Inceptionr LLC Increases Stock Position in AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN)

Inceptionr LLC boosted its stake in AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN) by 66.0% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 5,868 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 2,334 shares during the quarter. Inceptionr LLC’s holdings in AutoNation were worth $997,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Retirement Systems of Alabama lifted its stake in AutoNation by 142.2% in 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 in the last quarter. Kestra Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in AutoNation in the 3rd quarter worth $585,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in AutoNation by 6.3% in 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 in the last quarter. Whalen Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of AutoNation during the 4th quarter valued at about $255,000. Finally, Assenagon Asset Management S.A. purchased a new stake in shares of AutoNation during the 4th quarter valued at about $13,239,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.62% of the company’s stock.

AutoNation Stock Performance

AutoNation stock opened at $171.78 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.39, a current ratio of 0.74 and a quick ratio of 0.21. AutoNation, Inc. has a 1-year low of $145.28 and a 1-year high of $198.50. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.51 and a beta of 1.25. The company’s 50-day moving average is $182.36 and its 200 day moving average is $174.53.

AutoNation (NYSE:AN) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 11th. The company reported $4.97 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.26 by $0.71. AutoNation had a net margin of 2.59% and a return on equity of 30.48%. Research analysts forecast that AutoNation, Inc. will post 18.15 EPS for the current year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have recently issued reports on AN shares. Evercore ISI upped their target price on shares of AutoNation from $220.00 to $240.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 18th. Stephens upped their target price on shares of AutoNation from $195.00 to $200.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of AutoNation from $180.00 to $195.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of AutoNation from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of AutoNation from $170.00 to $194.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $204.71.

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.