Algert Global LLC Purchases Shares of 28,751 Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK)

Algert Global LLC purchased a new stake in Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 28,751 shares of the transportation company's stock, valued at approximately $1,862,000.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV acquired a new stake in shares of Alaska Air Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $555,000. Freestone Grove Partners LP bought a new stake in Alaska Air Group during the fourth quarter worth approximately $4,438,000. Soros Fund Management LLC acquired a new stake in Alaska Air Group in the fourth quarter worth approximately $11,384,000. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Alaska Air Group by 421.9% during the 4th quarter. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC now owns 704,575 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $45,621,000 after purchasing an additional 569,584 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Candlestick Capital Management LP bought a new position in Alaska Air Group during the 4th quarter valued at $51,306,000. Institutional investors own 81.90% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Alaska Air Group

In related news, EVP Andrew R. Harrison sold 6,600 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $76.28, for a total transaction of $503,448.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 34,030 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,595,808.40. This trade represents a 16.24% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, COO Muehlen Constance E. Von sold 22,157 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $75.12, for a total transaction of $1,664,433.84. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 20,026 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,504,353.12. This represents a 52.53% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 28,790 shares of company stock valued at $2,169,537 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 1.00% of the company's stock.

Alaska Air Group Stock Up 0.5%

NYSE:ALK traded up $0.28 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $55.16. 871,724 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,729,759. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $48.91 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $58.23. The firm has a market cap of $6.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.09, a P/E/G ratio of 0.43 and a beta of 1.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a current ratio of 0.61. Alaska Air Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $32.62 and a twelve month high of $78.08.

Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, April 23rd. The transportation company reported ($0.77) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.72) by ($0.05). The business had revenue of $3.14 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.19 billion. Alaska Air Group had a net margin of 3.37% and a return on equity of 14.66%. Alaska Air Group's revenue for the quarter was up 40.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned ($0.92) EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Alaska Air Group, Inc. will post 6.03 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on Alaska Air Group from $70.00 to $79.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Bank of America dropped their price target on shares of Alaska Air Group from $80.00 to $70.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 3rd. UBS Group lowered shares of Alaska Air Group from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and reduced their price objective for the company from $75.00 to $54.00 in a research report on Monday, April 7th. Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Alaska Air Group from $62.00 to $55.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Susquehanna cut their target price on shares of Alaska Air Group from $95.00 to $55.00 and set a "positive" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 7th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $65.92.

Alaska Air Group Profile

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.