AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN) Given Consensus Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

Shares of AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN) have been assigned a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the seven brokerages that are covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and five have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $199.29.

Several equities analysts have commented on AN shares. Guggenheim dropped their target price on AutoNation from $190.00 to $189.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Bank of America dropped their price objective on shares of AutoNation from $220.00 to $215.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday, October 14th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on shares of AutoNation from $187.00 to $181.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, October 15th. Morgan Stanley raised shares of AutoNation from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and raised their price target for the company from $145.00 to $200.00 in a research note on Wednesday, September 25th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target 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.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On AutoNation

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in AN. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its holdings in shares of AutoNation by 90.6% during the second quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 202 shares of the company’s stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares during the period. Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC acquired a new position in AutoNation during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $37,000. Venturi Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings 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 acquiring an additional 226 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP grew its stake in AutoNation by 498.5% in the second quarter. Quarry LP now owns 407 shares of the company’s stock valued at $65,000 after acquiring an additional 339 shares during the period. Finally, Fifth Third Bancorp increased its holdings in shares of AutoNation by 212.2% during the second quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 743 shares of the company’s stock valued at $118,000 after acquiring an additional 505 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 94.62% of the company’s stock.

AutoNation Stock Up 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE:AN opened at $177.90 on Friday. AutoNation has a 52-week low of $133.01 and a 52-week high of $197.18. The company 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. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.58, a quick ratio of 0.20 and a current ratio of 0.80. The company has a fifty day moving average of $168.25 and a 200-day moving average of $169.19.

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.