Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board Lowers Stock Position in AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN)

Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board lessened its holdings in shares of AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN - Free Report) by 43.9% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,932 shares of the company's stock after selling 3,855 shares during the quarter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board's holdings in AutoNation were worth $882,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in AN. Boston Partners bought a new position in shares of AutoNation during the first quarter valued at approximately $170,270,000. WINTON GROUP Ltd bought a new position in AutoNation in the second quarter worth $15,832,000. Lodge Hill Capital LLC bought a new position in AutoNation in the second quarter worth $15,141,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC bought a new position in AutoNation in the third quarter worth $131,250,000. Finally, Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC raised its holdings in AutoNation by 4,275.6% in the second quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC now owns 50,107 shares of the company's stock worth $7,986,000 after purchasing an additional 51,307 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 94.62% of the company's stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other AutoNation news, major shareholder Edward S. Lampert sold 39,194 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $183.43, for a total value of $7,189,355.42. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 3,786,144 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $694,492,393.92. This trade represents a 1.02 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.74% of the company's stock.

AutoNation Stock Performance

Shares of AutoNation stock traded up $2.41 during trading on Friday, hitting $172.46. 316,226 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 429,505. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.58, a current ratio of 0.80 and a quick ratio of 0.20. AutoNation, Inc. has a 1 year low of $130.35 and a 1 year high of $197.18. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.93, a PEG ratio of 3.42 and a beta of 1.21. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $167.28 and a 200-day simple moving average of $168.34.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Guggenheim reduced their price target on AutoNation from $190.00 to $189.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Thursday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on AutoNation from $190.00 to $180.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on AutoNation from $187.00 to $181.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, October 15th. Morgan Stanley upgraded AutoNation from an "equal weight" rating to an "overweight" rating and raised their price target for the company from $145.00 to $200.00 in a report on Wednesday, September 25th. Finally, Bank of America reduced their price target on AutoNation from $220.00 to $215.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Monday, October 14th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $199.29.

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.