AutoNation (NYSE:AN) Stock Price Down 5.2% Following Analyst Downgrade

AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN)’s share price dropped 5.2% during mid-day trading on Thursday after JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on the stock from $195.00 to $175.00. JPMorgan Chase & Co. currently has a neutral rating on the stock. AutoNation traded as low as $161.68 and last traded at $161.77. Approximately 218,659 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 50% from the average daily volume of 436,250 shares. The stock had previously closed at $170.72.

AN has been the topic of several other research reports. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on shares of AutoNation from $170.00 to $194.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Evercore ISI boosted their target price on AutoNation from $220.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 18th. Guggenheim reissued a “buy” rating on shares of AutoNation in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Stephens lifted their price objective on AutoNation from $195.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded AutoNation from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, AutoNation presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $201.86.

Institutional Trading of AutoNation

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of AN. Fortitude Family Office LLC lifted its holdings in shares of AutoNation by 581.8% in the 4th quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 150 shares of the company’s stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 128 shares during the last quarter. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. boosted its position in shares of AutoNation by 150.8% during the fourth quarter. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. now owns 158 shares of the company’s stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 95 shares during the period. NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of AutoNation by 25.5% during the fourth quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 315 shares of the company’s stock valued at $54,000 after buying an additional 64 shares during the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of AutoNation by 77.1% during the fourth quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 494 shares of the company’s stock valued at $84,000 after buying an additional 215 shares during the last quarter. Finally, McIlrath & Eck LLC raised its holdings in shares of AutoNation by 16.4% in the third quarter. McIlrath & Eck LLC now owns 964 shares of the company’s stock worth $172,000 after buying an additional 136 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.62% of the company’s stock.

AutoNation Price Performance

The stock has a 50 day moving average of $180.68 and a 200-day moving average of $173.72. The company has a current ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 0.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.39. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.51 and a beta of 1.32.

AutoNation (NYSE:AN) last released 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 return on equity of 30.48% and a net margin of 2.59%. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that AutoNation, Inc. will post 18.15 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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.