Headlands Technologies LLC Sells 3,721 Shares of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (NYSE:AAP)

Headlands Technologies LLC trimmed its position in Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (NYSE:AAP) by 65.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,003 shares of the company’s stock after selling 3,721 shares during the period. Headlands Technologies LLC’s holdings in Advance Auto Parts were worth $95,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its position in shares of Advance Auto Parts by 75.9% in the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 2,119 shares of the company’s stock worth $100,000 after purchasing an additional 914 shares in the last quarter. Moody National Bank Trust Division acquired a new stake in Advance Auto Parts in the fourth quarter worth about $1,196,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Advance Auto Parts during the fourth quarter worth about $8,822,000. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC increased its holdings in shares of Advance Auto Parts by 97.2% during the fourth quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 305,622 shares of the company’s stock valued at $14,453,000 after acquiring an additional 150,604 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC purchased a new position in shares of Advance Auto Parts in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $34,586,000. 88.75% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CEO Shane M. Okelly bought 1,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 11th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $36.79 per share, for a total transaction of $55,185.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 183,121 shares in the company, valued at $6,737,021.59. This trade represents a 0.83 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, Director Eugene I. Lee, Jr. purchased 14,640 shares of Advance Auto Parts stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 6th. The shares were bought at an average price of $34.15 per share, with a total value of $499,956.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 34,070 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,163,490.50. The trade was a 75.35 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.35% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Advance Auto Parts Stock Down 4.8 %

AAP opened at $34.86 on Monday. The company has a fifty day moving average of $41.57 and a two-hundred day moving average of $41.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 1.34. Advance Auto Parts, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $33.08 and a fifty-two week high of $79.85. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 47.76, a PEG ratio of 1.98 and a beta of 1.07.

Advance Auto Parts Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 25th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 11th will be given a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 11th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.87%. Advance Auto Parts’s dividend payout ratio is currently -17.86%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

AAP has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their target price on shares of Advance Auto Parts from $50.00 to $44.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 27th. Citigroup cut their target price on Advance Auto Parts from $47.00 to $40.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 27th. Wedbush reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $55.00 price target on shares of Advance Auto Parts in a research report on Monday, March 3rd. Evercore ISI dropped their price target on Advance Auto Parts from $37.00 to $35.00 and set an “in-line” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, March 11th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Advance Auto Parts from $40.00 to $45.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, January 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, sixteen have given a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Advance Auto Parts presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $45.13.

Advance Auto Parts Profile

Advance Auto Parts, Inc provides automotive replacement parts, accessories, batteries, and maintenance items for domestic and imported cars, vans, sport utility vehicles, and light and heavy duty trucks. The company offers battery accessories; belts and hoses; brakes and brake pads; chassis and climate control parts; clutches and drive shafts; engines and engine parts; exhaust systems and parts; hub assemblies; ignition components and wires; radiators and cooling parts; starters and alternators; and steering and alignment parts.