AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN) Receives $204.71 Consensus Target Price from Brokerages

Shares of AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN - Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from the seven brokerages that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $204.71.

AN has been the subject of a number of research reports. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on AutoNation from $170.00 to $194.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Guggenheim reissued a "buy" rating on shares of AutoNation in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Evercore ISI lifted their target price on AutoNation from $220.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Tuesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on AutoNation from $180.00 to $195.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Stephens raised their price target on AutoNation from $195.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th.

AutoNation Stock Down 4.2 %

Shares of NYSE:AN traded down $7.97 on Friday, hitting $181.19. 502,707 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 459,680. The company has a quick ratio of 0.20, a current ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.39. The company has a market cap of $7.08 billion, a PE ratio of 10.70, a PEG ratio of 3.67 and a beta of 1.25. AutoNation has a 52 week low of $136.79 and a 52 week high of $198.50. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $180.95 and a 200-day simple moving average of $173.89.

AutoNation (NYSE:AN - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data 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 net margin of 2.59% and a return on equity of 30.48%. As a group, research analysts expect that AutoNation will post 18.15 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On AutoNation

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Fortitude Family Office LLC lifted 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 during the period. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of AutoNation by 150.8% during the fourth quarter. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. now owns 158 shares of the company's stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 95 shares during the last quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in AutoNation by 403.6% in the third quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 282 shares of the company's stock valued at $50,000 after buying an additional 226 shares during the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its holdings 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 acquiring an additional 64 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Farther Finance Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in AutoNation by 77.1% in the fourth quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 494 shares of the company's stock valued at $84,000 after purchasing an additional 215 shares during the last quarter. 94.62% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.