FrançaisAre analysts right about AutoNation (AN)?
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Historical analyst accuracy
For AutoNation, we replayed every analyst price target of the past 12 months and measured the real outcome: 38% were profitable, average return +1% (88 calls). At 3 months: -1% average return (36% profitable). The higher the %, the more often analysts were right on this stock.
Most reliable analysts on this stock (past track record)
Their past track record on this stock (targets replayed against real prices) — not a forecast of what will happen.
| Analyst / broker | Calls i | % profitable i | Avg return i |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morgan Stanley | 25 | 4% | -52% |
| B of A Securities | 12 | 67% | +28% |
| Guggenheim | 11 | 36% | +21% |
| JP Morgan | 5 | 40% | +18% |
| Wells Fargo | 5 | 80% | +28% |
Valuation
Is AutoNation overvalued, and is it a good time to buy AutoNation right now? If you're wondering, here's a recap to make up your own mind: AutoNation's valuation vs its sector median, to weigh alongside analyst reliability (above) and past performance. Educational information, not buy advice.
The P/E (price ÷ earnings per share) = how many years of earnings you pay for the stock. The higher it is, the more growth the market expects — but the pricier the stock, so more vulnerable if growth disappoints. The forward P/E uses next year's expected earnings: lower than the current P/E = rising expected earnings. We compare it to the sector median to see whether the stock is expensive relative to its peers.
| Metric | AutoNation | Sector median (Consumer Discretionary) |
|---|---|---|
| P/E | 7.8 | 19.3 |
| Forward P/E | 7.2 | 15.3 |
| Net margin | 3% | 9% |
👉 AutoNation trades below its sector median (7.8 vs 19.3) — potentially undervalued, or lower expected growth.
📖 P/E, PEG, margin…: see the glossary
Frequently asked questions
Is AutoNation a buy right now?
The analyst consensus on AutoNation (AN) is "Buy" (23 bullish, 0 bearish calls over 12 months). This is not advice: historically, 38% of their targets on this stock turned out profitable over 1 year.
What is AutoNation's price target?
The median 12-month price target is $230 (+36% vs $169), ranging from $175 to $255 (9 analysts).
Are analysts accurate on AutoNation?
Over 1 year, 38% of analyst targets on AutoNation were profitable, for an average return of +1% (across 88 timestamped calls). This is JPI Invest's accuracy metric.
What is the AutoNation stock forecast?
Analysts target a median of $230 within 12 months, i.e. +36% vs the current price. The most bullish targets $255, the most cautious $175.
What is the AutoNation stock forecast for 2026 or long term (2030)?
Note: analyst targets are 12-month (median $230, +36%), NOT 2030. No reliable 5-10 year price forecast exists (« 2030 prediction » models are speculative). The most useful inputs: the 12-month median above, these analysts' historical accuracy (38%), and the stock's past trajectory.
Is AutoNation overvalued?
Its P/E is 7.8, forward P/E 7.2. A forward P/E lower than the current P/E means earnings are expected to grow.
📊 See the full interactive analysis of AutoNation →
What is JPI Invest?
JPI Invest aggregates analyst recommendations across the entire S&P 500 (plus the S&P MidCap 400), replays them against real prices and measures who predicts best — on results, not reputation. Instead of taking a price target at face value, you see each analyst's track record on each stock.
- 🏆 Analyst leaderboard by real reliability (beating their sector, not just riding the rally)
- 🎯 What to buy: 3 backtested methods over 6 years, from cautious to aggressive
- 💬 AI assistant: ask anything about any stock, with the numbers
- 📊 Portfolio tracking + 🔔 price alerts by email
⚠️ Educational information, not investment advice. Analyst price targets are 12-month and can be wrong. Data via Yahoo Finance, recomputed by JPI Invest.