Atlas Capital Advisors Inc. Purchases 2,092 Shares of Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK)

Atlas Capital Advisors Inc. raised its position in Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK) by 16,092.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 2,105 shares of the transportation company’s stock after purchasing an additional 2,092 shares during the period. Atlas Capital Advisors Inc.’s holdings in Alaska Air Group were worth $136,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Avior Wealth Management LLC grew its position in Alaska Air Group by 44.8% during the fourth quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 588 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 182 shares in the last quarter. Pacific Center for Financial Services bought a new stake in shares of Alaska Air Group during the 3rd quarter valued at about $45,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of Alaska Air Group during the fourth quarter worth about $52,000. Quarry LP increased its position in shares of Alaska Air Group by 259.3% in the third quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,175 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $53,000 after purchasing an additional 848 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new stake in Alaska Air Group in the third quarter valued at approximately $59,000. 81.90% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In other news, SVP Andrea L. Schneider sold 1,830 shares of Alaska Air Group stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $73.32, for a total transaction of $134,175.60. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 20,286 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,487,369.52. The trade was a 8.27 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Andrew R. Harrison sold 6,600 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.28, for a total transaction of $503,448.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 34,030 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,595,808.40. The trade was a 16.24 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 154,725 shares of company stock valued at $11,217,263. Company insiders own 0.92% of the company’s stock.

Alaska Air Group Price Performance

Shares of Alaska Air Group stock opened at $44.39 on Friday. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $64.04 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $57.80. Alaska Air Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $32.62 and a 12-month high of $78.08. The firm has a market cap of $5.45 billion, a PE ratio of 14.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.43 and a beta of 1.37. The company has a quick ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 0.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04.

Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, January 22nd. The transportation company reported $0.97 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.45 by $0.52. Alaska Air Group had a return on equity of 14.66% and a net margin of 3.37%. As a group, equities analysts expect that Alaska Air Group, Inc. will post 6.03 EPS for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have commented on ALK. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Alaska Air Group from $85.00 to $89.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. UBS Group reduced their target price on Alaska Air Group from $87.00 to $75.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, March 20th. Citigroup dropped their price target on Alaska Air Group from $83.00 to $81.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, March 18th. Bank of America reduced their price objective on Alaska Air Group from $80.00 to $70.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on Alaska Air Group from $70.00 to $79.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Alaska Air Group currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $76.23.

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.