AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN) Stock Has Consensus Price Target of $227.50 According to Analysts

Key Points

• Analysts have a consensus “Hold” rating on AutoNation: among 13 brokerages, seven rate it Buy, four Hold, and two Sell. Their average 12-month price target is $227.50.
• AutoNation’s latest quarter modestly beat estimates, reporting EPS of $5.11 versus $5.08 expected and revenue of $7.01 billion versus $6.93 billion; revenue fell 0.4% year over year.
• The stock opened at $184.15, below its 200-day moving average of $192.98. Institutional investors own 94.62% of shares, with several large firms recently adding positions.

Shares of AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN - Get Free Report) have been given a consensus rating of "Hold" by the thirteen brokerages that are covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $227.50.

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on AN shares. Seaport Research Partners restated a "buy" rating and issued a $255.00 price objective on shares of AutoNation in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Stephens lifted their target price on shares of AutoNation from $220.00 to $232.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Monday, August 10th. UBS Group lowered their target price on shares of AutoNation from $248.00 to $213.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 7th. Morgan Stanley cut AutoNation from an "overweight" rating to a "negative" rating in a research report on Monday, October 5th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on AutoNation from $202.00 to $224.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Monday, August 3rd.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. BlackRock Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of AutoNation in the second quarter worth $438,689,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in shares of AutoNation by 4.0% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,478,991 shares of the company's stock worth $288,784,000 after purchasing an additional 56,641 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its position in shares of AutoNation by 8.7% in the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 383,615 shares of the company's stock worth $74,905,000 after purchasing an additional 30,725 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE bought a new position in AutoNation in the 2nd quarter worth about $36,925,000. Finally, Wedge Capital Management L L P NC boosted its stake in AutoNation by 8.2% in the 2nd quarter. Wedge Capital Management L L P NC now owns 186,969 shares of the company's stock worth $34,737,000 after purchasing an additional 14,115 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.62% of the company's stock.

AutoNation Stock Down 2.1%

NYSE:AN opened at $184.15 on Friday. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $175.51 and its 200-day moving average price is $192.98. The company has a market capitalization of $5.89 billion, a PE ratio of 8.85, a P/E/G ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 0.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.74, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.18. AutoNation has a 1-year low of $151.82 and a 1-year high of $235.81.

AutoNation (NYSE:AN - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 30th. The company reported $5.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $5.08 by $0.03. AutoNation had a net margin of 2.63% and a return on equity of 31.18%. The company had revenue of $7.01 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.93 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $5.01 EPS. AutoNation's revenue was down .4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts predict that AutoNation will post 20.96 EPS for the current fiscal year.

AutoNation Company Profile

AutoNation, Inc is a U.S.-based automotive retailer that sells new and used vehicles through a network of dealerships and online sales channels. The company represents a range of domestic, import and luxury automotive brands, offering passenger cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles.

In addition to vehicle sales, AutoNation provides automotive maintenance and repair, parts, collision-repair services, vehicle protection products and financing options. Its retail operations include traditional dealerships as well as AutoNation USA locations, which focus primarily on used vehicles and related services.

Founded in 1996 as Republic Industries, the company adopted the AutoNation name as it developed its automotive retail business.

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