Should You Buy AutoNation Inc (AN) Today? Analysis, Price Targets, and 2026 Outlook.
Conclusion
Buy
Latest Price
207.070
1 Day change
52 Week Range
228.920
Analysis Updated At
2026/01/28
Buy AN now for a beginner, long-term investor with $50k–$100k. The stock is sitting near key support (~210) with a still-bullish longer-term moving-average structure, while Wall Street sentiment remains broadly positive (multiple Overweight/Buy/Outperform ratings and price targets well above the current price). Short-term momentum is slightly soft (MACD weakening) and insider selling is a notable negative, but the combination of solid recent YoY earnings growth, ongoing buyback support (per analyst commentary), and favorable analyst positioning makes AN a good buy right now given the user’s preference to act without waiting for a perfect entry.
Intellectia Proprietary Trading Signals
- [AI Stock Picker](module://ai_stock_pick): No signal on given stock today.
- [SwingMax](module://swingmax): No signal on given stock today.
Technical Analysis
Pre-market price is ~210.04, which is essentially at the first support (S1=210.266) and above the next support (S2=206.562). This is a practical long-term entry area if support holds.
- Trend: Longer-term trend remains constructive because moving averages are bullish (SMA_5 > SMA_20 > SMA_200).
- Momentum: MACD histogram is negative (-0.155) and negatively expanding, signaling near-term downside pressure/weak momentum.
- RSI: RSI_6 ~48.5 (neutral), suggesting neither overbought nor oversold.
- Key levels: Pivot 216.261 is the near-term reclaim level; resistance levels are R1 222.257 and R2 225.961. A move back above the pivot would confirm improving near-term momentum.
- Pattern-based odds (given): Model suggests a mild bullish drift (80% chance) of +1.19% next day, +2.75% next week, +3.99% next month—supporting a buy-now stance near support.
Options Data
Bearish
Open Interest Put-Call Ratio
Bullish
Option Volume Put-Call Ratio
- Sentiment read: Open interest put/call at 1.21 implies more puts outstanding than calls (more hedging/caution positioned). However, today’s volume put/call at 0.79 indicates more call activity than put activity in the latest tape (near-term trading appetite is slightly more bullish).
- Volatility: 30D IV ~33.54 vs historical vol ~27.36, so options are pricing above recent realized volatility; IV percentile ~63.6 suggests moderately elevated option pricing.
Technical Summary
Sell
10
Buy
6
Positive Catalysts
showed solid YoY growth in revenue, net income, and EPS.
on 2026-02-06 pre-market can serve as a catalyst if results/guide are solid.
Neutral/Negative Catalysts
- Insider activity: insiders are selling and the selling amount increased 1205.51% over the last month (clear negative sentiment signal from insiders).
- Near-term technical momentum is weak (MACD negative and worsening) and price is below the pivot (216.261), which can cap near-term upside until reclaimed.
- Margin pressure: Gross margin declined YoY in the latest reported quarter.
- Hedge fund positioning: Neutral (no strong institutional momentum signal from this dataset).
- Earnings event risk (2026-02-06): results can move the stock sharply in either direction.
Financial Performance
Latest reported quarter: 2025/Q3.
- Revenue: $7.037B, +6.85% YoY (steady top-line growth).
- Net income: $215.1M, +15.77% YoY (profit growth outpacing revenue).
- EPS: $5.65, +22.56% YoY (strong per-share growth, consistent with buyback/efficiency benefits).
- Gross margin: 16.69%, -2.00% YoY (a watch item; indicates some profitability pressure at the gross level despite higher net income and EPS).
Growth
Profitability
Efficiency
Analyst Ratings and Price Target Trends
Recent trend: Ratings have skewed more constructive into early 2026.
- JPMorgan upgraded AN to Overweight (2026-01-16) with a $235 target, citing visible earnings revisions, steady buybacks, robust balance sheet, and cost control.
- Barclays maintained Overweight but slightly lowered target to $245 from $250 (2026-01-21) on softer unit expectations, while noting used-vehicle momentum.
- Morgan Stanley initiated/assumed coverage with Overweight and $233 target (2025-12-08).
- Citi reiterated Buy with a higher target of $280 (2025-10-30).
- Evercore reiterated Outperform and raised target to $300 (2025-11-24).
Wall Street pros view (pros/cons):
Pros: Buybacks, balance sheet strength, cost discipline, resilient dealer model, and potential used-market momentum.
Cons: Softer new-car unit pressures and mixed sector fundamentals; some target trimming (Barclays) reflects a slightly more cautious near-term demand outlook.
Influential/political trading check: No recent congress trading data available in the last 90 days.
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 USD and a high forecast of 300 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
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 USD and a high forecast of 300 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.
6 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 207.070
Low
220
Averages
250.13
High
300
Current: 207.070
Low
220
Averages
250.13
High
300
Barclays
Overweight -> NULL
downgrade
$250 -> $245
AI Analysis
2026-01-21
Reason
Barclays
Price Target
$250 -> $245
AI Analysis
2026-01-21
downgrade
Overweight -> NULL
Reason
Barclays lowered the firm's price target on AutoNation to $245 from $250 and keeps an Overweight rating on the shares. The firm adjusted targets in the auto retail group as part of its Q4 outlook. It broadly lowered estimates across the sector on "soft" auto sales unit pressures. However, trade checks suggest the used vehicle market has good momentum, the analyst tells investors in a research note.
JPMorgan
Neutral -> Overweight
upgrade
$235
2026-01-16
Reason
JPMorgan
Price Target
$235
2026-01-16
upgrade
Neutral -> Overweight
Reason
JPMorgan upgraded AutoNation to Overweight from Neutral with an unchanged price target of $235. The company's earnings revision trajectory "remains the most visible" in the auto dealer group, the analyst tells investors in a research note. The firm sees AutoNation benefiting from a "steady pace" of buybacks, its "robust" balance sheet and tight control on costs.
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