Autoliv, Inc. (NYSE:ALV) Given Average Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by Brokerages

Key Points

• "Moderate Buy" consensus from 14 analysts with an average 12‑month price target of $134.25, though recent actions are mixed (Jefferies downgraded to hold and cut its target while RBC and Robert W. Baird raised theirs).
• Autoliv beat the quarter's expectations with EPS $2.05 vs. $1.84 expected and revenue of $2.75B (vs. $2.61B expected), a 6.8% year‑over‑year increase.
• Insiders have been net sellers recently — 22,243 shares sold in the past 90 days worth $2.71M — leaving insiders with just 0.34% ownership.

Autoliv, Inc. (NYSE:ALV - Get Free Report) has received an average recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from the fourteen ratings firms that are covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and ten have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price target among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $134.25.

A number of analysts have weighed in on the company. Jefferies Financial Group lowered Autoliv from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $150.00 to $120.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 14th. Barclays cut their price target on shares of Autoliv from $140.00 to $135.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, March 30th. Wells Fargo & Company set a $116.00 price target on shares of Autoliv in a report on Monday. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on shares of Autoliv from $119.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Monday, April 20th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price target on shares of Autoliv from $137.00 to $138.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, April 20th.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Autoliv news, EVP Per Jonas Jademyr sold 1,278 shares of Autoliv stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $122.03, for a total value of $155,954.34. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 1,963 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $239,544.89. The trade was a 39.43% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Magnus Jarlegren sold 1,598 shares of Autoliv stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $121.61, for a total transaction of $194,332.78. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 7,739 shares in the company, valued at $941,139.79. This represents a 17.11% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 22,243 shares of company stock valued at $2,713,735. 0.34% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Autoliv

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. IFP Advisors Inc lifted its stake in shares of Autoliv by 110.3% during the third quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 204 shares of the auto parts company's stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 107 shares during the period. Torren Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Autoliv during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust lifted its stake in shares of Autoliv by 863.6% during the fourth quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 212 shares of the auto parts company's stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 190 shares during the period. Root Financial Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Autoliv during the third quarter worth $32,000. Finally, Quarry LP acquired a new stake in shares of Autoliv during the third quarter worth $36,000. 69.57% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Autoliv Stock Up 1.3%

Autoliv stock opened at $117.81 on Friday. The business has a fifty day moving average of $111.38 and a two-hundred day moving average of $117.68. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64. The firm has a market cap of $8.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.67, a P/E/G ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 1.35. Autoliv has a twelve month low of $90.58 and a twelve month high of $130.14.

Autoliv (NYSE:ALV - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, April 17th. The auto parts company reported $2.05 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.84 by $0.21. The company had revenue of $2.75 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.61 billion. Autoliv had a return on equity of 29.03% and a net margin of 6.45%.Autoliv's revenue was up 6.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.15 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that Autoliv will post 10.49 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Autoliv Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 19th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 4th were issued a $0.87 dividend. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, March 4th. Autoliv's payout ratio is currently 37.42%.

About Autoliv

Autoliv Inc NYSE: ALV is a leading global supplier of automotive safety systems, specializing in the design, development and manufacture of passive and active safety products. Its core product portfolio includes airbags, seatbelts, steering wheels, restraint control modules and pedestrian protection systems. In recent years, the company has also expanded into active safety technologies, offering radar, camera and sensor solutions that support advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving applications.

Founded in 1997 following the spin-off of Electrolux's automotive safety business, Autoliv has evolved into a multinational organization with a presence in over 27 countries.

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