AutoNation (NYSE:AN) Given New $194.00 Price Target at Wells Fargo & Company

AutoNation (NYSE:AN) had its price target increased by stock analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from $170.00 to $194.00 in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an “equal weight” rating on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company‘s price target indicates a potential upside of 0.80% from the company’s previous close.

Several other equities research analysts also recently commented on AN. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of AutoNation from $190.00 to $180.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. Stephens boosted their target price on shares of AutoNation from $195.00 to $200.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, Guggenheim cut their price target on AutoNation from $190.00 to $189.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, AutoNation currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $199.71.

AutoNation Stock Up 0.4 %

AN opened at $192.46 on Wednesday. AutoNation has a fifty-two week low of $136.35 and a fifty-two week high of $198.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.58, a current ratio of 0.80 and a quick ratio of 0.20. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $179.12 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $173.37. The company has a market capitalization of $7.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.10, a P/E/G ratio of 3.71 and a beta of 1.25.

AutoNation (NYSE:AN) last posted its quarterly earnings results 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 2.74% and a return on equity of 32.01%. On average, analysts anticipate that AutoNation will post 16.74 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Trading of AutoNation

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in AN. Simcoe Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in AutoNation during the 3rd quarter worth about $42,255,000. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of AutoNation during the 4th quarter worth about $38,136,000. Boston Partners grew its position in shares of AutoNation by 12.6% during the 4th quarter. Boston Partners now owns 1,814,228 shares of the company’s stock worth $309,312,000 after buying an additional 203,335 shares during the period. Alliancebernstein L.P. grew its position in shares of AutoNation by 23.3% during the 4th quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 851,870 shares of the company’s stock worth $144,682,000 after buying an additional 160,794 shares during the period. Finally, Holocene Advisors LP acquired a new position in shares of AutoNation during the 3rd quarter worth about $20,046,000. 94.62% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.