Autohome (NYSE:ATHM) Stock Price Up 3.8% – Here’s Why

Autohome Inc. (NYSE:ATHM)’s share price rose 3.8% on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $26.14 and last traded at $25.97. Approximately 65,093 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 86% from the average daily volume of 481,760 shares. The stock had previously closed at $25.02.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on ATHM shares. Hsbc Global Res upgraded Autohome to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 3rd. CLSA lowered Autohome from an “outperform” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, October 24th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Autohome from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 19th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Autohome to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $28.00.

Autohome Price Performance

The company has a 50 day moving average of $27.58 and a 200-day moving average of $27.39. The company has a market cap of $3.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.91 and a beta of 0.20.

Autohome Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a Variable dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 19th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be given a dividend of $1.15 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 5.8%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 31st. This is an increase from Autohome’s previous Variable dividend of $0.57. Autohome’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 83.58%.

Autohome declared that its board has authorized a stock buyback program on Wednesday, September 4th that authorizes the company to repurchase $0.00 in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the information services provider to repurchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are typically an indication that the company’s management believes its shares are undervalued.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Autohome

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale increased its holdings in shares of Autohome by 93.9% in the 2nd 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. Vontobel Holding Ltd. bought a new position in Autohome in the third quarter valued at $219,000. BlueCrest Capital Management Ltd purchased a new stake in Autohome during the third quarter valued at about $228,000. Van ECK Associates Corp lifted its stake in Autohome by 23.5% during the second quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 7,098 shares of the information services provider’s stock worth $195,000 after purchasing an additional 1,351 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. purchased a new position in shares of Autohome in the 2nd quarter worth about $208,000. 63.08% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.