Optimize Financial Inc Acquires Shares of 7,232 Autoliv, Inc. $ALV

Key Points

• Optimize Financial Inc has acquired a new stake in Autoliv, Inc., purchasing 7,232 shares valued at approximately $640,000.
• Autoliv reported a quarterly earnings increase, with $2.21 earnings per share, exceeding estimates by $0.14 and a year-over-year revenue growth of 4.2%.
• The company has authorized a $2.50 billion stock buyback program, indicating confidence in its stock's undervaluation.

Optimize Financial Inc bought a new position in shares of Autoliv, Inc. (NYSE:ALV - Free Report) during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 7,232 shares of the auto parts company's stock, valued at approximately $640,000.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. SouthState Corp purchased a new stake in Autoliv during the first quarter valued at about $25,000. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its position in Autoliv by 122.9% during the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 370 shares of the auto parts company's stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 204 shares during the period. FNY Investment Advisers LLC purchased a new stake in Autoliv during the first quarter valued at about $44,000. Signaturefd LLC grew its position in Autoliv by 63.4% during the first quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 678 shares of the auto parts company's stock valued at $60,000 after acquiring an additional 263 shares during the period. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. grew its position in Autoliv by 188.6% during the first quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 788 shares of the auto parts company's stock valued at $70,000 after acquiring an additional 515 shares during the period. 69.57% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Autoliv Stock Down 1.2%

Autoliv stock traded down $1.54 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $126.11. 369,815 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 784,441. The company's fifty day moving average price is $118.43 and its 200-day moving average price is $104.33. The company has a market cap of $9.69 billion, a PE ratio of 13.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.30 and a beta of 1.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 0.93 and a quick ratio of 0.70. Autoliv, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $75.49 and a fifty-two week high of $127.89.

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

Autoliv declared that its board has authorized a share repurchase plan on Wednesday, June 4th that permits the company to repurchase $2.50 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the auto parts company to purchase up to 31.3% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are often an indication that the company's board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on ALV shares. Mizuho boosted their price target on Autoliv from $95.00 to $112.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. UBS Group boosted their price target on Autoliv from $103.00 to $123.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 28th. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on Autoliv in a research report on Wednesday, July 2nd. They set a "buy" rating and a $140.00 price target for the company. Barclays reissued an "overweight" rating and set a $135.00 price target (up previously from $105.00) on shares of Autoliv in a research report on Wednesday, July 16th. Finally, 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 objective on the stock. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $122.92.

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.