Whalen Wealth Management Inc. Makes New Investment in AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN)

Whalen Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 1,504 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $255,000.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Davis Capital Management lifted its stake in AutoNation by 0.8% in the fourth quarter. Davis Capital Management now owns 9,703 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,648,000 after acquiring an additional 79 shares during the last quarter. Perpetual Ltd increased its position in AutoNation by 104.7% during the fourth quarter. Perpetual Ltd now owns 3,685 shares of the company’s stock worth $626,000 after buying an additional 1,885 shares during the last quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC bought a new position in AutoNation during the fourth quarter valued at about $223,000. HCR Wealth Advisors lifted its position in shares of AutoNation by 0.8% in the fourth quarter. HCR Wealth Advisors now owns 24,842 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,219,000 after buying an additional 185 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Assenagon Asset Management S.A. bought a new stake in shares of AutoNation during the 4th quarter worth about $13,239,000. 94.62% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on AN. Bank of America cut their price objective on AutoNation from $220.00 to $215.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 14th. Guggenheim reduced their price objective on shares of AutoNation from $190.00 to $189.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Morgan Stanley raised shares of AutoNation from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $145.00 to $200.00 in a report on Wednesday, September 25th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of AutoNation from $169.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 15th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of AutoNation from $190.00 to $180.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $197.71.

AutoNation Stock Down 1.4 %

NYSE AN opened at $182.65 on Thursday. AutoNation, Inc. has a twelve month low of $136.35 and a twelve month high of $197.18. The stock has a market cap of $7.24 billion, a PE ratio of 10.53, a PEG ratio of 3.55 and a beta of 1.26. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $174.38 and a 200 day simple moving average of $171.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.58, a quick ratio of 0.20 and a current ratio of 0.80.

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.