AutoNation Set to Announce Q4 Earnings on February 6
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 05 2026
0mins
Should l Buy AN?
Source: seekingalpha
- Earnings Announcement: AutoNation is set to release its Q4 earnings on February 6 before market open, with consensus EPS estimate at $4.88, reflecting a 1.8% year-over-year decline, while revenue is expected to remain flat at $7.21 billion, indicating stability amid market fluctuations.
- Historical Performance Review: Over the past two years, AutoNation has exceeded EPS estimates 75% of the time and revenue estimates 63% of the time, showcasing the company's reliability in profitability and revenue growth, which bolsters investor confidence.
- Estimate Revision Dynamics: In the last three months, EPS estimates have seen one upward revision and six downward revisions, while revenue estimates experienced three upward and three downward revisions, reflecting mixed market sentiments regarding the company's future performance, which could influence investor decisions.
- Market Outlook Analysis: Despite challenges ahead, J.P. Morgan remains bullish on AutoNation's brand strategy and long-term prospects, suggesting that the company has further growth potential in the context of rising wholesale used car prices, highlighting its competitive advantage in the industry.
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Analyst Views on AN
Wall Street analysts forecast AN stock price to rise
8 Analyst Rating
6 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 206.600
Low
220.00
Averages
250.13
High
300.00
Current: 206.600
Low
220.00
Averages
250.13
High
300.00
About AN
AutoNation, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is an automotive retailer in the United States. Its segments include Domestic, Import, Premium Luxury, and AutoNation Finance. The Domestic segment is comprised of retail automotive franchises that sell new vehicles manufactured by Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis. The Import segment is primarily comprised of retail automotive franchises that sell new vehicles manufactured by Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Subaru, and Nissan. The Premium Luxury segment is primarily comprised of retail automotive franchises that sell new vehicles manufactured by Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Lexus, Audi, and Jaguar Land Rover. The franchises in each of its Domestic, Import, and Premium Luxury segments also sell used vehicles, parts and automotive services, and automotive finance and insurance products. The AutoNation Finance segment is comprised of its captive auto finance company, which provides indirect financing to qualified retail customers on vehicles it sells.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Cash Flow and Buybacks: The company generated over $1 billion in adjusted free cash flow and reduced its share count by 10% through $785 million in stock repurchases, enhancing the potential for earnings per share growth, which rose by 16% year-over-year to $20.22.
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See More
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- Sector Dynamics: Information technology shares gained 2.5% on Friday, while communication services stocks fell by 2%, reflecting a preference for tech stocks and concerns over the communication sector, which may impact future performance of related companies.
- AutoNation Earnings: Shares of AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN) surged over 7% after posting fourth-quarter results, reporting adjusted earnings per share of $5.08, a 2% year-over-year increase that beat analyst expectations of $4.85, despite sales of $6.929 billion missing the consensus estimate of $7.200 billion, showcasing the company's resilience in profitability.
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See More
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- Gross Profit Drop: Quarterly gross profit fell 2% year-over-year to $1.214 billion, with same-store gross profit declining 4% to $1.188 billion, driven by lower vehicle unit sales and profit per unit, highlighting pressure on profitability.
- Share Buyback: The company repurchased 1.7 million shares for $350 million at an average price of $209 per share during the quarter, and a total of $785 million in 2025, resulting in a 10% reduction in shares outstanding, aimed at enhancing earnings per share.
- Financial Services Growth: Customer Financial Services posted an 8% growth in unit profitability for the quarter, demonstrating strong performance in after-sales and financial services, as CEO Mike Manley emphasized ongoing investments to deliver shareholder returns.
See More
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- Profitability Metrics: Same-store gross profit fell 4% to $1.19 billion, with adjusted operating income down 7% to $335.1 million; however, the earnings per share of $5.08 exceeded the consensus estimate of $4.88, reflecting relative stability in profitability.
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See More
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See More
