LFL Advisers LLC Has $25.54 Million Stake in Autoliv, Inc. $ALV

Key Points

• LFL Advisers LLC has trimmed its position in Autoliv, Inc. by 2.6%, now holding 288,698 shares, which make up approximately 11.2% of its portfolio.
• Autoliv announced a share repurchase plan allowing the company to buy back up to $2.50 billion of its stock, indicating management's belief that the stock is undervalued.
• The company increased its quarterly dividend from $0.70 to $0.85 per share, reflecting a positive growth trend and a yield of 2.9%.

LFL Advisers LLC lowered its stake in shares of Autoliv, Inc. (NYSE:ALV - Free Report) by 2.6% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 288,698 shares of the auto parts company's stock after selling 7,631 shares during the period. Autoliv makes up 11.2% of LFL Advisers LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 6th biggest position. LFL Advisers LLC owned approximately 0.37% of Autoliv worth $25,535,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. SouthState Corp bought a new position in shares of Autoliv during the 1st quarter valued at about $25,000. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Autoliv by 122.9% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 370 shares of the auto parts company's stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 204 shares during the last quarter. FNY Investment Advisers LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Autoliv in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $44,000. Signaturefd LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Autoliv by 63.4% in the 1st quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 678 shares of the auto parts company's stock valued at $60,000 after buying an additional 263 shares during the last quarter. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. boosted its holdings in shares of Autoliv by 188.6% in the 1st quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 788 shares of the auto parts company's stock valued at $70,000 after buying an additional 515 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 69.57% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Jan Carlson sold 1,555 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $108.32, for a total transaction of $168,437.60. Following the sale, the director directly owned 77,493 shares in the company, 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 SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.20% of the company's stock.

Autoliv Stock Down 0.3%

Shares of NYSE ALV traded down $0.3210 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $119.5990. 149,001 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 804,592. The company has a market cap of $9.19 billion, a PE ratio of 13.08, a P/E/G ratio of 1.24 and a beta of 1.39. Autoliv, Inc. has a one year low of $75.49 and a one year high of $120.31. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $114.33 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $101.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.70 and a current ratio of 0.93.

Autoliv (NYSE:ALV - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, July 18th. The auto parts company reported $2.21 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.07 by $0.14. Autoliv had a return on equity of 30.73% and a net margin of 6.83%.The company had revenue of $2.71 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.57 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.87 earnings per share. Autoliv's quarterly revenue was up 4.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts predict that Autoliv, Inc. will post 9.51 EPS for the current year.

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

Autoliv Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 23rd. Investors of record on Friday, September 5th will be paid a dividend of $0.85 per share. This represents a $3.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.8%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 5th. This is a positive change from Autoliv's previous quarterly dividend of $0.70. Autoliv's dividend payout ratio is presently 30.63%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on ALV shares. Wall Street Zen upgraded Autoliv from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Saturday, July 26th. Robert W. Baird decreased their price target on Autoliv from $126.00 to $124.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 21st. Royal Bank Of Canada assumed coverage on Autoliv in a research report on Wednesday, June 25th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $133.00 price target on the stock. BNP Paribas raised Autoliv from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Friday, May 9th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on Autoliv in a research note on Wednesday, July 2nd. They set a "buy" rating and a $140.00 price target on the stock. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $120.64.

Autoliv 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.