AutoNation (NYSE: AN) trades at around $195 per share as of March 2026, off its all-time high of $228.92 hit in September 2025. The company has 34.7 million shares outstanding and a 52-week range of $149 to $229.
Stock Price of AutoNation
AutoNation Stock Forecast
Wall Street analysts carry a consensus "Moderate Buy" on AutoNation with an average 12-month price target of $247, ranging from $200 at the low end to $300 at Evercore ISI. Morgan Stanley rates it "Overweight" with a $238 target. JPMorgan upgraded the stock to "Overweight" in January 2026, setting a $235 target. Analysts project full-year 2026 EPS of $18.15, implying roughly 6% earnings growth from 2025 levels.
AutoNation Valuation
Timeline of AutoNation Funding
1991
Republic Industries listed on NYSE, providing the public market capital base that later funded AutoNation's dealership roll-up strategy.
1996–98
Republic Industries raised equity via public stock offerings, using shares as currency to acquire over 200 dealerships across the United States.
1999
Following the Republic Services spin-off, AutoNation, Inc. assumed full control of the automotive retail division with a standalone NYSE listing (ticker: AN).
2012–19
AutoNation executed $4B+ in share repurchases, returning capital to shareholders while maintaining revolving credit facilities up to $1.8B for operational needs.
2021
Launched AutoNation Finance, its captive lending unit, internally funded; portfolio grew to $2.2B by end of 2025, diversifying revenue beyond vehicle sales.
2025
Board authorized an additional $1B share repurchase program in October 2025, bringing total buybacks to approximately $785M for the full year.
AutoNation Investors
Cascade Investment, LLC
Shares Held7,062,629
Ownership19.36%
Est. Value~$1.50B
TypeFamily Office (Bill Gates)
Recent ActivityReduced by 28.45%
The Vanguard Group
Shares Held3,168,191
Ownership8.69%
Est. Value~$672.5M
TypePassive Index Fund
Recent ActivityAdded 34,153 shares
BlackRock Institutional Trust
Shares Held2,290,246
Ownership6.28%
Est. Value~$486.2M
TypePassive Index Fund
Recent ActivityAdded 188,522 shares
ESL Investments, Inc.
Shares Held1,747,642
Ownership4.79%
Est. Value~$371.0M
TypeHedge Fund
Recent ActivityMaterially increased
Boston Partners
Shares Held1,423,793
Ownership3.90%
Est. Value~$302.2M
TypeActive Fund Manager
Recent ActivityReduced by 16.45%
Dimensional Fund Advisors
Shares Held1,392,653
Ownership3.82%
Est. Value~$295.6M
TypeQuantitative / Index
Recent ActivityStable position