Cerity Partners LLC Grows Stock Holdings in AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN)

Cerity Partners LLC lifted its stake in AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN) by 9.7% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,346 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 297 shares during the quarter. Cerity Partners LLC’s holdings in AutoNation were worth $599,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. WINTON GROUP Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of AutoNation during the 2nd quarter valued at about $15,832,000. Lodge Hill Capital LLC purchased a new stake in AutoNation in the second quarter worth approximately $15,141,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in AutoNation in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $131,250,000. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC raised its stake in AutoNation by 4,275.6% during the 2nd quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC now owns 50,107 shares of the company’s stock valued at $7,986,000 after buying an additional 51,307 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its stake in AutoNation by 2.7% during the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,605,708 shares of the company’s stock valued at $255,910,000 after buying an additional 41,712 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.62% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

AN has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Guggenheim cut their price objective on AutoNation from $190.00 to $189.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Morgan Stanley upgraded 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 note on Wednesday, September 25th. Stephens started coverage on shares of AutoNation in a research note on Thursday, September 12th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $210.00 price objective on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on shares of AutoNation from $190.00 to $180.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on shares of AutoNation from $187.00 to $181.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, October 15th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, AutoNation presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $199.29.

AutoNation Price Performance

AN opened at $177.90 on Friday. The business’s 50-day moving average is $168.25 and its two-hundred day moving average is $169.19. AutoNation, Inc. has a 1 year low of $133.01 and a 1 year high of $197.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.58, a current ratio of 0.80 and a quick ratio of 0.20. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.05 billion, a PE ratio of 10.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.82 and a beta of 1.24.

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.