Anomaly Capital Management LP Acquires New Stake in AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN)

Anomaly Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 182,683 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $31,027,000. AutoNation makes up 0.9% of Anomaly Capital Management LP's investment portfolio, making the stock its 28th largest holding. Anomaly Capital Management LP owned 0.46% of AutoNation at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted 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 purchasing an additional 64 shares in the last quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc grew its position in shares of AutoNation by 5.6% in the fourth quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 1,290 shares of the company's stock valued at $219,000 after purchasing an additional 68 shares during the last quarter. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC lifted its holdings in shares of AutoNation by 2.0% during the fourth quarter. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC now owns 3,472 shares of the company's stock worth $590,000 after buying an additional 69 shares in the last quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina raised its stake in AutoNation by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 11,171 shares of the company's stock worth $1,897,000 after purchasing an additional 70 shares in the last quarter. Finally, HighTower Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of AutoNation by 2.0% in the fourth quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 3,866 shares of the company's stock valued at $657,000 after buying an additional 74 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.62% of the company's stock.

AutoNation Stock Up 2.6 %

Shares of AutoNation stock traded up $4.33 during trading on Thursday, hitting $173.23. The company's stock had a trading volume of 720,756 shares, compared to its average volume of 457,970. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 0.21 and a current ratio of 0.74. The company has a market capitalization of $6.80 billion, a PE ratio of 10.23, a P/E/G ratio of 3.51 and a beta of 1.15. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $169.46 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $172.60. AutoNation, Inc. has a 52 week low of $148.33 and a 52 week high of $198.50.

AutoNation (NYSE:AN - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The company reported $4.97 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.26 by $0.71. AutoNation had a net margin of 2.59% and a return on equity of 30.48%. Equities research analysts predict that AutoNation, Inc. will post 18.15 earnings per share for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently weighed in on AN shares. Guggenheim dropped their price objective on AutoNation from $212.00 to $183.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday. Citigroup started coverage on AutoNation in a research note on Wednesday. They issued a "buy" rating and a $217.00 price objective on the stock. Evercore ISI lifted their price objective on AutoNation from $220.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 18th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of AutoNation from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on shares of AutoNation from $195.00 to $175.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $200.75.

AutoNation 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.