AutoNation Set to Announce Q4 Earnings on February 6
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1h ago
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 over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for AN is 250.13 USD with a low forecast of 220.00 USD and a high forecast of 300.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
8 Analyst Rating
6 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 214.920
Low
220.00
Averages
250.13
High
300.00
Current: 214.920
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.
- 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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- Asset Management Proportion: Following this acquisition, RH now represents 2.07% of Greatmark's AUM, highlighting its significance in the investment portfolio despite not being among the top five holdings.
- Market Performance: As of January 26, 2026, RH shares were priced at $219.09, down 46.7% over the past year, yet the stock rebounded by 13.5% at the start of 2026, reflecting growing market recognition of the company's prospects.
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- Transaction Completion: TrueCar has completed its acquisition by Fair Holdings, Inc. for $227 million, marking its transition to a private entity with founder Scott Painter returning as CEO to enhance profitability.
- Strategic Partnerships: The deal involves strategic partners like PenFed Credit Union, Zurich North America, and AutoNation, aiming to integrate products and services to support TrueCar's long-term vision and improve consumer car-buying experiences.
- Profitability Focus: Painter emphasized a disciplined approach to achieving sustainable profits, with plans to deepen collaborations with over 11,500 dealers to drive sales growth and increase market share.
- Enhanced Digital Experience: TrueCar will leverage its technology platform to provide transparent pricing and a streamlined digital experience, while PenFed expands its direct auto-lending capabilities through TrueCar, offering faster approvals and guaranteed savings to its members.
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- Transaction Completion: TrueCar announced the completion of its acquisition by Fair Holdings, Inc. for $227 million, marking its transition to a private entity with founder Scott Painter returning as CEO to enhance profitability.
- Strategic Partnerships: The deal involves key partners like PenFed Credit Union and AutoNation, with PenFed expanding its direct auto-lending capabilities through TrueCar, offering faster approvals and transparent pricing, thereby strengthening TrueCar's market position.
- Long-Term Vision: TrueCar aims to build deep collaborative relationships with over 11,500 dealers to support its long-term strategy, focusing on enhancing the car-buying experience through technology while providing efficient sales support to dealers for mutual success.
- Industry Leader's Return: Scott Painter's return to TrueCar emphasizes a disciplined and focused operational approach aimed at achieving sustainable profitability and leveraging partnerships to expand market share and drive future growth.
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- Rating Upgrade: J.P. Morgan upgraded AutoNation's investment rating from neutral to overweight, citing the company's brand-centric automotive retail strategy that enhances customer experience and market competitiveness.
- Brand Development: The firm believes that AutoNation's integrated brand strategy will improve trade-in pipelines and customer retention, likely driving higher-margin financial and service sales beyond traditional vehicle transactions.
- Financial Health: J.P. Morgan highlighted AutoNation's attractive balance sheet relative to peers, with lower brand exposure to tariffs and a focus on the U.S. market, which helps mitigate risks.
- Market Outlook: The price target remains at $235, implying a 9.6% upside, with the company showing significant productivity improvements post-pandemic, supporting a recovery in future margins.
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