Autohome (NYSE:ATHM) Reaches New 12-Month Low – Here’s What Happened

Autohome Inc. (NYSE:ATHM)’s stock price hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $22.06 and last traded at $22.0850, with a volume of 17313 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $23.24.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms recently weighed in on ATHM. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut shares of Autohome from an “overweight” rating to a “neutral” rating and cut their price target for the company from $36.00 to $28.00 in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. Zacks Research cut shares of Autohome from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research report on Friday, October 24th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c-)” rating on shares of Autohome in a research note on Monday. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Reduce” and an average target price of $28.00.

Autohome Trading Down 4.8%

The stock’s 50 day moving average is $24.15 and its 200-day moving average is $26.57. The company has a market cap of $2.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.01 and a beta of 0.10.

Autohome Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a special dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 19th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, December 31st will be issued a $1.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, December 31st. Autohome’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 102.94%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Autohome

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of ATHM. AIA Group Ltd raised its position in Autohome by 37.3% in the 3rd quarter. AIA Group Ltd now owns 53,906 shares of the information services provider’s stock worth $1,539,000 after buying an additional 14,657 shares during the last quarter. BlueCrest Capital Management Ltd boosted its holdings in shares of Autohome by 468.8% during the 3rd quarter. BlueCrest Capital Management Ltd now owns 45,500 shares of the information services provider’s stock valued at $1,299,000 after acquiring an additional 37,500 shares during the last quarter. Danske Bank A S bought a new stake in shares of Autohome in the third quarter worth approximately $536,000. Woodline Partners LP bought a new stake in shares of Autohome in the third quarter worth approximately $1,091,000. Finally, Virtus Advisers LLC purchased a new position in shares of Autohome during the third quarter valued at approximately $106,000. 63.08% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Autohome

Autohome Inc (NYSE: ATHM) operates one of China’s leading online destinations for automobile consumers, offering a comprehensive suite of digital platforms and services throughout the vehicle ownership lifecycle. Headquartered in Beijing, the company’s core website and mobile applications deliver news, reviews, pricing information, photos, videos and interactive tools to help prospective buyers evaluate new and used vehicles. By aggregating rich editorial content with user-generated ratings and expert analyses, Autohome seeks to guide consumers through research, purchase and after-sales decision-making.

In addition to its consumer-facing properties, Autohome provides automakers, dealers and service providers with integrated digital marketing and e-commerce solutions.