AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN) Given Average Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts

AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN) has earned a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the seven ratings firms that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and four have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $204.71.

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Evercore ISI raised their price target on shares of AutoNation from $220.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday. Guggenheim restated a “buy” rating on shares of AutoNation in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. StockNews.com upgraded AutoNation from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on AutoNation from $180.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, Stephens upped their target price on AutoNation from $195.00 to $200.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On AutoNation

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in AN. Fortitude Family Office LLC boosted its holdings in AutoNation by 581.8% during the fourth quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 150 shares of the company’s stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 128 shares in the last quarter. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. grew its position in shares of AutoNation by 150.8% during the 4th quarter. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. now owns 158 shares of the company’s stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 95 shares during the period. Venturi Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of AutoNation by 403.6% in the 3rd quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 282 shares of the company’s stock valued at $50,000 after purchasing an additional 226 shares in the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of AutoNation by 25.5% in the 4th quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 315 shares of the company’s stock valued at $54,000 after purchasing an additional 64 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Farther Finance Advisors LLC raised its holdings in AutoNation by 77.1% in the 4th quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 494 shares of the company’s stock worth $84,000 after purchasing an additional 215 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.62% of the company’s stock.

AutoNation Price Performance

NYSE AN opened at $189.16 on Friday. AutoNation has a 12-month low of $136.35 and a 12-month high of $198.50. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $180.95 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $173.89. 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 firm has a market capitalization of $7.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.17, a P/E/G ratio of 3.74 and a beta of 1.25.

AutoNation (NYSE:AN) last issued its quarterly 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 30.98% and a net margin of 2.59%. Analysts forecast that AutoNation will post 18.15 EPS for the current fiscal year.

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.