AutoNation FY2024 EPS Forecast Decreased by Zacks Research

AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN) – Investment analysts at Zacks Research cut their FY2024 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of AutoNation in a research note issued on Wednesday, December 4th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now forecasts that the company will earn $16.67 per share for the year, down from their prior forecast of $16.87. The consensus estimate for AutoNation’s current full-year earnings is $16.74 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for AutoNation’s Q4 2024 earnings at $4.17 EPS, Q1 2025 earnings at $4.07 EPS, Q2 2025 earnings at $4.55 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $5.06 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $4.55 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $18.22 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $5.47 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $20.43 EPS.

Other analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Morgan Stanley raised shares of AutoNation from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and boosted their price target for the company from $145.00 to $200.00 in a research report on Wednesday, September 25th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on AutoNation from $187.00 to $181.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, October 15th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on AutoNation from $190.00 to $180.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Stephens began coverage on AutoNation in a report on Thursday, September 12th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $210.00 target price for the company. Finally, Guggenheim lowered their price target on shares of AutoNation from $190.00 to $189.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, November 21st. 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, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $199.29.

AutoNation Price Performance

Shares of NYSE AN opened at $178.00 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.58. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $168.25 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $169.19. AutoNation has a 1-year low of $133.01 and a 1-year high of $197.18. The firm has a market cap of $7.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.78 and a beta of 1.24.

Institutional Trading of AutoNation

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its holdings in AutoNation by 90.6% in the second quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 202 shares of the company’s stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 96 shares in the last quarter. Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of AutoNation during the second quarter valued at about $37,000. Venturi Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in AutoNation by 403.6% in the third quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 282 shares of the company’s stock worth $50,000 after buying an additional 226 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP raised its stake in AutoNation by 498.5% in the second quarter. Quarry LP now owns 407 shares of the company’s stock worth $65,000 after buying an additional 339 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mather Group LLC. purchased a new stake in AutoNation in the second quarter worth about $103,000. 94.62% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.