Jones Financial Companies Lllp Acquires 2,284 Shares of Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK)

Jones Financial Companies Lllp raised its holdings in Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK) by 77.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 5,221 shares of the transportation company’s stock after acquiring an additional 2,284 shares during the quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp’s holdings in Alaska Air Group were worth $338,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of ALK. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Alaska Air Group by 2.2% during the 3rd quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 10,180 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $460,000 after buying an additional 215 shares in the last quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC grew its position 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 worth $46,000 after buying an additional 474 shares in the last quarter. Versor Investments LP grew its position in shares of Alaska Air Group by 113.4% during the 3rd quarter. Versor Investments LP now owns 30,300 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $1,370,000 after buying an additional 16,100 shares in the last quarter. Entropy Technologies LP grew its position in shares of Alaska Air Group by 358.9% during the 3rd quarter. Entropy Technologies LP now owns 27,428 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $1,240,000 after buying an additional 21,451 shares in the last quarter. Finally, GSA Capital Partners LLP bought a new position in shares of Alaska Air Group during the 3rd quarter worth $2,257,000. Institutional investors own 81.90% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

ALK has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Citigroup increased their price target on Alaska Air Group from $63.00 to $74.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, December 16th. Barclays increased their price target on Alaska Air Group from $55.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 14th. Bank of America increased their price target on Alaska Air Group from $70.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on Alaska Air Group from $85.00 to $89.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on Alaska Air Group from $70.00 to $79.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $77.00.

Insider Buying and Selling at Alaska Air Group

In other news, EVP Andrew R. Harrison sold 6,600 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.28, for a total value of $503,448.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 34,030 shares in the company, valued at $2,595,808.40. This trade represents a 16.24 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CFO Shane R. Tackett sold 22,893 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $75.74, for a total value of $1,733,915.82. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 31,873 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,414,061.02. The trade was a 41.80 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 166,618 shares of company stock worth $11,974,395. 0.68% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Alaska Air Group Trading Down 3.4 %

Alaska Air Group stock opened at $53.56 on Wednesday. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $69.40 and a two-hundred day moving average of $56.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a current ratio of 0.61. Alaska Air Group, Inc. has a one year low of $32.62 and a one year high of $78.08. The stock has a market cap of $6.59 billion, a PE ratio of 17.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.43 and a beta of 1.50.

Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 22nd. The transportation company reported $0.97 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates 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, research analysts anticipate that Alaska Air Group, Inc. will post 6.03 EPS for the current fiscal year.

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.