AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN) Shares Sold by Envestnet Asset Management Inc.

Envestnet Asset Management Inc. trimmed its position in AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN) by 2.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 33,280 shares of the company’s stock after selling 834 shares during the period. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. owned about 0.08% of AutoNation worth $5,652,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of AN. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in AutoNation during the 4th quarter valued at about $38,136,000. Boston Partners increased its holdings in shares of AutoNation by 12.6% in the fourth quarter. Boston Partners now owns 1,814,228 shares of the company’s stock valued at $309,312,000 after purchasing an additional 203,335 shares during the last quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. lifted its position in AutoNation by 23.3% during the fourth quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 851,870 shares of the company’s stock worth $144,682,000 after buying an additional 160,794 shares in the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. purchased a new stake in AutoNation in the 4th quarter valued at $13,239,000. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of AutoNation in the 4th quarter worth $7,836,000. 94.62% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

AutoNation Stock Performance

NYSE AN opened at $163.47 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.39, a current ratio of 0.74 and a quick ratio of 0.21. The company has a market cap of $6.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.65, a P/E/G ratio of 3.51 and a beta of 1.15. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $170.79 and a two-hundred day moving average of $172.60. AutoNation, Inc. has a 1-year low of $148.33 and a 1-year high of $198.50.

AutoNation (NYSE:AN) last announced its earnings results 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 net margin of 2.59% and a return on equity of 30.48%. As a group, analysts anticipate that AutoNation, Inc. will post 18.15 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have commented on the stock. Guggenheim reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of AutoNation in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Evercore ISI upped their price objective on AutoNation from $220.00 to $240.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on AutoNation from $195.00 to $175.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. StockNews.com downgraded AutoNation from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on AutoNation from $194.00 to $176.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $199.29.

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.