Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC Grows Position in Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK)

Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK - Free Report) by 421.9% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 704,575 shares of the transportation company's stock after acquiring an additional 569,584 shares during the quarter. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC owned about 0.56% of Alaska Air Group worth $45,621,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Avior Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in Alaska Air Group by 44.8% in the 4th quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 588 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $38,000 after acquiring an additional 182 shares during the last quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new position in shares of Alaska Air Group in the fourth quarter worth approximately $52,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new stake in Alaska Air Group in the third quarter valued at approximately $59,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in Alaska Air Group by 61.6% during the fourth quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 955 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $62,000 after purchasing an additional 364 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Millstone Evans Group LLC bought a new stake in Alaska Air Group during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $76,000. 81.90% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on Alaska Air Group from $70.00 to $79.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. TD Cowen upped their price target on Alaska Air Group from $54.00 to $62.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Citigroup decreased their target price on Alaska Air Group from $83.00 to $81.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, March 18th. Bank of America cut their target price on shares of Alaska Air Group from $80.00 to $70.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 3rd. Finally, Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Alaska Air Group from $62.00 to $55.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 25th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $65.92.

Insider Activity at Alaska Air Group

In related news, CFO Shane R. Tackett sold 22,893 shares of Alaska Air Group stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.74, for a total transaction of $1,733,915.82. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 31,873 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,414,061.02. The trade was a 41.80 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, COO Muehlen Constance E. Von sold 22,157 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $75.12, for a total transaction of $1,664,433.84. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 20,026 shares in the company, valued at $1,504,353.12. This trade represents a 52.53 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 51,650 shares of company stock worth $3,901,798. Company insiders own 1.00% of the company's stock.

Alaska Air Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:ALK traded up $2.53 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $46.93. 3,947,293 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,681,959. The stock has a market cap of $5.76 billion, a PE ratio of 15.39, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.43 and a beta of 1.37. Alaska Air Group, Inc. has a one year low of $32.62 and a one year high of $78.08. The company has a current ratio of 0.61, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04. The business's fifty day moving average is $51.73 and its two-hundred day moving average is $57.84.

Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 23rd. The transportation company reported ($0.77) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.72) by ($0.05). Alaska Air Group had a return on equity of 14.66% and a net margin of 3.37%. The firm had revenue of $3.14 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.19 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned ($0.92) EPS. The business's revenue was up 40.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts predict that Alaska Air Group, Inc. will post 6.03 earnings per share for the current year.

Alaska Air Group Company Profile

Alaska Air Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates airlines. It operates through three segments: Mainline, Regional, and Horizon. The company offers scheduled air transportation services on Boeing jet aircraft for passengers and cargo in the United States, and in parts of Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize, Guatemala, and the Bahamas; and for passengers across a shorter distance network within the United States, Canada, and Mexico.