Lithia Motors, Inc. (NYSE:LAD) Given Consensus Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts

Lithia Motors, Inc. (NYSE:LAD) has earned a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the eleven research firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and eight have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $390.70.

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on LAD shares. Barclays lowered their price target on shares of Lithia Motors from $410.00 to $390.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Citigroup upped their target price on shares of Lithia Motors from $385.00 to $399.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 28th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Lithia Motors in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of Lithia Motors from $350.00 to $355.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, January 16th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Lithia Motors from $327.00 to $358.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, January 12th.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Congdon Stacy Loretz sold 75 shares of Lithia Motors stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $360.00, for a total transaction of $27,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 1,810 shares in the company, valued at approximately $651,600. This trade represents a 3.98% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.87% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Lithia Motors

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Savant Capital LLC raised its holdings in shares of Lithia Motors by 36.8% during the 4th quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 1,445 shares of the company’s stock worth $480,000 after buying an additional 389 shares in the last quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in Lithia Motors by 140.7% during the 4th quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 11,396 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,787,000 after buying an additional 6,661 shares during the period. Clearstead Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Lithia Motors by 111.4% in the 4th quarter. Clearstead Advisors LLC now owns 93 shares of the company’s stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 49 shares during the last quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. grew its position in shares of Lithia Motors by 125.0% in the 4th quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 405 shares of the company’s stock valued at $135,000 after buying an additional 225 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Life Cycle Investment Partners Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Lithia Motors in the fourth quarter valued at about $58,409,000.

Lithia Motors Stock Performance

Shares of LAD opened at $331.27 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $8.03 billion, a PE ratio of 9.59 and a beta of 1.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.35, a quick ratio of 0.30 and a current ratio of 1.21. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $334.33 and its 200 day moving average price is $320.84. Lithia Motors has a 52 week low of $262.10 and a 52 week high of $405.14.

About Lithia Motors

Lithia Motors, Inc is an American automotive retailer headquartered in Medford, Oregon. Founded in 1946 as a small auto body and glass shop, the company has grown through organic expansion and strategic acquisitions to become one of the largest automotive retail networks in North America. Lithia operates dealerships across the United States and Canada, offering a broad portfolio of new and pre-owned vehicles from more than 40 different manufacturers.

The company’s core business activities include vehicle sales, financing, insurance, parts and service.