AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN) Receives Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” from Analysts

AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN) has been assigned a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the seven research firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price target among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $195.14.

Several research firms recently weighed in on AN. 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 research note on Tuesday, November 5th. Guggenheim reduced their price target on shares of AutoNation from $190.00 to $189.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Stephens cut shares of AutoNation from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $200.00 to $192.00 in a research report on Friday. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on AutoNation from $169.00 to $170.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 15th. Finally, Bank of America lowered their target price on AutoNation from $220.00 to $215.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 14th.

Institutional Trading of AutoNation

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Financial Strategies Group Inc. increased its stake in AutoNation by 27.7% in the 4th quarter. Financial Strategies Group Inc. now owns 2,757 shares of the company’s stock worth $471,000 after purchasing an additional 598 shares in the last quarter. JB Capital LLC raised its stake in AutoNation by 9.5% during the 4th quarter. JB Capital LLC now owns 9,570 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,625,000 after purchasing an additional 829 shares during the period. Custom Index Systems LLC boosted its position in shares of AutoNation by 20.0% in the fourth quarter. Custom Index Systems LLC now owns 2,715 shares of the company’s stock worth $461,000 after buying an additional 453 shares during the period. Foster & Motley Inc. grew its holdings in shares of AutoNation by 97.4% during the fourth quarter. Foster & Motley Inc. now owns 11,640 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,977,000 after buying an additional 5,742 shares in the last quarter. Finally, R Squared Ltd acquired a new stake in AutoNation during the 4th quarter worth about $218,000. 94.62% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

AutoNation Stock Performance

AN stock opened at $182.67 on Monday. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $175.10 and its 200 day simple moving average is $171.91. AutoNation has a 12-month low of $136.35 and a 12-month high of $197.18. The firm has a market cap of $7.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.53, a P/E/G ratio of 3.50 and a beta of 1.26. The company has a current ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.58.

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.