AutoNation
About: AutoNation is the second-largest automotive dealer in the United States, with 2024 revenue of about $27 billion and over 240 dealerships, plus 52 collision centers. The firm also has 26 AutoNation USA used-vehicle stores, a captive lender, four auction sites, and three parts distributors across 20 states primarily in Sunbelt metropolitan areas. New-vehicle sales account for nearly half of revenue; the company also sells used vehicles, parts, and repair services as well as auto financing. The company (formerly Republic Industries) divested its waste management unit (Republic Services) in 1999 and its car rental businesses (ANC Rental) in 2000. Wayne Huizenga founded the company in the 1990s to bring the rollup acquisition strategy to auto retailing, which has proved to be a smart move.
Employees: 25,100
Fund manager confidence
Based on 2024 Q4 regulatory disclosures by fund managers ($100M+ AUM)
67% more funds holding in top 10
Funds holding in top 10: 3 [Q3] → 5 (+2) [Q4]
19% more first-time investments, than exits
New positions opened: 63 | Existing positions closed: 53
4.64% more ownership
Funds ownership: 62.76% [Q3] → 67.39% (+4.64%) [Q4]
2% more capital invested
Capital invested by funds: $4.44B [Q3] → $4.54B (+$101M) [Q4]
1% more funds holding
Funds holding: 432 [Q3] → 436 (+4) [Q4]
21% less repeat investments, than reductions
Existing positions increased: 130 | Existing positions reduced: 165
23% less call options, than puts
Call options by funds: $32.2M | Put options by funds: $41.7M
Research analyst outlook
5 Wall Street Analysts provided 1 year price targets over the past 3 months
5 analyst ratings
Guggenheim Ronald Jewsikow 57% 1-year accuracy 16 / 28 met price target | 5%upside $183 | Buy Maintained | 22 Apr 2025 |
Wells Fargo Colin Langan 16% 1-year accuracy 5 / 31 met price target | 1%upside $176 | Equal-Weight Maintained | 21 Apr 2025 |
JP Morgan Rajat Gupta 61% 1-year accuracy 27 / 44 met price target | 0%upside $175 | Neutral Maintained | 27 Mar 2025 |
Evercore ISI Group Douglas Dutton 33% 1-year accuracy 1 / 3 met price target | 38%upside $240 | Outperform Maintained | 18 Feb 2025 |
Stephens & Co. Jeff Lick 64% 1-year accuracy 7 / 11 met price target | 15%upside $200 | Equal-Weight Maintained | 12 Feb 2025 |
Financial journalist opinion
Based on 18 articles about AN published over the past 30 days
