Autohome (NYSE:ATHM) Upgraded at The Goldman Sachs Group

The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Autohome (NYSE:ATHM) to a hold rating in a research note published on Wednesday,Zacks.com reports.

Other research analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Hsbc Global Res raised shares of Autohome to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 3rd. StockNews.com cut shares of Autohome from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 19th. Finally, CLSA lowered shares of Autohome from an “outperform” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, October 24th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Autohome has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $28.00.

Autohome Trading Down 0.3 %

Shares of ATHM opened at $27.93 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $3.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.90 and a beta of 0.20. Autohome has a 1 year low of $21.89 and a 1 year high of $34.70. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $28.90 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $27.54.

Autohome announced that its Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase program on Wednesday, September 4th that authorizes the company to buyback $0.00 in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the information services provider to repurchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are generally a sign that the company’s board believes its stock is undervalued.

Autohome Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a Variable dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 19th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be paid a dividend of $1.15 per share. This represents a yield of 5.8%. This is a boost from Autohome’s previous Variable dividend of $0.57. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 31st. Autohome’s dividend payout ratio is presently 83.58%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Autohome

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC raised its position in Autohome by 11.4% in the 2nd quarter. Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC now owns 1,311,742 shares of the information services provider’s stock valued at $36,007,000 after buying an additional 133,993 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can raised its holdings in shares of Autohome by 33.8% in the third quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 105,514 shares of the information services provider’s stock valued at $3,484,000 after purchasing an additional 26,657 shares during the last quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC lifted its position in shares of Autohome by 10.7% in the second quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 249,984 shares of the information services provider’s stock worth $6,862,000 after purchasing an additional 24,115 shares in the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd acquired a new position in Autohome during the second quarter worth $2,497,000. Finally, Krane Funds Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Autohome by 10.7% during the second quarter. Krane Funds Advisors LLC now owns 2,816,972 shares of the information services provider’s stock worth $77,326,000 after purchasing an additional 272,092 shares during the last quarter. 63.08% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Autohome

Autohome Inc operates as an online destination for automobile consumers in the People’s Republic of China. The company delivers interactive content and tools to automobile consumers through its three websites, autohome.com.cn, che168.com, and ttpai.cn on PCs, mobile devices, mobile applications, and mini apps.