Autoliv (NYSE:ALV) Shares Gap Down – Here’s Why

Autoliv, Inc. (NYSE:ALV) shares gapped down prior to trading on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $101.32, but opened at $96.91. Autoliv shares last traded at $97.51, with a volume of 198,073 shares.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages recently commented on ALV. StockNews.com raised Autoliv from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. Daiwa Capital Markets raised Autoliv from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $109.00 price objective for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on Autoliv from $103.00 to $108.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Monday, October 21st. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on Autoliv from $101.00 to $97.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, December 16th. Finally, Bank of America cut their price target on Autoliv from $137.00 to $134.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 3rd. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $121.62.

Autoliv Stock Down 3.4 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 0.96 and a quick ratio of 0.71. The business has a 50-day moving average of $96.68 and a 200 day moving average of $97.14. The company has a market capitalization of $7.61 billion, a PE ratio of 12.74, a P/E/G ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 1.59.

Autoliv (NYSE:ALV) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 31st. The auto parts company reported $3.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.84 by $0.21. Autoliv had a return on equity of 30.85% and a net margin of 5.98%. Equities research analysts predict that Autoliv, Inc. will post 8.25 earnings per share for the current year.

Autoliv Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 19th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 3rd were given a dividend of $0.70 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, December 3rd. This is an increase from Autoliv’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.68. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.86%. Autoliv’s dividend payout ratio is 36.46%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Autoliv

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its stake in shares of Autoliv by 139.5% during the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 273 shares of the auto parts company’s stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 159 shares during the last quarter. Quarry LP increased its holdings in shares of Autoliv by 133.5% in the 2nd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 362 shares of the auto parts company’s stock valued at $39,000 after acquiring an additional 207 shares during the period. Fred Alger Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Autoliv in the 3rd quarter valued at $45,000. Farther Finance Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Autoliv by 2,115.5% in the 3rd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 2,282 shares of the auto parts company’s stock valued at $213,000 after acquiring an additional 2,179 shares during the period. Finally, Foundations Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Autoliv in the 3rd quarter valued at $222,000. 69.57% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Autoliv Company Profile

Autoliv, Inc, through its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and supplies passive safety systems to the automotive industry in Europe, the Americas, China, Japan, and rest of Asia. It offers passive safety systems, including modules and components for frontal-impact airbag protection systems, side-impact airbag protection systems, seatbelts, steering wheels, and inflator technologies.