AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN) Shares Sold by Mutual of America Capital Management LLC

Mutual of America Capital Management LLC lowered its position in shares of AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN) by 8.1% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 16,149 shares of the company’s stock after selling 1,427 shares during the period. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC’s holdings in AutoNation were worth $2,425,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. grew its stake in shares of AutoNation by 4.6% during the third quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 44,695 shares of the company’s stock worth $6,767,000 after purchasing an additional 1,983 shares in the last quarter. Mirabella Financial Services LLP acquired a new position in AutoNation in the third quarter valued at $919,000. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky boosted its stake in AutoNation by 69.6% in the third quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 11,569 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,752,000 after acquiring an additional 4,748 shares in the last quarter. Quadrature Capital Ltd acquired a new position in AutoNation in the third quarter valued at $1,525,000. Finally, Dorsey Wright & Associates acquired a new position in AutoNation in the third quarter valued at $1,329,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.62% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, major shareholder Edward S. Lampert sold 100,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $161.26, for a total transaction of $16,126,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 4,167,270 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $672,013,960.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other AutoNation news, major shareholder Edward S. Lampert sold 380,497 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $143.12, for a total value of $54,456,730.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 4,278,664 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $612,362,391.68. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, major shareholder Edward S. Lampert sold 100,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $161.26, for a total transaction of $16,126,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 4,167,270 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $672,013,960.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 501,776 shares of company stock valued at $73,818,692 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.74% of the company’s stock.

AutoNation Price Performance

Shares of AN opened at $154.19 on Friday. AutoNation, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $123.81 and a fifty-two week high of $182.08. The company has a market capitalization of $6.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.24 and a beta of 1.24. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $152.90 and a 200-day simple moving average of $144.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 0.23 and a current ratio of 0.77.

AutoNation (NYSE:AN) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 13th. The company reported $5.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.85 by $0.17. The firm had revenue of $6.77 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.67 billion. AutoNation had a net margin of 3.79% and a return on equity of 48.76%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 1.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $6.37 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that AutoNation, Inc. will post 18.95 earnings per share for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have issued reports on AN. Evercore ISI began coverage on shares of AutoNation in a research note on Wednesday, January 17th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $185.00 price objective for the company. StockNews.com downgraded shares of AutoNation from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 21st. Bank of America decreased their price objective on shares of AutoNation from $220.00 to $215.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 10th. Guggenheim upped their price objective on shares of AutoNation from $165.00 to $169.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of AutoNation from $144.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 14th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, AutoNation has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $173.00.

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.