Zacks Research Has Weak Forecast for AutoNation Q3 Earnings

AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN) – Equities research analysts at Zacks Research lowered their Q3 2025 EPS estimates for AutoNation in a report released on Tuesday, February 25th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now expects that the company will post earnings of $4.80 per share for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of $5.03. The consensus estimate for AutoNation’s current full-year earnings is $18.15 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for AutoNation’s Q1 2026 earnings at $5.56 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $22.88 EPS.

AutoNation (NYSE:AN) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 11th. The company reported $4.97 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.26 by $0.71. AutoNation had a net margin of 2.59% and a return on equity of 30.48%.

Other research analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. StockNews.com upgraded shares of AutoNation from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of AutoNation from $180.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 19th. Guggenheim reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of AutoNation in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of AutoNation from $170.00 to $194.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Finally, Evercore ISI increased their target price on shares of AutoNation from $220.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $204.71.

AutoNation Trading Down 0.7 %

AN stock opened at $182.21 on Thursday. 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 has a twelve month low of $143.17 and a twelve month high of $198.50. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.51 and a beta of 1.25. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $181.86 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $174.34.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of AN. Brave Warrior Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of AutoNation by 50.3% during the 4th quarter. Brave Warrior Advisors LLC now owns 1,461,213 shares of the company’s stock worth $248,172,000 after acquiring an additional 488,904 shares in the last quarter. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. raised its stake in shares of AutoNation by 422.7% during the 4th quarter. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. now owns 575,000 shares of the company’s stock worth $97,658,000 after acquiring an additional 465,000 shares in the last quarter. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. raised its stake in shares of AutoNation by 63.0% during the 4th quarter. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. now owns 1,104,934 shares of the company’s stock worth $187,662,000 after acquiring an additional 426,882 shares in the last quarter. Cartenna Capital LP bought a new position in shares of AutoNation during the 4th quarter worth approximately $56,831,000. Finally, Simcoe Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of AutoNation during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $42,255,000. Institutional investors 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.