Factorial Partners LLC Acquires 200 Shares of AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN)

Factorial Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN) by 6.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,400 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the quarter. Factorial Partners LLC’s holdings in AutoNation were worth $608,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of AN. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its holdings in AutoNation by 90.6% in the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 202 shares of the company’s stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 96 shares in the last quarter. Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of AutoNation in the 2nd quarter valued at $37,000. Venturi Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in AutoNation by 403.6% during the 3rd quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 282 shares of the company’s stock worth $50,000 after buying an additional 226 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP grew its stake in shares of AutoNation by 498.5% in the second quarter. Quarry LP now owns 407 shares of the company’s stock worth $65,000 after acquiring an additional 339 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mather Group LLC. purchased a new stake in shares of AutoNation during the second quarter worth $103,000. 94.62% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Transactions at AutoNation

In related news, major shareholder Edward S. Lampert sold 39,194 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $183.43, for a total value of $7,189,355.42. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 3,786,144 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $694,492,393.92. The trade was a 1.02 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.74% of the company’s stock.

AutoNation Price Performance

Shares of AN opened at $164.82 on Wednesday. AutoNation, Inc. has a one year low of $130.35 and a one year high of $197.18. 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 firm has a market capitalization of $6.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.42 and a beta of 1.21. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $166.97 and its 200-day moving average is $168.36.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on AN shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on AutoNation from $190.00 to $180.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on AutoNation from $187.00 to $181.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, October 15th. Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of AutoNation from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and increased their price target for the company from $145.00 to $200.00 in a report on Wednesday, September 25th. Stephens assumed coverage on shares of AutoNation in a research note on Thursday, September 12th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $210.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Bank of America dropped their price target on AutoNation from $220.00 to $215.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 14th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $199.00.

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.