AutoNation (NYSE:AN) Downgraded to “Equal Weight” Rating by Stephens

Stephens downgraded shares of AutoNation (NYSE:AN) from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note released on Friday morning, MarketBeat Ratings reports. The brokerage currently has $192.00 price objective on the stock, down from their previous price objective of $200.00.

Other equities analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Bank of America dropped their price target on AutoNation from $220.00 to $215.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 14th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on AutoNation from $169.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 15th. Guggenheim decreased their price objective on AutoNation from $190.00 to $189.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on AutoNation from $190.00 to $180.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $195.14.

AutoNation Price Performance

AN opened at $182.67 on Friday. AutoNation has a 12-month low of $136.35 and a 12-month high of $197.18. The company has a current ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.58. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $175.10 and its 200-day simple moving average is $171.72. The company has a market capitalization of $7.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.53, a PEG ratio of 3.50 and a beta of 1.26.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On AutoNation

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in AN. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in AutoNation by 25.1% in the second quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 29,489 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,700,000 after acquiring an additional 5,917 shares in the last quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC lifted its holdings in shares of AutoNation by 50.2% during the second quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 12,688 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,017,000 after purchasing an additional 4,242 shares during the period. Sei Investments Co. lifted its holdings in shares of AutoNation by 0.5% during the second quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 15,130 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,413,000 after purchasing an additional 72 shares during the period. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of AutoNation by 1,507.3% during the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 884 shares of the company’s stock worth $141,000 after purchasing an additional 829 shares during the period. Finally, Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC lifted its holdings in shares of AutoNation by 4,275.6% during the second quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC now owns 50,107 shares of the company’s stock worth $7,986,000 after purchasing an additional 51,307 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.62% 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.