AutoNation (NYSE:AN) Raised to "Buy" at StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of AutoNation (NYSE:AN - Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report issued on Thursday.

Several other equities research analysts have also commented on AN. Guggenheim reissued a "buy" rating on shares of AutoNation in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on AutoNation from $170.00 to $194.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Stephens raised their price objective on AutoNation from $195.00 to $200.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on AutoNation from $190.00 to $180.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, AutoNation presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $199.71.

AutoNation Stock Up 0.4 %

Shares of NYSE:AN traded up $0.75 during trading on Thursday, hitting $192.74. The stock had a trading volume of 412,001 shares, compared to its average volume of 387,925. The company has a quick ratio of 0.20, a current ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.58. AutoNation has a 12 month low of $136.35 and a 12 month high of $198.50. The company has a market capitalization of $7.64 billion, a PE ratio of 11.12, a PEG ratio of 3.71 and a beta of 1.25. The firm's fifty day moving average is $179.72 and its 200 day moving average is $173.45.

AutoNation (NYSE:AN - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 11th. The company reported $4.97 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $4.26 by $0.71. AutoNation had a return on equity of 32.01% and a net margin of 2.74%. Analysts anticipate that AutoNation will post 16.74 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On AutoNation

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Boston Partners lifted its position in AutoNation by 12.6% during the fourth quarter. Boston Partners now owns 1,814,228 shares of the company's stock valued at $309,312,000 after purchasing an additional 203,335 shares during the period. Brave Warrior Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of AutoNation by 50.3% during the 4th quarter. Brave Warrior Advisors LLC now owns 1,461,213 shares of the company's stock valued at $248,172,000 after buying an additional 488,904 shares during the period. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. boosted its stake in shares of AutoNation by 63.0% in the 4th quarter. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. now owns 1,104,934 shares of the company's stock worth $187,662,000 after buying an additional 426,882 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its holdings in shares of AutoNation by 2.3% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 854,034 shares of the company's stock worth $152,804,000 after acquiring an additional 19,037 shares during the period. Finally, Alliancebernstein L.P. increased its position in AutoNation by 23.3% during the fourth quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 851,870 shares of the company's stock valued at $144,682,000 after acquiring an additional 160,794 shares during the last quarter. 94.62% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.