HighTower Advisors LLC Reduces Stock Position in AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN)

HighTower Advisors LLC trimmed its stake in shares of AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN) by 7.1% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 3,792 shares of the company’s stock after selling 290 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC’s holdings in AutoNation were worth $678,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in AN. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC increased its position in shares of AutoNation by 2.2% during the 3rd quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 2,845 shares of the company’s stock valued at $509,000 after purchasing an additional 62 shares during the last quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in AutoNation by 1.2% during the second quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC now owns 5,436 shares of the company’s stock valued at $866,000 after buying an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. OLD National Bancorp IN boosted its stake in shares of AutoNation by 2.2% during the 3rd quarter. OLD National Bancorp IN now owns 3,100 shares of the company’s stock worth $555,000 after acquiring an additional 68 shares during the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. grew its position in shares of AutoNation by 0.5% during the 2nd quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 15,130 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,413,000 after acquiring an additional 72 shares during the period. Finally, Mutual of America Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of AutoNation by 0.6% in the 3rd quarter. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC now owns 14,152 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,532,000 after purchasing an additional 87 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 94.62% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on AN shares. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on AutoNation from $187.00 to $181.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, October 15th. Guggenheim cut their price objective on AutoNation from $190.00 to $189.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Bank of America decreased their target price on shares of AutoNation from $220.00 to $215.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 14th. Stephens started coverage on shares of AutoNation in a report on Thursday, September 12th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $210.00 price target on the stock. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of AutoNation from $190.00 to $180.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $199.29.

AutoNation Price Performance

AN stock opened at $169.77 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.58, a quick ratio of 0.20 and a current ratio of 0.80. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $168.68 and its 200-day moving average price is $169.46. AutoNation, Inc. has a one year low of $133.13 and a one year high of $197.18. The company has a market capitalization of $6.73 billion, a PE ratio of 9.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.63 and a beta of 1.24.

AutoNation Company 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.