Fact based stock research
AutoNation (NYSE:AN)
US05329W1027
How to read the free ranks
For every stock, we judge its performance against its peers and rank it on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the rank, the better the stock performs than its peers. And, we do this for six investment strategies:
Value - shows how good of a value the stock is. Green is "inexpensive"; red is "expensive".
Growth - shows a company's growth potential. Green is "high growth" expected; red is "tough times ahead".
Safety - relates to the amount of debt a company has. Green is low debt level; red is high debt level.
Combined Financial - this isn't an average of the first three ranks but rather a consolidated view across several financial indicators. Green = good; red = tread carefully.
(NEW) Sentiment - quantifies professional analyst ratings and holdings as well as market pulse. Green = positive sentiment; red = skepticism (Only available to Premium Subscribers).
(NEW) 360° View - the ultimate rating with all financial and non-financial indicators.
AutoNation stock research in summary
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 26 (worse than 74% compared with investment alternatives), AutoNation (Automotive Retail, USA) shares have somewhat below-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of AutoNation are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 43 (worse than 57% of alternatives), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 6, which means above-average debt burdens) but show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 72). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 26, is a hold recommendation based on AutoNation's financial characteristics. As the company AutoNation shows low value with an Obermatt Value Rank of 43 (57% of comparable investments are less expensive), investors should look at the other ranks. In this case, growth is expected to be above-average, better than 72% of comparable companies (Obermatt Growth Rank is 72). This is a typical case. Companies with above average growth tend to cost more than stocks with slower growth expectations. If this is a high-growth company, the low Obermatt Safety Rank of 6 is a good sign. The more debt a well-performing company has, the higher the returns to shareholders. However, if growth turns negative or interest rates increase, high debt may become a burden. If you believe the future is bright for AutoNation, even a low-value company (in terms of its key financial indicators) can be a good investment. Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
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360° Viewnew| Country | USA |
| Industry | Automotive Retail |
| Index | S&P MIDCAP |
| Size class | Large |
31-Jul-2025. Stock data may be delayed. Log in or sign up to get the most recent research.
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Review the performance ranks of the individual metrics that form each investment strategy.
Research History: AutoNation
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 73 |
|
49 |
|
51 |
|
43 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 91 |
|
31 |
|
71 |
|
72 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 38 |
|
15 |
|
21 |
|
6 |
|
| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | 9 |
|
55 |
|
93 |
|
new |
|
| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | 51 |
|
18 |
|
66 |
|
new |
|
Combined financial peformance in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 26 (worse than 74% compared with investment alternatives), AutoNation (Automotive Retail, USA) shares have somewhat below-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of AutoNation are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 43 (worse than 57% of alternatives), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 6, which means above-average debt burdens) but show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 72). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 26, is a hold recommendation based on AutoNation's financial characteristics. As the company AutoNation shows low value with an Obermatt Value Rank of 43 (57% of comparable investments are less expensive), investors should look at the other ranks. In this case, growth is expected to be above-average, better than 72% of comparable companies (Obermatt Growth Rank is 72). This is a typical case. Companies with above average growth tend to cost more than stocks with slower growth expectations. If this is a high-growth company, the low Obermatt Safety Rank of 6 is a good sign. The more debt a well-performing company has, the higher the returns to shareholders. However, if growth turns negative or interest rates increase, high debt may become a burden. If you believe the future is bright for AutoNation, even a low-value company (in terms of its key financial indicators) can be a good investment. Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 73 |
|
49 |
|
51 |
|
43 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 91 |
|
31 |
|
71 |
|
72 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 38 |
|
15 |
|
21 |
|
6 |
|
| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 77 |
|
9 |
|
49 |
|
26 |
|
Value Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 43 (worse than 57% compared with alternatives), AutoNation shares are more expensive than the average comparable stock. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, where half the indicators are below and half are above average for AutoNation. Price-to-Sales (P/S) is 73, which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future sales is lower than for 73% of comparable companies, indicating a good value concerning AutoNation's revenue size. The same is valid for expected Price-to-Profits (or Price / Earnings, P/E), more favorable than for 72% of alternatives. It is also positive for expected dividend yields with a Dividend Yield rank of 1 (dividends are expected to be higher than for 1% of other stocks). But, compared with other companies in the same industry, the Price-to-Book Capital ratio (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) is higher than average, making the stock more expensive. Only 59% of all competitors have an even higher price compared with book capital which puts the Price-to-Capital Rank for AutoNation to 41. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 43, is a hold recommendation based on AutoNation's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. A low level of book capital means that the company has a business that is leaner on assets than its competitors. For instance, the company could be leasing its production facilities, or be more focussed on intellectual property, such as its brand and software, which is less visible in its book capital. If that is the case, the low Dividend Yield is also explained as such companies tend to invest their income into market development. The other good value ranks for Sales and Profits are encouraging indicators for the stock price value. We recommend further analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks, including the 360° View, before making an investment decision. ...read more
| VALUE METRICS | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | 86 |
|
73 |
|
73 |
|
73 |
|
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | 89 |
|
92 |
|
83 |
|
72 |
|
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | 52 |
|
34 |
|
38 |
|
41 |
|
| DIVIDEND YIELD | ||||||||
| DIVIDEND YIELD | 1 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | 73 |
|
49 |
|
51 |
|
43 |
|
Growth Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 72 (better than 72% compared with alternatives), AutoNation shows an above-average growth dynamic in its industry. Investors also speak of positive momentum. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with all but one indicator above average for AutoNation. Profit Growth has a rank of 63 which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow its profits more than 63% of its competitors. The same is valid for capital growth and stock returns. Capital Growth has a rank of 78, and Stock Returns has a rank of 73 which means that the stock returns have recently been above 73% of alternative investments. Only revenue growth is low with a Sales Growth has a rank of 34 (66% of its competitors are better). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 72, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. The many positive growth indicators indicate a positive growth momentum with only low revenue growth. That can also be attributed to divestments or the sale of unprofitable businesses. If that is the reason, overall growth is well on track to making this stock attractive for growth investors. While momentum is a popular investment factor, the value aspect might be the more important one, in the longer term. We recommend analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks to arrive at a 360° View of the stock purchase case. ...read more
| GROWTH METRICS | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REVENUE GROWTH | ||||||||
| REVENUE GROWTH | 59 |
|
29 |
|
42 |
|
34 |
|
| PROFIT GROWTH | ||||||||
| PROFIT GROWTH | 59 |
|
39 |
|
45 |
|
63 |
|
| CAPITAL GROWTH | ||||||||
| CAPITAL GROWTH | 88 |
|
30 |
|
74 |
|
78 |
|
| STOCK RETURNS | ||||||||
| STOCK RETURNS | 75 |
|
85 |
|
85 |
|
73 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | 91 |
|
31 |
|
71 |
|
72 |
|
Safety Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 6 (better than 6% compared with alternatives), the company AutoNation has much riskier financing practices than comparable other companies, which means that their overall debt burden is significantly above the industry average. This doesn't mean that the business of AutoNation is also risky, it only means that the company is on the riskier side in respect to bankruptcy in case things turn sour, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, with all three metrics below average for AutoNation. Liquidity is at 43, meaning that the company generates less profit to service its debt than 57% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is on the riskier side when it comes to debt service. Even worse, Leverage is at a rank of 29, meaning the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 71% of its competitors. Finally, Refinancing is at a rank of 8 which means that the portion of the debt about to be refinanced is above average. It has more debt in the refinancing stage than 92% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 6 (worse than 94% compared with alternatives), AutoNation has a financing structure that is significantly riskier than that of its competitors. This combination is rather dangerous in most situations. Only very promising companies with bright future outlooks and stellar reputations can operate with such risky financing. Investors should look at Obermatt’s Value, Growth, and Sentiment Ranks to confirm a very positive outlook or be careful with investing in stocks of AutoNation because it may suffer significantly in case of future difficulties. ...read more
| SAFETY METRICS | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 56 |
|
28 |
|
33 |
|
29 |
|
| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 16 |
|
8 |
|
10 |
|
8 |
|
| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 58 |
|
58 |
|
46 |
|
43 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 38 |
|
15 |
|
21 |
|
6 |
|
Sentiment Metrics in Detail
| SENTIMENT | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANALYST OPINIONS | ||||||||
| ANALYST OPINIONS | n/a |
|
74 |
|
70 |
|
new |
|
| OPINIONS CHANGE | ||||||||
| OPINIONS CHANGE | 8 |
|
40 |
|
54 |
|
new |
|
| PRO HOLDINGS | ||||||||
| PRO HOLDINGS | 39 |
|
43 |
|
91 |
|
new |
|
| MARKET PULSE | ||||||||
| MARKET PULSE | 52 |
|
46 |
|
70 |
|
new |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | 9 |
|
55 |
|
93 |
|
new |
|
Free stock analysis by the purely fact based Obermatt Method for AutoNation from July 31, 2025.
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