Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. Reduces Stock Holdings in Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (NYSE:GPI)

Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. lessened its stake in shares of Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (NYSE:GPI) by 1.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,439 shares of the company’s stock after selling 28 shares during the quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc.’s holdings in Group 1 Automotive were worth $607,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. R Squared Ltd purchased a new stake in Group 1 Automotive in the fourth quarter valued at $30,000. Avior Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Group 1 Automotive in the 3rd quarter valued at about $46,000. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its stake in Group 1 Automotive by 70.4% during the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 121 shares of the company’s stock worth $51,000 after buying an additional 50 shares during the last quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB acquired a new position in Group 1 Automotive during the fourth quarter worth approximately $66,000. Finally, Global Retirement Partners LLC lifted its stake in Group 1 Automotive by 59.3% in the fourth quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 188 shares of the company’s stock valued at $79,000 after buying an additional 70 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.92% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

GPI has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on shares of Group 1 Automotive in a report on Friday, December 13th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $500.00 target price on the stock. Stephens restated an “equal weight” rating and issued a $460.00 price objective on shares of Group 1 Automotive in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Group 1 Automotive from $420.00 to $495.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, February 14th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $460.33.

Group 1 Automotive Stock Up 4.5 %

GPI stock opened at $418.27 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.54 billion, a PE ratio of 11.38 and a beta of 1.33. The company has a fifty day moving average of $446.28 and a 200-day moving average of $412.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 0.24 and a current ratio of 1.03. Group 1 Automotive, Inc. has a one year low of $262.31 and a one year high of $490.09.

Group 1 Automotive (NYSE:GPI) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The company reported $10.02 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $8.77 by $1.25. Group 1 Automotive had a net margin of 2.47% and a return on equity of 18.09%. As a group, analysts expect that Group 1 Automotive, Inc. will post 41 EPS for the current year.

Group 1 Automotive Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Investors of record on Monday, March 3rd were issued a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 3rd. This is a boost from Group 1 Automotive’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.47. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.48%. Group 1 Automotive’s payout ratio is currently 5.44%.

Group 1 Automotive Company Profile

Group 1 Automotive, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates in the automotive retail industry in the United States and the United Kingdom. The company sells new and used cars, light trucks, and vehicle parts, as well as service and insurance contracts; arranges related vehicle financing; and offers automotive maintenance and repair services.