Group 1 Automotive (NYSE:GPI) Downgraded by Guggenheim to "Neutral"

Group 1 Automotive (NYSE:GPI - Get Free Report) was downgraded by analysts at Guggenheim from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a note issued to investors on Wednesday,Finviz reports.

GPI has been the topic of several other reports. Stephens reaffirmed an "equal weight" rating and set a $460.00 price objective on shares of Group 1 Automotive in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Citigroup raised their target price on Group 1 Automotive from $463.00 to $495.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on Group 1 Automotive from $495.00 to $435.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $454.43.

Group 1 Automotive Price Performance

Group 1 Automotive stock opened at $449.42 on Wednesday. The business has a fifty day moving average of $403.96 and a two-hundred day moving average of $421.86. The company has a market cap of $5.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.23 and a beta of 0.94. Group 1 Automotive has a one year low of $279.86 and a one year high of $490.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 0.24 and a current ratio of 1.03.

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

Insider Buying and Selling at Group 1 Automotive

In other news, VP Michael David Jones sold 1,613 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 in the company, valued at approximately $3,350,008.20. This represents a 16.34% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 2.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Group 1 Automotive

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Bessemer Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Group 1 Automotive by 119.4% in the fourth quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 68 shares of the company's stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 37 shares in the last quarter. R Squared Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Group 1 Automotive during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Elequin Capital LP acquired a new position in Group 1 Automotive in the first quarter valued at about $29,000. Fifth Third Bancorp raised its holdings in shares of Group 1 Automotive by 24.8% during the first quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 146 shares of the company's stock worth $56,000 after acquiring an additional 29 shares during the period. Finally, Avior Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Group 1 Automotive by 25.6% in the 4th quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 152 shares of the company's stock valued at $64,000 after acquiring an additional 31 shares in the last quarter. 99.92% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Group 1 Automotive Company 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.

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