Entropy Technologies LP Acquires Shares of 1,673 AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN)

Entropy Technologies LP purchased a new position in shares of AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 1,673 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $284,000.

Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Retirement Systems of Alabama increased its stake in shares of AutoNation by 142.2% during the 3rd quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama now owns 73,429 shares of the company’s stock worth $13,138,000 after purchasing an additional 43,113 shares during the last quarter. Kestra Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of AutoNation during the 3rd quarter worth $585,000. Blue Trust Inc. increased its stake in shares of AutoNation by 33.8% during the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,899 shares of the company’s stock worth $340,000 after purchasing an additional 480 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of AutoNation by 6.3% during the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 320,888 shares of the company’s stock worth $57,413,000 after purchasing an additional 19,015 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Whalen Wealth Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of AutoNation during the 4th quarter worth $255,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.62% of the company’s stock.

AutoNation Price Performance

Shares of AutoNation stock opened at $192.46 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.58, a current ratio of 0.80 and a quick ratio of 0.20. AutoNation, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $136.35 and a fifty-two week high of $198.50. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $179.12 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $173.37. The company has a market cap of $7.63 billion, a PE ratio of 11.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.71 and a beta of 1.25.

AutoNation (NYSE:AN) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The company reported $4.97 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.26 by $0.71. AutoNation had a net margin of 2.74% and a return on equity of 32.01%. Analysts expect that AutoNation, Inc. will post 16.74 EPS for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently issued reports on AN shares. Stephens upped their price objective on shares of AutoNation from $195.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of AutoNation from $190.00 to $180.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Guggenheim reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of AutoNation in a report on Wednesday. StockNews.com raised shares of AutoNation from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of AutoNation from $170.00 to $194.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $199.71.

AutoNation 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.