Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund Sells 5,706 Shares of Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE:ABG)

Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund cut its holdings in shares of Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE:ABG) by 34.4% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 10,867 shares of the company’s stock after selling 5,706 shares during the period. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund owned about 0.06% of Asbury Automotive Group worth $2,641,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in Asbury Automotive Group in the third quarter worth $31,000. KBC Group NV lifted its position in Asbury Automotive Group by 52.3% during the 4th quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 769 shares of the company’s stock worth $187,000 after buying an additional 264 shares in the last quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Asbury Automotive Group by 17.2% during the 4th quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 839 shares of the company’s stock worth $204,000 after acquiring an additional 123 shares during the last quarter. Stephens Inc. AR bought a new stake in Asbury Automotive Group during the 4th quarter worth about $213,000. Finally, Highland Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Asbury Automotive Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $216,000.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on ABG shares. Seaport Res Ptn lowered shares of Asbury Automotive Group from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, November 11th. StockNews.com raised Asbury Automotive Group from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, October 31st. Stephens lifted their target price on Asbury Automotive Group from $220.00 to $260.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on Asbury Automotive Group from $260.00 to $255.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 17th. Finally, Craig Hallum cut Asbury Automotive Group from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $264.00.

Asbury Automotive Group Stock Performance

Shares of Asbury Automotive Group stock opened at $267.67 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $266.43 and a two-hundred day moving average of $248.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98, a quick ratio of 0.41 and a current ratio of 1.20. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.44 and a beta of 1.20. Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. has a 52 week low of $202.98 and a 52 week high of $312.56.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Asbury Automotive Group news, COO Daniel Clara sold 1,217 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $296.64, for a total transaction of $361,010.88. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 3,747 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,111,510.08. This trade represents a 24.52 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.53% of the stock is owned by insiders.

About Asbury Automotive Group

Asbury Automotive Group, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an automotive retailer in the United States. It offers a range of automotive products and services, including new and used vehicles; and vehicle repair and maintenance services, replacement parts, and collision repair services.