Asbury Automotive Group (NYSE:ABG) Stock Rating Raised to Buy at Craig Hallum

Key Points

• Craig Hallum upgraded Asbury Automotive Group to “Buy” from “Hold” and set a $250 price target, implying approximately 27% upside from the reported share price.
• Analyst sentiment remains mixed: the consensus rating is still “Hold” with an average target of $219.14, while other firms maintain ratings ranging from “Strong Sell” to “Buy.”
• Asbury’s latest quarter showed pressure on performance, with EPS of $6.16 missing the $6.42 consensus and revenue declining 8.1% year over year; the stock traded at $196.57 and was valued at a P/E ratio of 7.35.

Asbury Automotive Group (NYSE:ABG - Get Free Report) was upgraded by investment analysts at Craig Hallum from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday, Marketbeat reports. The brokerage presently has a $250.00 price objective on the stock. Craig Hallum's price objective would indicate a potential upside of 27.18% from the stock's current price.

A number of other research analysts have also recently commented on ABG. Barclays restated a "reduce" rating on shares of Asbury Automotive Group in a research note on Tuesday, October 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on Asbury Automotive Group from $190.00 to $185.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, October 6th. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on Asbury Automotive Group from $230.00 to $184.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 5th. Zacks Research lowered Asbury Automotive Group from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a research note on Friday, October 16th. Finally, Seaport Research Partners upgraded Asbury Automotive Group from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $300.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, September 8th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $219.14.

Asbury Automotive Group Stock Performance

ABG traded up $23.61 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $196.57. 454,697 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 252,533. The company has a market capitalization of $3.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.35, a PEG ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 0.78. The company has a quick ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $190.06 and a 200 day moving average price of $205.47. Asbury Automotive Group has a fifty-two week low of $160.30 and a fifty-two week high of $258.74.

Asbury Automotive Group (NYSE:ABG - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 27th. The company reported $6.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $6.42 by ($0.26). Asbury Automotive Group had a net margin of 2.83% and a return on equity of 12.72%. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $7.17 earnings per share. The business's quarterly revenue was down 8.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts predict that Asbury Automotive Group will post 25.64 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, SVP Jed Milstein sold 948 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.28, for a total transaction of $237,265.44. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 11,259 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,817,902.52. This trade represents a 7.77% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.75% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Asbury Automotive Group

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. BlackRock Inc. acquired a new stake in Asbury Automotive Group in the 2nd quarter valued at about $593,499,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in Asbury Automotive Group by 3.0% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,156,426 shares of the company's stock worth $225,977,000 after purchasing an additional 34,104 shares during the last quarter. Cooke & Bieler LP acquired a new position in Asbury Automotive Group during the 3rd quarter worth $65,167,000. Madison Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Asbury Automotive Group during the 2nd quarter worth $60,592,000. Finally, Magnolia Group LLC increased its stake in shares of Asbury Automotive Group by 3.1% in the 1st quarter. Magnolia Group LLC now owns 288,004 shares of the company's stock valued at $56,279,000 after buying an additional 8,731 shares during the period.

Trending Headlines about Asbury Automotive Group

Here are the key news stories impacting Asbury Automotive Group this week:

• Neutral Sentiment: Asbury Automotive reported third-quarter 2026 earnings of $6.16 per share, below the $6.42–$6.46 analyst consensus. Revenue also declined 8.1% year over year, while earnings fell from $7.17 per share in the comparable period. Asbury Automotive Group Reports Third-Quarter and Nine-Month Results
• Negative Sentiment: The quarterly EPS miss and lower revenue point to continued pressure on profitability and operating performance. The company reported a 12.72% return on equity and a 2.83% net margin, underscoring the relatively thin profitability that can make the stock sensitive to weaker vehicle demand, pricing, or financing conditions. Asbury Automotive Group Misses Q3 Earnings and Revenue Estimates
• Negative Sentiment: The results were also below key Wall Street expectations across the quarter, increasing uncertainty around the company’s near-term earnings trajectory. Analysts had expected approximately $25.64 in full-year EPS, making subsequent guidance and management commentary important for the stock’s next move. Asbury Automotive Q3 Metrics Compared With Estimates

Asbury Automotive Group Company Profile

Asbury Automotive Group, Inc is a U.S.-based automotive retailer that operates franchised and independent dealerships. Its dealerships sell new and used vehicles from a range of domestic, import and luxury automobile brands, and provide related services throughout the vehicle ownership cycle.

The company's operations include automotive repair and maintenance, parts and accessories, collision repair, vehicle financing and insurance products, and other dealership services. Asbury also supports vehicle sales and service through digital retailing and online customer tools.

Founded in 1995, Asbury has expanded through acquisitions and serves customers across multiple markets in the United States.

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