AutoNation (NYSE:AN) Stock Price Expected to Rise, Stephens Analyst Says

AutoNation (NYSE:AN) had its price target upped by Stephens from $195.00 to $200.00 in a report released on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has an “equal weight” rating on the stock. Stephens’ price target would indicate a potential upside of 3.92% from the company’s current price.

Several other research firms have also issued reports on AN. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of AutoNation from $169.00 to $170.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 15th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on shares of AutoNation from $190.00 to $180.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. Finally, Guggenheim cut their target price on shares of AutoNation from $190.00 to $189.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, AutoNation has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $199.71.

AutoNation Trading Up 0.4 %

NYSE:AN opened at $192.46 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $7.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.10, a P/E/G ratio of 3.71 and a beta of 1.25. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $179.12 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $173.37. AutoNation has a 1 year low of $136.35 and a 1 year high of $198.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.58, a current ratio of 0.80 and a quick ratio of 0.20.

AutoNation (NYSE:AN) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 11th. The company reported $4.97 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.26 by $0.71. AutoNation had a return on equity of 32.01% and a net margin of 2.74%. As a group, analysts expect that AutoNation will post 16.74 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC lifted its position in AutoNation by 2.2% during the third quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 2,845 shares of the company’s stock valued at $509,000 after purchasing an additional 62 shares during the period. NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of AutoNation by 25.5% in the fourth quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 315 shares of the company’s stock worth $54,000 after acquiring an additional 64 shares during the period. OLD National Bancorp IN increased its stake in shares of AutoNation by 2.2% during the third quarter. OLD National Bancorp IN now owns 3,100 shares of the company’s stock worth $555,000 after purchasing an additional 68 shares in the last quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc increased its stake 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 worth $219,000 after purchasing an additional 68 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Strengthening Families & Communities LLC grew its stake in AutoNation by 2.0% during the 4th quarter. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC now owns 3,472 shares of the company’s stock valued at $590,000 after acquiring an additional 69 shares in the last quarter. 94.62% of the stock is currently 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.