AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN) Shares Purchased by Perpetual Ltd

Perpetual Ltd raised its holdings in AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN) by 104.7% during the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 3,685 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 1,885 shares during the period. Perpetual Ltd’s holdings in AutoNation were worth $626,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. State Street Corp increased its stake in AutoNation by 2.3% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 854,034 shares of the company’s stock valued at $152,804,000 after purchasing an additional 19,037 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of AutoNation by 4.5% during the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 433,730 shares of the company’s stock worth $77,623,000 after purchasing an additional 18,588 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of AutoNation by 6.3% in the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 320,888 shares of the company’s stock valued at $57,413,000 after purchasing an additional 19,015 shares during the last quarter. Simcoe Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of AutoNation in the 3rd quarter valued at about $42,255,000. Finally, Holocene Advisors LP purchased a new position in AutoNation during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $20,046,000. 94.62% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

AN has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Bank of America cut their target price on shares of AutoNation from $220.00 to $215.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on AutoNation from $190.00 to $180.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. Guggenheim decreased their price objective on AutoNation from $190.00 to $189.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Morgan Stanley raised AutoNation from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and boosted their target price for the company from $145.00 to $200.00 in a report on Wednesday, September 25th. Finally, 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 report on Wednesday, January 15th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $197.71.

AutoNation Stock Down 1.4 %

AN opened at $182.65 on Thursday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $174.38 and a 200-day simple moving average of $171.47. AutoNation, Inc. has a 12 month low of $136.35 and a 12 month high of $197.18. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.53, a P/E/G ratio of 3.55 and a beta of 1.26. 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 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.