Quent Capital LLC Cuts Stake in AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN)

Quent Capital LLC lessened its stake in shares of AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN) by 3.6% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 6,501 shares of the company’s stock after selling 245 shares during the period. Quent Capital LLC’s holdings in AutoNation were worth $1,104,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Simcoe Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of AutoNation during the 3rd quarter worth $42,255,000. Holocene Advisors LP purchased a new stake in AutoNation during the third quarter valued at about $20,046,000. Verition Fund Management LLC boosted its position 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 purchasing an additional 96,058 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. bought a new position in AutoNation during the fourth quarter worth about $13,239,000. Finally, International Assets Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of AutoNation in the third quarter worth about $131,250,000. Institutional investors own 94.62% of the company’s stock.

AutoNation Trading Up 1.3 %

AutoNation stock opened at $195.16 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.58, a quick ratio of 0.20 and a current ratio of 0.80. AutoNation, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $136.35 and a fifty-two week high of $198.50. The stock has a market cap of $7.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.25, a PEG ratio of 3.71 and a beta of 1.25. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $178.93 and its 200-day moving average price is $173.24.

AutoNation (NYSE:AN) last announced its 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 return on equity of 32.01% and a net margin of 2.74%. Equities research analysts forecast that AutoNation, Inc. will post 16.74 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts recently commented on AN shares. Guggenheim cut their price objective on shares of AutoNation from $190.00 to $189.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on AutoNation from $169.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 15th. Stephens lifted their price target on AutoNation from $192.00 to $195.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, January 27th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on AutoNation from $190.00 to $180.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $195.57.

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.