Tensile Capital Management LP Sells 26,000 Shares of Lithia Motors, Inc. (NYSE:LAD)

Tensile Capital Management LP trimmed its position in Lithia Motors, Inc. (NYSE:LAD - Free Report) by 9.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 235,527 shares of the company's stock after selling 26,000 shares during the quarter. Lithia Motors comprises 8.7% of Tensile Capital Management LP's investment portfolio, making the stock its 4th biggest position. Tensile Capital Management LP owned 0.88% of Lithia Motors worth $84,184,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Atlas Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Lithia Motors during the 4th quarter worth about $34,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in Lithia Motors during the fourth quarter worth $35,000. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its stake in Lithia Motors by 69.9% during the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 124 shares of the company's stock worth $44,000 after purchasing an additional 51 shares in the last quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC lifted its stake in Lithia Motors by 33.9% during the fourth quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 146 shares of the company's stock worth $52,000 after purchasing an additional 37 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Rakuten Securities Inc. lifted its stake in Lithia Motors by 1,420.0% during the fourth quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 152 shares of the company's stock worth $54,000 after purchasing an additional 142 shares in the last quarter.

Lithia Motors Stock Down 4.2%

LAD stock traded down $13.36 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $305.59. The company had a trading volume of 361,647 shares, compared to its average volume of 316,360. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a current ratio of 1.19. The company has a market capitalization of $7.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.65 and a beta of 1.48. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $298.75 and a 200 day simple moving average of $338.81. Lithia Motors, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $243.04 and a fifty-two week high of $405.68.

Lithia Motors (NYSE:LAD - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 23rd. The company reported $7.66 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $7.77 by ($0.11). The company had revenue of $9.18 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.19 billion. Lithia Motors had a net margin of 2.21% and a return on equity of 12.43%. Lithia Motors's revenue for the quarter was up 7.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $6.11 EPS. Analysts forecast that Lithia Motors, Inc. will post 34.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Lithia Motors Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 23rd. Investors of record on Friday, May 9th will be paid a dividend of $0.55 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 9th. This represents a $2.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.72%. This is an increase from Lithia Motors's previous quarterly dividend of $0.53. Lithia Motors's payout ratio is presently 6.93%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Shauna Mcintyre sold 248 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Friday, March 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $290.84, for a total transaction of $72,128.32. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 1,297 shares in the company, valued at approximately $377,219.48. The trade was a 16.05% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Congdon Stacy Loretz sold 270 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $298.80, for a total transaction of $80,676.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 1,213 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $362,444.40. The trade was a 18.21% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 855 shares of company stock worth $252,536. Corporate insiders own 0.87% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have commented on the company. Evercore ISI upped their price target on Lithia Motors from $400.00 to $440.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 18th. Citigroup upgraded Lithia Motors from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $415.00 to $375.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Lithia Motors from $397.00 to $308.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 21st. Guggenheim dropped their price objective on shares of Lithia Motors from $417.00 to $356.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Finally, Benchmark restated a "buy" rating and issued a $400.00 price objective on shares of Lithia Motors in a report on Thursday, February 20th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Lithia Motors has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $361.20.

Lithia Motors Profile

Lithia Motors, Inc operates as an automotive retailer worldwide. It operates in two segments, Vehicle Operations and Financing Operations. The company's Vehicle Operations segment sells new and used vehicles; provides parts, repair, and maintenance services; vehicle finance; and insurance products. Its Financing Operations segment provides financing to customers buying and leasing retail vehicles.