Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK) COO Muehlen Constance E. Von Sells 22,157 Shares

Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK) COO Muehlen Constance E. Von sold 22,157 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.12, for a total value of $1,664,433.84. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 20,026 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,504,353.12. This represents a 52.53 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website.

Alaska Air Group Trading Up 1.7 %

Shares of ALK traded up $1.31 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $76.65. The company had a trading volume of 2,883,196 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,770,388. Alaska Air Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $32.62 and a fifty-two week high of $78.08. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $68.62 and a 200-day simple moving average of $52.71. The stock has a market cap of $9.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.69 and a beta of 1.55. The company has a current ratio of 0.61, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04.

Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 22nd. The transportation company reported $0.97 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%. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Alaska Air Group, Inc. will post 6.03 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

ALK has been the subject of several recent research reports. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of Alaska Air Group from $70.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of Alaska Air Group from $58.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. Barclays increased their target price on Alaska Air Group from $55.00 to $80.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, November 14th. Melius raised Alaska Air Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $56.00 price target for the company in a report on Monday, October 28th. Finally, UBS Group increased their price objective on Alaska Air Group from $81.00 to $82.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $74.86.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of ALK. Avior Wealth Management LLC grew its stake 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 during the period. Pacific Center for Financial Services purchased a new position in Alaska Air Group in the third quarter valued at about $45,000. Venturi Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Alaska Air Group by 86.0% during the third quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,025 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $46,000 after purchasing an additional 474 shares in the last quarter. True Wealth Design LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Alaska Air Group in the third quarter worth about $52,000. Finally, SBI Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Alaska Air Group in the fourth quarter valued at about $52,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.90% of the company’s stock.

About Alaska Air Group

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.