AutoNation (NYSE:AN) Reaches New 12-Month Low – Time to Sell?

AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN)’s share price reached a new 52-week low during trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as $148.33 and last traded at $149.04, with a volume of 57758 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $158.55.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have recently weighed in on AN. StockNews.com raised shares of AutoNation from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 13th. Guggenheim reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of AutoNation in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on AutoNation from $170.00 to $194.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Evercore ISI increased their price objective on shares of AutoNation from $220.00 to $240.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. Finally, Stephens boosted their target price on shares of AutoNation from $195.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, AutoNation currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $201.86.

AutoNation Stock Down 0.9 %

The stock has a market capitalization of $6.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.51 and a beta of 1.15. 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 business’s 50-day moving average is $177.57 and its two-hundred day moving average is $173.65.

AutoNation (NYSE:AN) last issued its 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%. Equities analysts anticipate that AutoNation, Inc. will post 18.15 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Trading of AutoNation

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Cerity Partners LLC increased its position in AutoNation by 9.7% during the third quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 3,346 shares of the company’s stock worth $599,000 after purchasing an additional 297 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC increased its holdings in shares of AutoNation by 3.7% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 25,862 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,627,000 after buying an additional 929 shares during the last quarter. Quantinno Capital Management LP raised its position in shares of AutoNation by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. Quantinno Capital Management LP now owns 27,629 shares of the company’s stock valued at $4,943,000 after buying an additional 128 shares during the period. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in AutoNation by 2.3% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 854,034 shares of the company’s stock valued at $152,804,000 after acquiring an additional 19,037 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC purchased a new position in AutoNation in the third quarter worth approximately $201,000. 94.62% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

AutoNation Company Profile

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.