Autohome (NYSE:ATHM) Cut to “Hold” at StockNews.com

StockNews.com downgraded shares of Autohome (NYSE:ATHM) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report issued on Tuesday morning.

A number of other equities analysts have also commented on ATHM. CLSA lowered shares of Autohome from an “outperform” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 24th. Benchmark downgraded Autohome from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 24th. Finally, Hsbc Global Res upgraded Autohome to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Thursday, October 3rd. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $28.00.

Autohome Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE ATHM opened at $28.01 on Tuesday. Autohome has a 52-week low of $21.89 and a 52-week high of $34.70. The business has a fifty day moving average of $29.73 and a two-hundred day moving average of $27.60. The stock has a market cap of $3.39 billion, a PE ratio of 14.19 and a beta of 0.18.

Autohome Increases Dividend

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

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

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Autohome

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Autohome in the second quarter worth about $28,000. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado grew its position in shares of Autohome by 88.9% during the 1st quarter. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado now owns 1,700 shares of the information services provider’s stock worth $45,000 after buying an additional 800 shares during the period. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale raised its stake in shares of Autohome by 93.9% during the second quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale now owns 5,397 shares of the information services provider’s stock worth $146,000 after buying an additional 2,614 shares during the last quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System lifted its holdings in Autohome by 4.9% in the first quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 7,448 shares of the information services provider’s stock valued at $195,000 after buying an additional 348 shares during the period. Finally, Van ECK Associates Corp boosted its stake in Autohome by 23.5% in the second quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 7,098 shares of the information services provider’s stock valued at $195,000 after acquiring an additional 1,351 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 63.08% of the company’s stock.

Autohome Company Profile

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.