ProShare Advisors LLC Buys 1,227 Shares of Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (NYSE:GPI)

ProShare Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (NYSE:GPI - Free Report) by 44.5% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 3,986 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 1,227 shares during the quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC's holdings in Group 1 Automotive were worth $1,680,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of GPI. Bessemer Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Group 1 Automotive by 119.4% in the fourth quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 68 shares of the company's stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 37 shares in the last quarter. R Squared Ltd bought a new stake in Group 1 Automotive in the fourth quarter worth $30,000. Avior Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Group 1 Automotive by 25.6% in the fourth quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 152 shares of the company's stock worth $64,000 after purchasing an additional 31 shares in the last quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new stake in Group 1 Automotive in the fourth quarter worth $66,000. Finally, Global Retirement Partners LLC boosted its holdings in Group 1 Automotive by 59.3% in the fourth quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 188 shares of the company's stock worth $79,000 after purchasing an additional 70 shares in the last quarter. 99.92% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Group 1 Automotive Price Performance

NYSE:GPI traded up $0.17 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $426.73. The company's stock had a trading volume of 98,252 shares, compared to its average volume of 143,732. Group 1 Automotive, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $279.86 and a fifty-two week high of $490.09. The company has a current ratio of 1.03, a quick ratio of 0.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92. The company has a market capitalization of $5.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.61 and a beta of 0.94. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $407.89 and a 200-day moving average of $425.50.

Group 1 Automotive (NYSE:GPI - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The company reported $10.17 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $9.68 by $0.49. The company had revenue of $5.51 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.37 billion. Group 1 Automotive had a net margin of 2.47% and a return on equity of 18.09%. The company's revenue was up 23.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $9.49 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Group 1 Automotive, Inc. will post 41 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Group 1 Automotive Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 2nd will be issued a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.47%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 2nd. Group 1 Automotive's payout ratio is 5.61%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have issued reports on GPI. Guggenheim cut shares of Group 1 Automotive from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, May 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of Group 1 Automotive from $495.00 to $435.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, March 27th. Stephens restated an "equal weight" rating and set a $460.00 price target on shares of Group 1 Automotive in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, Citigroup increased their target price on shares of Group 1 Automotive from $463.00 to $495.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 13th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Group 1 Automotive presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $454.43.

Insider Transactions at Group 1 Automotive

In other news, VP Michael David Jones sold 1,613 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $405.57, for a total transaction of $654,184.41. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 8,260 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,350,008.20. This trade represents a 16.34% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 2.10% of the company's stock.

Group 1 Automotive Profile

Group 1 Automotive, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates in the automotive retail industry in the United States and the United Kingdom. The company sells new and used cars, light trucks, and vehicle parts, as well as service and insurance contracts; arranges related vehicle financing; and offers automotive maintenance and repair services.