Analysts Recommend Autohome Inc. (NYSE:ATHM) as a Moderate Buy

Autohome Inc. (NYSE:ATHM - Get Free Report) has recently received a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from six brokerages currently covering the stock, according to Marketbeat. Among these analysts, four have given the stock a hold rating, while one has rated it as a buy and another has classified it as a strong buy. Furthermore, the average twelve-month price target set by analysts stands at $32.00.

Autohome’s Strength as an Investment

Autohome's recent activity indicates strong investor interest, particularly in its dividend and buyback strategy, which positions it well in the evolving electric vehicle market. Several analysts have updated their evaluations of the stock over recent months. For instance, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Autohome from a "neutral" to an "overweight" rating and raised the target price from $24.00 to $36.00 in a report published on March 12th. Additionally, Goldman Sachs Group adjusted its rating to a "hold" on December 11th. Conversely, StockNews.com downgraded its recommendation from "buy" to "hold" as of February 28th.

Stock Performance Analysis

As of Friday, Autohome’s shares were trading at $28.38, reflecting a decline of 4.4%. The stock has fluctuated between a low of $21.89 and a high of $34.70 over the past twelve months. Currently, its fifty-day moving average is $28.76, while the 200-day moving average stands at $28.57. Autohome boasts a market capitalization of $3.44 billion, a price-to-earnings (PE) ratio of 15.34, and a beta of 0.20.

The company's most recent earnings report, released on February 20th, showed that it generated an earnings per share (EPS) of $0.50 for the quarter, slightly surpassing the consensus estimate of $0.49. Autohome also reported a return on equity of 7.79% and a net profit margin of 23.02%. Revenue reached $244.33 million, exceeding analysts' expectations of $243.26 million. Looking ahead, analysts anticipate that Autohome will achieve earnings per share of 1.84 for the current year.

Institutional Interest in Autohome

Recent changes in institutional holdings of Autohome highlight growing interest in the stock. For example, Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. boosted its stake by an impressive 948.2% during the third quarter, acquiring an additional 71,923 shares for a total of 79,508 shares valued at approximately $2,594,000. Similarly, Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd increased its holdings by 1.1%, while Bank of Montreal Can raised its position by 33.8%. Other firms, such as BNP Paribas Financial Markets and Zurcher Kantonalbank, also increased their investments in Autohome, which is now held by numerous hedge funds and institutional investors, accounting for 63.08% of ownership.

Understanding Autohome Inc.

Autohome Inc. serves as a comprehensive online platform for automobile consumers in the People's Republic of China. It provides users with interactive content and various tools via its three main websites: autohome.com.cn, che168.com, and ttpai.cn, accessible through PCs, mobile devices, applications, and mini apps.

Autohome, Analysts, Investment