R Squared Ltd Takes $218,000 Position in AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN)

R Squared Ltd bought a new position in AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm bought 1,281 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $218,000.

Other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Nilsine Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of AutoNation by 4.9% in the fourth quarter. Nilsine Partners LLC now owns 25,165 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,274,000 after buying an additional 1,181 shares during the period. Mount Yale Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in AutoNation by 11.8% during the 4th quarter. Mount Yale Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,577 shares of the company’s stock worth $438,000 after acquiring an additional 273 shares during the last quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. increased its stake in AutoNation by 9.4% in the 4th quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 5,549 shares of the company’s stock worth $942,000 after purchasing an additional 476 shares during the period. KBC Group NV lifted its position in AutoNation by 3.4% in the fourth quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 10,848 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,842,000 after purchasing an additional 352 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. boosted its stake in shares of AutoNation by 38.8% during the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 2,636 shares of the company’s stock valued at $472,000 after purchasing an additional 737 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.62% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently commented on the stock. Guggenheim decreased their target price on shares of AutoNation from $190.00 to $189.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of AutoNation from $190.00 to $180.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. Bank of America dropped their target price on shares of AutoNation from $220.00 to $215.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday, October 14th. Stephens boosted their price target on AutoNation from $192.00 to $195.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on AutoNation from $169.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 15th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $195.57.

AutoNation Stock Up 1.2 %

AN stock opened at $187.74 on Wednesday. AutoNation, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $136.35 and a fifty-two week high of $197.18. The company has a market capitalization of $7.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.50 and a beta of 1.26. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $175.98 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $172.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.58, a quick ratio of 0.20 and a current ratio of 0.80.

AutoNation 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.