Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Decreases Stock Holdings in Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK)

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans cut its position in Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK) by 0.9% in the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 106,392 shares of the transportation company’s stock after selling 947 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans’ holdings in Alaska Air Group were worth $6,888,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Avior Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of Alaska Air Group by 44.8% in the 4th quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 588 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 182 shares during the last quarter. Pacific Center for Financial Services acquired a new position in shares of Alaska Air Group during the third quarter worth $45,000. True Wealth Design LLC acquired a new position in shares of Alaska Air Group during the third quarter worth $52,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of Alaska Air Group during the 4th quarter valued at $52,000. Finally, Quarry LP boosted its position in shares of Alaska Air Group by 259.3% in the 3rd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,175 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $53,000 after purchasing an additional 848 shares in the last quarter. 81.90% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity at Alaska Air Group

In other Alaska Air Group news, CEO Joseph A. Sprague sold 9,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $68.90, for a total value of $654,550.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 9,840 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $677,976. This trade represents a 49.12 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Andrea L. Schneider sold 1,830 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $73.32, for a total value of $134,175.60. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 20,286 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,487,369.52. The trade was a 8.27 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 154,725 shares of company stock worth $11,217,263 in the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.68% of the company’s stock.

Alaska Air Group Trading Down 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE:ALK opened at $52.75 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $6.47 billion, a PE ratio of 17.30, a PEG ratio of 0.43 and a beta of 1.50. Alaska Air Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $32.62 and a 12-month high of $78.08. The business has a 50 day moving average of $67.46 and a two-hundred day moving average of $57.18. The company has a current ratio of 0.61, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04.

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, topping analysts’ consensus estimates 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 forecast that Alaska Air Group, Inc. will post 6.03 EPS for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on Alaska Air Group from $70.00 to $79.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of Alaska Air Group from $85.00 to $89.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. Bank of America upped their price target on shares of Alaska Air Group from $70.00 to $80.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 17th. UBS Group lowered their price objective on shares of Alaska Air Group from $87.00 to $75.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday. Finally, Susquehanna raised Alaska Air Group from a “neutral” rating to a “positive” rating and set a $95.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $77.00.

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.