AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN) Stock Has Average Price Target of $227.50 According to Brokerages

AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN) has received an average rating of “Hold” from the thirteen brokerages that are covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $228.20.

AN has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. UBS Group decreased their target price on shares of AutoNation from $248.00 to $213.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 7th. Seaport Research Partners reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $255.00 price target on shares of AutoNation in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of AutoNation from $175.00 to $182.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday. Northcoast Research raised shares of AutoNation from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $240.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. Finally, Stephens increased their price objective on shares of AutoNation from $220.00 to $232.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, August 10th.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Jacqueline Travisano bought 530 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 5th. The shares were bought at an average price of $185.29 per share, for a total transaction of $98,203.70. Following the purchase, the director owned 9,419 shares in the company, valued at $1,745,246.51. This represents a 5.96% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CFO Thomas A. Szlosek bought 541 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 6th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $184.56 per share, with a total value of $99,846.96. Following the acquisition, the chief financial officer directly owned 21,166 shares in the company, valued at $3,906,396.96. This trade represents a 2.62% increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase is available in the SEC filing. In the last 90 days, insiders have purchased 1,611 shares of company stock worth $298,005. 1.40% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On AutoNation

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust grew its position in shares of AutoNation by 73.9% during the second quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 193 shares of the company’s stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 82 shares in the last quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. raised its stake in AutoNation by 33.0% during the 1st quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 306 shares of the company’s stock valued at $59,000 after purchasing an additional 76 shares during the period. Global Retirement Partners LLC purchased a new position in AutoNation in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $63,000. Heritage Family Offices LLP purchased a new position in AutoNation in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $67,000. Finally, Root Financial Partners LLC purchased a new position in AutoNation in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $85,000. 94.62% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

More AutoNation News

Here are the key news stories impacting AutoNation this week:

• Positive Sentiment: CFO Thomas A. Szlosek bought 1,081 shares over November 5–6 for about $199,801, and Director Jacqueline Travisano bought 530 shares for about $98,204. The purchases increased their respective holdings and may signal confidence in the company. AutoNation insider trading and filings
• Positive Sentiment: AutoNation’s Q3 earnings-call recap describes management as positive about growth, which could support investor sentiment. The recap also notes vehicle pressures. AutoNation earnings call highlights
• Neutral Sentiment: Morgan Stanley raised its price target from $175 to $182 but maintained an “equal weight” rating; the revised target was still below the cited share price, limiting the positive implication. Morgan Stanley analyst recommendations
• Negative Sentiment: The earnings-call recap flags pressure in vehicle-related business, a potential headwind even as management highlighted growth. AutoNation earnings call highlights

AutoNation Stock Performance

Shares of AN opened at $184.40 on Friday. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $174.90 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $192.64. The company has a quick ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.74. AutoNation has a 52 week low of $151.82 and a 52 week high of $235.81. The stock has a market cap of $5.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.86, a PEG ratio of 0.96 and a beta of 0.82.

AutoNation (NYSE:AN) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, October 30th. The company reported $5.11 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.08 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $7.01 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.93 billion. AutoNation had a return on equity of 31.18% and a net margin of 2.63%. The business’s quarterly revenue was down .4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $5.01 EPS. On average, analysts expect that AutoNation will post 20.86 EPS for the current year.

AutoNation Company Profile

AutoNation, Inc. is a U.S. automotive retailer that sells new and used vehicles through a network of dealerships. Its stores offer vehicles from a range of manufacturers, along with related products and services. The company also provides vehicle maintenance and repair, parts, and collision-repair services. Its offerings include financing and insurance products, as well as online tools that support vehicle research and purchasing. Founded in 1996, AutoNation operates dealerships across the United States, with a presence concentrated in the Sun Belt.