BNP Paribas Financial Markets Acquires 19,983 Shares of Autohome Inc. (NYSE:ATHM)

BNP Paribas Financial Markets raised its stake in shares of Autohome Inc. (NYSE:ATHM) by 8.3% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 261,564 shares of the information services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 19,983 shares during the quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets owned 0.22% of Autohome worth $8,532,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. California State Teachers Retirement System boosted its stake in Autohome by 4.9% in the 1st 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 in the last quarter. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd boosted its stake in shares of Autohome by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd now owns 37,907 shares of the information services provider’s stock valued at $1,238,000 after purchasing an additional 394 shares in the last quarter. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado grew its holdings in shares of Autohome by 88.9% in 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 purchasing an additional 800 shares during the last quarter. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Autohome during the 2nd quarter worth about $28,000. Finally, Van ECK Associates Corp lifted its holdings in Autohome by 23.5% during the 2nd quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 7,098 shares of the information services provider’s stock valued at $195,000 after purchasing an additional 1,351 shares during the last quarter. 63.08% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Autohome Trading Up 2.8 %

Shares of ATHM stock opened at $28.29 on Tuesday. Autohome Inc. has a 1 year low of $21.89 and a 1 year high of $34.70. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $29.70 and its 200-day moving average is $27.53. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.07 and a beta of 0.18.

Autohome announced that its Board of Directors has approved a share buyback program on Wednesday, September 4th that permits the company to repurchase $0.00 in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the information services provider to repurchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are usually an indication that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Autohome Increases Dividend

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

ATHM has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Hsbc Global Res raised shares of Autohome to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Thursday, October 3rd. StockNews.com downgraded Autohome from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 19th. Finally, CLSA lowered Autohome from an “outperform” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 24th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $28.00.

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.