U S Global Investors Inc. Sells 231,675 Shares of Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK)

U S Global Investors Inc. reduced its holdings in Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK) by 30.6% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 525,131 shares of the transportation company’s stock after selling 231,675 shares during the quarter. Alaska Air Group accounts for 3.4% of U S Global Investors Inc.’s holdings, making the stock its 8th biggest position. U S Global Investors Inc. owned about 0.41% of Alaska Air Group worth $34,002,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in ALK. Avior Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Alaska Air Group by 44.8% during the fourth quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 588 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 182 shares during the period. Pacific Center for Financial Services acquired a new stake in Alaska Air Group during the 3rd quarter worth about $45,000. Venturi Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Alaska Air Group by 86.0% during the 3rd quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,025 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $46,000 after acquiring an additional 474 shares in the last quarter. True Wealth Design LLC acquired a new position in Alaska Air Group in the 3rd quarter worth about $52,000. Finally, Quarry LP raised its position in Alaska Air Group by 259.3% during the third quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,175 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $53,000 after acquiring an additional 848 shares in the last quarter. 81.90% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Alaska Air Group Stock Performance

Alaska Air Group stock opened at $71.02 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.28, a P/E/G ratio of 0.43 and a beta of 1.55. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $69.92 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $54.34. Alaska Air Group, Inc. has a 52-week low of $32.62 and a 52-week high of $78.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 0.61 and a quick ratio of 0.58.

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

ALK has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. TD Cowen upped their price objective on shares of Alaska Air Group from $85.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Susquehanna raised shares of Alaska Air Group from a “neutral” rating to a “positive” rating and set a $95.00 price target for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of Alaska Air Group from $58.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. Barclays increased their target price on shares of Alaska Air Group from $55.00 to $80.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 14th. Finally, Citigroup boosted their price target on Alaska Air Group from $63.00 to $74.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, December 16th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Alaska Air Group currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $76.69.

Insider Activity at Alaska Air Group

In other news, SVP Andrea L. Schneider sold 3,700 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $63.50, for a total transaction of $234,950.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 21,086 shares in the company, valued at $1,338,961. The trade was a 14.93 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Andrew R. Harrison sold 91,745 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.14, for a total value of $6,526,739.30. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 20,638 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,468,187.32. This represents a 81.64 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 189,198 shares of company stock valued at $13,415,604 over the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 0.68% of the company’s stock.

Alaska Air Group 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.