Advance Auto Parts Sees Unusually Large Options Volume (NYSE:AAP)

Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (NYSE:AAP) was the recipient of some unusual options trading on Wednesday. Investors bought 10,156 call options on the stock. This represents an increase of 43% compared to the typical daily volume of 7,114 call options.

Advance Auto Parts Stock Down 2.3%

Shares of NYSE:AAP traded down $1.18 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $50.74. The stock had a trading volume of 526,529 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,963,754. The company has a market capitalization of $3.05 billion, a PE ratio of 69.45, a PEG ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a quick ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 1.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.55. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $50.56 and its 200 day moving average is $51.59. Advance Auto Parts has a 12 month low of $28.89 and a 12 month high of $70.00.

Advance Auto Parts (NYSE:AAP) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 13th. The company reported $0.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.41 by $0.45. Advance Auto Parts had a net margin of 0.51% and a return on equity of 6.23%. The company had revenue of $1.97 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.95 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned ($10.16) EPS. Advance Auto Parts’s quarterly revenue was down 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Advance Auto Parts has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.400-3.10 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Advance Auto Parts will post -0.46 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Advance Auto Parts Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 24th. Investors of record on Friday, April 10th will be issued a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 10th. Advance Auto Parts’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 136.99%.

Institutional Trading of Advance Auto Parts

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Salomon & Ludwin LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Advance Auto Parts in the 3rd quarter worth $26,000. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd bought a new position in Advance Auto Parts in the 3rd quarter worth $31,000. AlphaCore Capital LLC lifted its position in Advance Auto Parts by 6,288.9% during the third quarter. AlphaCore Capital LLC now owns 575 shares of the company’s stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 566 shares in the last quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. grew its holdings in Advance Auto Parts by 184.5% during the fourth quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 919 shares of the company’s stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 596 shares during the period. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in Advance Auto Parts by 290.3% during the second quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 925 shares of the company’s stock valued at $43,000 after purchasing an additional 688 shares during the period. 88.70% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

AAP has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price target on Advance Auto Parts from $57.00 to $63.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. Roth Mkm reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $57.00 target price on shares of Advance Auto Parts in a research note on Thursday, February 19th. DA Davidson set a $58.00 target price on Advance Auto Parts in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. Citigroup raised Advance Auto Parts from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Finally, Evercore set a $60.00 price target on shares of Advance Auto Parts in a report on Wednesday, February 11th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seventeen have given a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Reduce” and an average price target of $52.93.

About Advance Auto Parts

Advance Auto Parts, Inc (NYSE: AAP) is a leading distributor of automotive aftermarket parts, accessories, and maintenance items. The company operates a network of stores and distribution centers across North America, serving both do-it-yourself (DIY) customers and professional service providers. Advance Auto Parts focuses on offering a comprehensive selection of replacement parts, batteries, engine components, and performance products for cars and light trucks.

The company’s product portfolio includes engine oils and lubricants, cooling system components, brake and suspension parts, filters, belts, hoses, and diagnostic tools.