Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (NYSE:AAP) Receives Average Rating of “Hold” from Analysts

Shares of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (NYSE:AAP) have earned a consensus rating of “Hold” from the sixteen ratings firms that are covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, fourteen have assigned a hold recommendation and one has given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $47.93.

A number of brokerages have recently commented on AAP. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on Advance Auto Parts from $40.00 to $45.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, January 6th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their target price on Advance Auto Parts from $52.00 to $46.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 11th. Evercore ISI lifted their target price on Advance Auto Parts from $45.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 20th. Barclays lowered their target price on Advance Auto Parts from $66.00 to $54.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 9th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage on Advance Auto Parts in a report on Friday, December 13th. They set a “market perform” rating and a $45.00 target price on the stock.

Advance Auto Parts Price Performance

Shares of AAP opened at $44.37 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 60.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.18 and a beta of 1.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 1.34. Advance Auto Parts has a one year low of $35.59 and a one year high of $88.56. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $46.22 and its 200-day moving average is $44.51.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Advance Auto Parts news, EVP Tammy M. Finley sold 1,276 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.06, for a total transaction of $56,220.56. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 24,266 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,069,159.96. This trade represents a 5.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.35% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Advance Auto Parts

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Advance Auto Parts by 6.6% during the 4th quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 157,961 shares of the company’s stock valued at $7,470,000 after buying an additional 9,803 shares during the last quarter. Towle & Co. grew its stake in shares of Advance Auto Parts by 2.1% in the 4th quarter. Towle & Co. now owns 352,778 shares of the company’s stock valued at $16,683,000 after buying an additional 7,123 shares in the last quarter. Tairen Capital Ltd grew its stake in shares of Advance Auto Parts by 415.8% in the 4th quarter. Tairen Capital Ltd now owns 215,851 shares of the company’s stock valued at $10,208,000 after buying an additional 174,000 shares in the last quarter. Studio Investment Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Advance Auto Parts by 6.7% in the 4th quarter. Studio Investment Management LLC now owns 5,557 shares of the company’s stock valued at $263,000 after buying an additional 350 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Quantinno Capital Management LP bought a new stake in shares of Advance Auto Parts in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $1,607,000. 88.75% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Advance Auto Parts Company Profile

Advance Auto Parts, Inc provides automotive replacement parts, accessories, batteries, and maintenance items for domestic and imported cars, vans, sport utility vehicles, and light and heavy duty trucks. The company offers battery accessories; belts and hoses; brakes and brake pads; chassis and climate control parts; clutches and drive shafts; engines and engine parts; exhaust systems and parts; hub assemblies; ignition components and wires; radiators and cooling parts; starters and alternators; and steering and alignment parts.