AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN) Shares Acquired by Prosperitas Financial LLC

Prosperitas Financial LLC grew its stake in AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN) by 9.0% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 15,363 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,267 shares during the quarter. Prosperitas Financial LLC’s holdings in AutoNation were worth $2,609,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of AN. Simcoe Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in AutoNation during the third quarter worth $42,255,000. Holocene Advisors LP acquired a new position in AutoNation during the third quarter worth $20,046,000. Verition Fund Management LLC grew its holdings in AutoNation by 739.9% during the third quarter. Verition Fund Management LLC now owns 109,040 shares of the company’s stock worth $19,509,000 after acquiring an additional 96,058 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. acquired a new position in AutoNation during the fourth quarter worth $13,239,000. Finally, Retirement Systems of Alabama grew its holdings in AutoNation by 142.2% during the third quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama now owns 73,429 shares of the company’s stock worth $13,138,000 after acquiring an additional 43,113 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.62% of the company’s stock.

AutoNation Stock Down 1.1 %

Shares of NYSE:AN opened at $180.65 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.21, a current ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.39. AutoNation, Inc. has a 52-week low of $143.83 and a 52-week high of $198.50. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $182.08 and its 200-day simple moving average is $174.38. The company has a market capitalization of $7.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.66, a P/E/G ratio of 3.51 and a beta of 1.25.

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on AN shares. Guggenheim reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of AutoNation in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on AutoNation from $180.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 19th. StockNews.com raised AutoNation from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 13th. Evercore ISI upped their target price on AutoNation from $220.00 to $240.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. Finally, Stephens upped their target price on AutoNation from $195.00 to $200.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, AutoNation has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $204.71.

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.