has a fifty-two week low of $65.74 and a fifty-two week high of $96.49. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $88.68 and a 200 day moving average of $81.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a current ratio of 1.02. The firm has a market cap of $7.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.98, a PEG ratio of 0.61 and a beta of 1.70.

Autoliv (NYSE:ALV – Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Friday, January 27th. The auto parts company reported $1.83 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.54 by $0.29. The firm had revenue of $2.34 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.40 billion. Autoliv had a net margin of 4.80% and a return on equity of 14.84%. On average, research analysts expect that Autoliv will post 6.34 EPS for the current year.

Autoliv Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 23rd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 8th will be paid a $0.66 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 7th. This represents a $2.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.02%. Autoliv’s dividend payout ratio is currently 54.32%.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Colin Naughton sold 420 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.87, for a total value of $38,165.40. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 4,809 shares in the company, valued at $436,993.83. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Autoliv news, insider Magnus Jarlegren sold 402 shares of Autoliv stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $91.66, for a total transaction of $36,847.32. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 4,184 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $383,505.44. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Colin Naughton sold 420 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.87, for a total value of $38,165.40. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 4,809 shares in the company, valued at $436,993.83. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 2,865 shares of company stock worth $269,670. 0.20% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Autoliv

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. CVA Family Office LLC bought a new position in Autoliv during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $230,000. CI Private Wealth LLC purchased a new position in Autoliv in the 4th quarter worth $713,000. Principal Street Partners LLC bought a new stake in Autoliv in the fourth quarter worth $308,000. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Autoliv by 410.8% in the fourth quarter. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC now owns 104,714 shares of the auto parts company’s stock worth $8,019,000 after purchasing an additional 84,214 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Maverick Capital Ltd. purchased a new stake in Autoliv during the fourth quarter valued at about $310,000. Institutional investors own 46.63% of the company’s stock.

Autoliv Company Profile

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Autoliv, Inc engages in the development, manufacture, and supply of automotive safety systems. The firm’s products include passive safety systems, including modules and components for passenger and driver airbags, side airbags, curtain airbags, seatbelts and steering wheels. It also supplies anti-whiplash systems and pedestrian protection systems.