Legal & General Group Plc Has $11.23 Million Position in AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN)

Legal & General Group Plc decreased its position in AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN - Free Report) by 7.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 66,137 shares of the company's stock after selling 5,022 shares during the period. Legal & General Group Plc owned about 0.17% of AutoNation worth $11,233,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Retirement Systems of Alabama increased its position in shares of AutoNation by 142.2% in the third quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama now owns 73,429 shares of the company's stock valued at $13,138,000 after acquiring an additional 43,113 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its position in shares of AutoNation by 2.0% during the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 327,165 shares of the company's stock worth $55,566,000 after purchasing an additional 6,277 shares during the last quarter. Whalen Wealth Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of AutoNation during the 4th quarter worth approximately $255,000. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. bought a new stake in shares of AutoNation during the 4th quarter worth approximately $13,239,000. Finally, Foster & Motley Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of AutoNation by 97.4% in the 4th quarter. Foster & Motley Inc. now owns 11,640 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,977,000 after buying an additional 5,742 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.62% of the company's stock.

AutoNation Stock Performance

AN stock traded up $5.52 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $169.03. 424,923 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 456,366. AutoNation, Inc. has a 1-year low of $148.33 and a 1-year high of $198.50. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $170.33 and a 200-day simple moving average of $172.58. The company has a current ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 0.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.39. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.63 billion, a PE ratio of 9.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.51 and a beta of 1.15.

AutoNation (NYSE:AN - Get Free Report) last posted 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 return on equity of 30.48% and a net margin of 2.59%. On average, equities analysts forecast that AutoNation, Inc. will post 18.15 earnings per share for the current year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. Stephens upped their price target on shares of AutoNation from $195.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Evercore ISI upped their target price on shares of AutoNation from $220.00 to $240.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. Guggenheim cut their target price on shares of AutoNation from $212.00 to $183.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on AutoNation from $195.00 to $175.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered AutoNation from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $198.43.

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.