Seaport Res Ptn Research Analysts Cut Earnings Estimates for AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN)

AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN) – Research analysts at Seaport Res Ptn decreased their Q1 2024 EPS estimates for shares of AutoNation in a research note issued on Friday, April 19th. Seaport Res Ptn analyst G. Chin now anticipates that the company will earn $4.27 per share for the quarter, down from their previous estimate of $4.35. The consensus estimate for AutoNation’s current full-year earnings is $18.92 per share. Seaport Res Ptn also issued estimates for AutoNation’s FY2024 earnings at $18.70 EPS.

AN has been the subject of a number of other reports. Bank of America decreased their price target on AutoNation from $220.00 to $215.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 10th. Morgan Stanley raised shares of AutoNation from an “underweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $117.00 to $140.00 in a report on Thursday, February 29th. Evercore ISI assumed coverage on shares of AutoNation in a research note on Wednesday, January 17th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $185.00 price objective for the company. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on AutoNation from $144.00 to $150.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 14th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded shares of AutoNation from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 21st. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $173.00.

AutoNation Trading Down 0.3 %

NYSE AN opened at $154.14 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.23, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $152.90 and a two-hundred day moving average of $144.13. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.43 billion, a PE ratio of 6.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.24 and a beta of 1.24. AutoNation has a 52 week low of $123.81 and a 52 week high of $182.08.

AutoNation (NYSE:AN) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 13th. The company reported $5.02 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.85 by $0.17. AutoNation had a net margin of 3.79% and a return on equity of 48.76%. The company had revenue of $6.77 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.67 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $6.37 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 1.1% compared to the same quarter last year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CAO Kimberly Dees sold 3,133 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $152.28, for a total transaction of $477,093.24. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 464 shares in the company, valued at $70,657.92. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other AutoNation news, major shareholder Edward S. Lampert sold 10,804 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $154.56, for a total transaction of $1,669,866.24. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 4,267,860 shares in the company, valued at $659,640,441.60. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CAO Kimberly Dees sold 3,133 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $152.28, for a total transaction of $477,093.24. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 464 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $70,657.92. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 121,279 shares of company stock worth $19,361,962 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.74% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of AutoNation

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Realta Investment Advisors increased its stake in shares of AutoNation by 5.4% in the fourth quarter. Realta Investment Advisors now owns 1,410 shares of the company’s stock worth $212,000 after buying an additional 72 shares during the last quarter. SummerHaven Investment Management LLC raised its stake in AutoNation by 1.9% during the fourth quarter. SummerHaven Investment Management LLC now owns 4,061 shares of the company’s stock worth $610,000 after acquiring an additional 74 shares during the period. Prime Capital Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of AutoNation by 4.6% during the 4th quarter. Prime Capital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,712 shares of the company’s stock worth $257,000 after purchasing an additional 76 shares during the period. Lazard Asset Management LLC boosted its position in AutoNation by 5.2% during the 4th quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 1,612 shares of the company’s stock valued at $172,000 after purchasing an additional 79 shares during the period. Finally, Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV grew its stake in AutoNation by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 31,963 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,800,000 after buying an additional 87 shares during the last quarter. 94.62% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.