Van ECK Associates Corp Takes Position in Autoliv, Inc. (NYSE:ALV)

Van ECK Associates Corp purchased a new position in shares of Autoliv, Inc. (NYSE:ALV - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 21,379 shares of the auto parts company's stock, valued at approximately $2,356,000.

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. FMR LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Autoliv by 9.6% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 5,264,937 shares of the auto parts company's stock worth $507,961,000 after purchasing an additional 459,147 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Autoliv by 6.7% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 2,136,224 shares of the auto parts company's stock valued at $206,103,000 after acquiring an additional 133,746 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. increased its stake in shares of Autoliv by 30.3% in the third quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 519,924 shares of the auto parts company's stock worth $50,162,000 after acquiring an additional 121,025 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. raised its holdings in shares of Autoliv by 183.6% during the third quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 487,586 shares of the auto parts company's stock worth $47,042,000 after purchasing an additional 315,668 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank lifted its position in Autoliv by 3.5% during the fourth quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 454,610 shares of the auto parts company's stock valued at $50,093,000 after purchasing an additional 15,257 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 69.57% of the company's stock.

Autoliv Trading Up 0.4 %

NYSE:ALV traded up $0.54 on Wednesday, hitting $124.50. The stock had a trading volume of 375,369 shares, compared to its average volume of 549,049. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $119.13 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $109.45. Autoliv, Inc. has a 1-year low of $79.66 and a 1-year high of $125.91. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75. The stock has a market cap of $10.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.42, a PEG ratio of 0.77 and a beta of 1.70.

Autoliv Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 27th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 12th were issued a $0.68 dividend. This represents a $2.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.18%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 11th. Autoliv's dividend payout ratio is presently 42.43%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Bank of America increased their price target on Autoliv from $135.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, April 29th. Robert W. Baird boosted their price target on Autoliv from $133.00 to $135.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Monday, April 29th. Berenberg Bank raised shares of Autoliv from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $120.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 12th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Autoliv from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Friday, May 3rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on shares of Autoliv from $117.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Monday, April 22nd. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $125.90.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CEO Mikael Bratt sold 4,226 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $109.72, for a total value of $463,676.72. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 17,547 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,925,256.84. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, CFO Fredrik Westin sold 1,318 shares of Autoliv stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $109.93, for a total value of $144,887.74. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 5,458 shares of the company's stock, valued at $599,997.94. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Mikael Bratt sold 4,226 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $109.72, for a total value of $463,676.72. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 17,547 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,925,256.84. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 7,606 shares of company stock worth $835,205. Company insiders own 0.24% of the company's stock.

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.