Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd Purchases New Position in Lithia Motors, Inc. (NYSE:LAD)

Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Lithia Motors, Inc. (NYSE:LAD) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 2,369 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $847,000.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Atlas Capital Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in Lithia Motors during the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of Lithia Motors during the fourth quarter worth $35,000. UMB Bank n.a. increased its stake in shares of Lithia Motors by 69.9% in the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 124 shares of the company’s stock valued at $44,000 after buying an additional 51 shares in the last quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Lithia Motors by 33.9% in the fourth quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 146 shares of the company’s stock valued at $52,000 after buying an additional 37 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Rakuten Securities Inc. lifted its position in Lithia Motors by 1,420.0% during the 4th quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 152 shares of the company’s stock worth $54,000 after buying an additional 142 shares in the last quarter.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Shauna Mcintyre sold 248 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, March 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $290.84, for a total value of $72,128.32. Following the sale, the director now owns 1,297 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $377,219.48. The trade was a 16.05 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Gary M. Glandon sold 325 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $387.86, for a total transaction of $126,054.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 1,665 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $645,786.90. This trade represents a 16.33 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 1,246 shares of company stock valued at $433,724 in the last quarter. 0.87% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Lithia Motors Stock Down 0.4 %

Shares of LAD stock opened at $281.31 on Monday. Lithia Motors, Inc. has a 12-month low of $243.00 and a 12-month high of $405.68. The company has a quick ratio of 0.28, a current ratio of 1.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $334.52 and a 200-day moving average of $343.74. The company has a market capitalization of $7.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.48, a P/E/G ratio of 4.65 and a beta of 1.61.

Lithia Motors (NYSE:LAD) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The company reported $7.79 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $7.33 by $0.46. Lithia Motors had a return on equity of 12.43% and a net margin of 2.21%. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Lithia Motors, Inc. will post 34.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Lithia Motors Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 21st. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 7th were paid a $0.53 dividend. This represents a $2.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.75%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 7th. Lithia Motors’s payout ratio is 7.14%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

LAD has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. StockNews.com raised shares of Lithia Motors from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. Benchmark restated a “buy” rating and issued a $400.00 price objective on shares of Lithia Motors in a research report on Thursday, February 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on Lithia Motors from $420.00 to $360.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Lithia Motors from $346.00 to $397.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Finally, Evercore ISI raised their price target on Lithia Motors from $400.00 to $440.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $365.91.

Lithia Motors Profile

Lithia Motors, Inc operates as an automotive retailer worldwide. It operates in two segments, Vehicle Operations and Financing Operations. The company’s Vehicle Operations segment sells new and used vehicles; provides parts, repair, and maintenance services; vehicle finance; and insurance products. Its Financing Operations segment provides financing to customers buying and leasing retail vehicles.