AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN) Receives $204.71 Consensus PT from Brokerages

Shares of AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN) have been given a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by the seven brokerages that are covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and four have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price objective among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $204.71.

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Evercore ISI raised their price target on shares of AutoNation from $220.00 to $240.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 18th. StockNews.com raised AutoNation from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 13th. Guggenheim reissued a “buy” rating on shares of AutoNation in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on AutoNation from $170.00 to $194.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of AutoNation from $180.00 to $195.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th.

AutoNation Trading Up 5.3 %

Shares of AN stock opened at $175.58 on Tuesday. AutoNation has a twelve month low of $150.08 and a twelve month high of $198.50. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $180.95 and its 200 day simple moving average is $173.63. The company has a quick ratio of 0.21, a current ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.39. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.36, a P/E/G ratio of 3.51 and a beta of 1.32.

AutoNation (NYSE:AN) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The company reported $4.97 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.26 by $0.71. AutoNation had a return on equity of 30.48% and a net margin of 2.59%. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that AutoNation will post 18.15 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of AutoNation

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its position in AutoNation by 25.5% in the 4th quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 315 shares of the company’s stock valued at $54,000 after buying an additional 64 shares in the last quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc increased its holdings in shares of AutoNation by 5.6% during the fourth quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 1,290 shares of the company’s stock valued at $219,000 after acquiring an additional 68 shares in the last quarter. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC raised its position in shares of AutoNation by 2.0% during the fourth quarter. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC now owns 3,472 shares of the company’s stock worth $590,000 after purchasing an additional 69 shares during the period. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina lifted its holdings in shares of AutoNation by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 11,171 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,897,000 after purchasing an additional 70 shares in the last quarter. Finally, HighTower Advisors LLC grew its position in AutoNation by 2.0% in the 4th quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 3,866 shares of the company’s stock valued at $657,000 after purchasing an additional 74 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.62% of the company’s stock.

About AutoNation

AutoNation, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates as an automotive retailer in the United States. The company operates through three segments: Domestic, Import, and Premium Luxury. It offers a range of automotive products and services, including new and used vehicles; and parts and services, such as automotive repair and maintenance, and wholesale parts and collision services.