Impax Asset Management Group plc Raises Stake in Autoliv, Inc. (NYSE:ALV)

Impax Asset Management Group plc lifted its stake in shares of Autoliv, Inc. (NYSE:ALV - Free Report) by 11.9% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 84,358 shares of the auto parts company's stock after buying an additional 8,953 shares during the period. Impax Asset Management Group plc owned approximately 0.11% of Autoliv worth $7,461,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. AlphaQuest LLC increased its stake in shares of Autoliv by 74.4% during the fourth quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 314 shares of the auto parts company's stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 134 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its holdings in 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 purchasing an additional 204 shares during the last quarter. FNY Investment Advisers LLC acquired a new position in shares of Autoliv in the 1st quarter worth approximately $44,000. Twin Tree Management LP acquired a new position in shares of Autoliv in the 4th quarter worth approximately $50,000. Finally, Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Autoliv in the 4th quarter worth approximately $57,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 69.57% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on ALV shares. Royal Bank Of Canada started coverage on shares of Autoliv in a report on Wednesday, June 25th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $133.00 target price on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of Autoliv from $100.00 to $104.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 1st. BNP Paribas Exane upgraded shares of Autoliv from a "neutral" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $123.00 target price on the stock in a report on Friday, May 9th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Autoliv from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Saturday. Finally, BNP Paribas upgraded shares of Autoliv from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Friday, May 9th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and three have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $117.06.

Insider Activity at Autoliv

In other Autoliv news, Director Jan Carlson sold 1,555 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $108.32, for a total transaction of $168,437.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 77,493 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,394,041.76. This trade represents a 1.97% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 0.30% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Autoliv Stock Performance

Autoliv stock traded up $1.73 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $117.35. 522,018 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 812,869. Autoliv, Inc. has a 12-month low of $75.49 and a 12-month high of $118.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 0.97. The stock has a market cap of $9.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.95 and a beta of 1.37. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $105.31 and its 200 day simple moving average is $97.06.

Autoliv (NYSE:ALV - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, April 16th. The auto parts company reported $2.15 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.72 by $0.43. Autoliv had a net margin of 6.63% and a return on equity of 30.47%. The company had revenue of $2.58 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.50 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.58 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Autoliv, Inc. will post 9.51 EPS for the current year.

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 $0.85 dividend. This is a boost from Autoliv's previous quarterly dividend of $0.70. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 5th. This represents a $3.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.90%. Autoliv's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 39.13%.

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

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.