Honda Motor (NYSE:HMC) Hits New 52-Week High – Should You Buy?

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (NYSE:HMC)’s share price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday. The stock traded as high as $33.55 and last traded at $33.44, with a volume of 4,027 shares. The stock had previously closed at $33.33.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Zacks Research raised Honda Motor from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Monday, August 17th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Honda Motor from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, September 19th. BNP Paribas Exane began coverage on Honda Motor in a research note on Friday, September 18th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $34.00 price target for the company. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a “sell (d)” rating on shares of Honda Motor in a report on Monday, August 31st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $34.00.

Honda Motor Stock Performance

The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $32.05 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $28.33. The company has a quick ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The firm has a market capitalization of $52.08 billion, a PE ratio of -47.72 and a beta of 0.46.

Honda Motor (NYSE:HMC) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, July 1st. The company reported $2.14 EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of $37.27 billion during the quarter. Honda Motor had a negative return on equity of 1.30% and a negative net margin of 0.73%. As a group, research analysts predict that Honda Motor Co., Ltd. will post 2.25 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Honda Motor

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Donald Smith & CO. Inc. acquired a new position in Honda Motor during the second quarter worth $109,593,000. BlackRock Inc. lifted its position in shares of Honda Motor by 35.2% during the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 2,655,980 shares of the company’s stock worth $72,004,000 after purchasing an additional 691,165 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE grew its holdings in Honda Motor by 3.6% in the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 2,834,932 shares of the company’s stock valued at $68,917,000 after buying an additional 99,301 shares during the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP lifted its holdings in shares of Honda Motor by 16.5% during the first quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 1,395,747 shares of the company’s stock worth $33,931,000 after buying an additional 197,431 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Auto Owners Insurance Co boosted its holdings in Honda Motor by 5,004.4% in the 4th quarter. Auto Owners Insurance Co now owns 8,583,102 shares of the company’s stock valued at $25,303,000 after purchasing an additional 8,414,952 shares during the period. 5.32% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Honda Motor

Honda Motor Co, Ltd. is a Japanese manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles and power products. The company’s automotive lineup includes passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, light trucks and electric vehicles sold primarily under the Honda brand, as well as luxury vehicles marketed through its Acura brand in select markets.

Honda also develops and sells motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, generators, lawn and garden equipment, marine engines and other power products. Through Honda Aircraft Company, it produces HondaJet light business aircraft.