AutoNation (NYSE:AN) Releases Earnings Results, Beats Estimates By $0.04 EPS

AutoNation (NYSE:AN) released its quarterly earnings results on Friday. The company reported $4.49 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.45 by $0.04, RTT News reports. The business had revenue of $6.49 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.49 billion. AutoNation had a net margin of 3.79% and a return on equity of 48.76%. AutoNation’s revenue for the quarter was up 1.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $6.05 EPS.

AutoNation Trading Up 5.9 %

Shares of AN traded up $9.50 on Friday, reaching $169.88. 1,532,500 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 461,419. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.08 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 1.24. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $154.30 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $144.88. AutoNation has a 12 month low of $123.81 and a 12 month high of $182.08.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have issued reports on AN shares. Guggenheim raised their price target on shares of AutoNation from $165.00 to $169.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 17th. Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of AutoNation from an “underweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and lifted their target price for the company from $117.00 to $140.00 in a research report on Thursday, February 29th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of AutoNation from $144.00 to $150.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 14th. Bank of America decreased their target price on shares of AutoNation from $220.00 to $215.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 10th. Finally, Evercore ISI started coverage on shares of AutoNation in a research report on Wednesday, January 17th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $185.00 target price on the stock. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, AutoNation currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $173.00.

Insider Buying and Selling at AutoNation

In other AutoNation news, major shareholder Edward S. Lampert sold 10,804 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $154.56, for a total value of $1,669,866.24. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 4,267,860 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $659,640,441.60. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, Director Jacqueline A. Travisano sold 3,671 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $146.98, for a total value of $539,563.58. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 6,182 shares in the company, valued at $908,630.36. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, major shareholder Edward S. Lampert sold 10,804 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $154.56, for a total transaction of $1,669,866.24. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 4,267,860 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $659,640,441.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 121,279 shares of company stock valued at $19,361,962. Corporate insiders own 0.74% of the company’s stock.

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.