AutoNation (NYSE:AN) Price Target Raised to $240.00

AutoNation (NYSE:AN) had its target price lifted by Evercore ISI from $220.00 to $240.00 in a report issued on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. They currently have an outperform rating on the stock.

A number of other research firms have also weighed in on AN. StockNews.com raised AutoNation from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on AutoNation from $170.00 to $194.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Guggenheim reissued a “buy” rating on shares of AutoNation in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Stephens upped their price target on AutoNation from $195.00 to $200.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on AutoNation from $190.00 to $180.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $204.71.

AutoNation Stock Down 0.4 %

Shares of AN opened at $189.16 on Tuesday. 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 has a one year low of $136.35 and a one year high of $198.50. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.17, a PEG ratio of 3.74 and a beta of 1.25. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $180.95 and a 200 day moving average price of $173.89.

AutoNation (NYSE:AN) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 11th. The company reported $4.97 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.26 by $0.71. AutoNation had a return on equity of 30.98% and a net margin of 2.59%. Equities research analysts forecast that AutoNation will post 18.15 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On AutoNation

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Retirement Systems of Alabama raised its holdings in shares of AutoNation by 142.2% in the 3rd quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama now owns 73,429 shares of the company’s stock valued at $13,138,000 after buying an additional 43,113 shares during the period. Kestra Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of AutoNation in the 3rd quarter valued at $585,000. Blue Trust Inc. raised its holdings in shares of AutoNation by 33.8% in the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,899 shares of the company’s stock valued at $340,000 after buying an additional 480 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of AutoNation by 6.3% in the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 320,888 shares of the company’s stock valued at $57,413,000 after buying an additional 19,015 shares during the period. Finally, Whalen Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of AutoNation in the 4th quarter valued at $255,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.62% of the company’s stock.

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.