Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. Grows Stock Holdings in AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN)

Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN - Free Report) by 6.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 320,888 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 19,015 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. owned 0.81% of AutoNation worth $57,413,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC lifted its position in shares of AutoNation by 2.2% during the 3rd quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 2,845 shares of the company's stock valued at $509,000 after acquiring an additional 62 shares during the period. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in AutoNation by 1.2% in the second quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC now owns 5,436 shares of the company's stock valued at $866,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. OLD National Bancorp IN raised its holdings in shares of AutoNation by 2.2% during the third quarter. OLD National Bancorp IN now owns 3,100 shares of the company's stock valued at $555,000 after purchasing an additional 68 shares during the period. Sei Investments Co. boosted its position in shares of AutoNation by 0.5% during the 2nd quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 15,130 shares of the company's stock worth $2,413,000 after purchasing an additional 72 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Davis Capital Management grew its stake in shares of AutoNation by 0.9% in the 2nd quarter. Davis Capital Management now owns 9,532 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,543,000 after buying an additional 84 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.62% of the company's stock.

AutoNation Stock Down 0.2 %

AN traded down $0.33 during trading on Friday, hitting $178.89. 167,106 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 434,393. AutoNation, Inc. has a 12-month low of $133.01 and a 12-month high of $197.18. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $168.10 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $168.87. The company has a current ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.58. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.32, a PEG ratio of 3.76 and a beta of 1.21.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages recently issued reports on AN. Bank of America cut their target price on AutoNation from $220.00 to $215.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research 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 for the company in a research note on Tuesday, October 15th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of AutoNation from $190.00 to $180.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. Morgan Stanley upgraded AutoNation from an "equal weight" rating to an "overweight" rating and upped their price objective for the company from $145.00 to $200.00 in a research note on Wednesday, September 25th. Finally, Guggenheim lowered their price objective on shares of AutoNation from $190.00 to $189.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $199.29.

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.