Autoliv (NYSE:ALV) Reaches New 12-Month High - Here's Why

Autoliv, Inc. (NYSE:ALV - Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $118.57 and last traded at $118.77, with a volume of 58752 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $117.17.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently commented on ALV. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on Autoliv in a research note on Wednesday, July 2nd. They issued a "buy" rating and a $140.00 price objective on the stock. Robert W. Baird boosted their price objective on Autoliv from $108.00 to $126.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday. Wall Street Zen upgraded Autoliv from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Saturday, July 5th. Royal Bank Of Canada began coverage on Autoliv in a report on Wednesday, June 25th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $133.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Autoliv from $100.00 to $104.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 1st. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and three have issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $119.31.

Autoliv Stock Down 0.2%

The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $106.28 and a 200 day simple moving average of $97.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 0.97 and a quick ratio of 0.73. The stock has a market cap of $9.10 billion, a PE ratio of 13.55, a P/E/G ratio of 1.97 and a beta of 1.37.

Autoliv (NYSE:ALV - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, April 16th. The auto parts company reported $2.15 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.72 by $0.43. Autoliv had a return on equity of 30.47% and a net margin of 6.63%. The firm had revenue of $2.58 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.50 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.58 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Autoliv, Inc. will post 9.51 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Autoliv Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 23rd. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 5th will be paid a dividend of $0.85 per share. This represents a $3.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.89%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 5th. This is an increase from Autoliv's previous quarterly dividend of $0.70. Autoliv's dividend payout ratio is 32.22%.

Autoliv declared that its board has authorized a stock repurchase program on Wednesday, June 4th that allows the company to buyback $2.50 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the auto parts company to reacquire up to 31.3% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often a sign that the company's board believes its shares are undervalued.

Insider Buying and Selling at Autoliv

In related news, Director Jan Carlson sold 1,555 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $108.32, for a total transaction of $168,437.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 77,493 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $8,394,041.76. The trade was a 1.97% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.20% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Autoliv

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. US Bancorp DE raised its holdings in Autoliv by 3.5% in the 4th quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 3,820 shares of the auto parts company's stock valued at $358,000 after acquiring an additional 130 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Autoliv in the 4th quarter worth approximately $3,815,000. AlphaQuest LLC raised its holdings in shares of Autoliv by 74.4% in the 4th quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 314 shares of the auto parts company's stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 134 shares in the last quarter. Lancaster Investment Management raised its holdings in shares of Autoliv by 17.7% in the 4th quarter. Lancaster Investment Management now owns 568,821 shares of the auto parts company's stock worth $53,350,000 after buying an additional 85,732 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Erste Asset Management GmbH acquired a new position in shares of Autoliv in the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,095,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 69.57% of the company's stock.

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.