AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN) Position Decreased by Marshall Wace LLP

Marshall Wace LLP cut its position in shares of AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN) by 63.7% in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 34,349 shares of the company’s stock after selling 60,240 shares during the quarter. Marshall Wace LLP owned 0.09% of AutoNation worth $5,475,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of AN. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System raised its position in AutoNation by 54.1% during the first quarter. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System now owns 51,743 shares of the company’s stock valued at $8,568,000 after acquiring an additional 18,157 shares in the last quarter. Mutual Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of AutoNation in the first quarter worth $1,484,000. Sanders Morris Harris LLC acquired a new stake in AutoNation during the first quarter worth $828,000. Bridgewater Associates LP boosted its stake in AutoNation by 20.5% during the fourth quarter. Bridgewater Associates LP now owns 107,558 shares of the company’s stock worth $16,153,000 after buying an additional 18,278 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Diversified Trust Co acquired a new stake in AutoNation during the second quarter worth $838,000. 94.62% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

AutoNation Trading Down 0.5 %

Shares of AutoNation stock opened at $178.10 on Wednesday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $173.11 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $167.14. AutoNation, Inc. has a 1 year low of $123.81 and a 1 year high of $197.18. The company has a market capitalization of $7.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.44, a P/E/G ratio of 3.63 and a beta of 1.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.65, a current ratio of 0.78 and a quick ratio of 0.21.

AutoNation (NYSE:AN) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 31st. The company reported $3.99 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.31 by ($0.32). AutoNation had a return on equity of 36.50% and a net margin of 2.93%. The company had revenue of $6.48 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.72 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $6.29 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 5.9% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that AutoNation, Inc. will post 17.67 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at AutoNation

In other AutoNation news, major shareholder Edward S. Lampert sold 53,562 shares of AutoNation stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $193.45, for a total value of $10,361,568.90. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 3,825,838 shares in the company, valued at $740,108,361.10. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, major shareholder Edward S. Lampert sold 53,562 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $193.45, for a total transaction of $10,361,568.90. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 3,825,838 shares in the company, valued at $740,108,361.10. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, major shareholder Edward S. Lampert sold 39,194 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, August 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $183.43, for a total value of $7,189,355.42. Following the sale, the insider now owns 3,786,144 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $694,492,393.92. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 216,959 shares of company stock worth $39,346,744 over the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.74% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have issued reports on AN. Morgan Stanley raised AutoNation from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $145.00 to $200.00 in a report on Wednesday, September 25th. Stephens initiated coverage on AutoNation in a research note on Thursday, September 12th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $210.00 price target for the company. Bank of America increased their target price on AutoNation from $210.00 to $220.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, July 22nd. Evercore ISI increased their target price on AutoNation from $200.00 to $220.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, June 10th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of AutoNation from $164.00 to $187.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 1st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $201.75.

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.