AutoNation má za čtvrtletí končící v září 2026 vykázat zisk 5,30 USD na jednu akcii, což představuje meziroční nárůst o 5,8 %; tržby by měly dosáhnout 7,06 miliardy USD.
The market expects AutoNation (AN - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended September 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The earnings report, which is expected to be released on October 30, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus EstimateThis auto retailer is expected to post quarterly earnings of $5.30 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +5.8%.
Revenues are expected to be $7.06 billion, up 0.3% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 5.82% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for AutoNation?For AutoNation, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -3.62%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #5.
So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that AutoNation will beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that AutoNation would post earnings of $5.43 per share when it actually produced earnings of $5.56, delivering a surprise of +2.39%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates three times.
Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
AutoNation doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Expected Results of an Industry PlayerAmong the stocks in the Zacks Automotive - Retail and Whole Sales industry, Penske Automotive (PAG - Free Report) , is soon expected to post earnings of $3.44 per share for the quarter ended September 2026. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +6.5%. This quarter's revenue is expected to be $8.04 billion, up 4.5% from the year-ago quarter.
Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for Penske has been revised 5% down to the current level. Nevertheless, the company now has an Earnings ESP of -0.44%, reflecting a lower Most Accurate Estimate.
This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Penske will beat the consensus EPS estimate. Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
A Concentrated Bet on Auto Retail On Sept. 30, 2026, Glenn Greenberg (Trades, Portfolio) executed a purchase of 402,303 shares of AutoNation Inc
AN +0.55% 81
at a price of $157.44 per share. The transaction increased the position by 26.40%, bringing the total shares held by the firm to 1,926,427. Following the trade, AutoNation represents 6.52% of Glenn Greenberg (Trades, Portfolio)'s equity portfolio, while the holding accounts for 5.83% of the company's outstanding shares. The trade had a 1.36% impact on the firm's overall portfolio. This move signals continued conviction in the automotive retailer, which has faced a challenging year-to-date performance. The acquisition was made through Brave Warrior Advisors, the investment firm led by Greenberg, and reflects a strategic decision to capitalize on current market valuations.
Guru Profile: Glenn Greenberg (Trades, Portfolio) of Brave Warrior Advisors Glenn Greenberg (Trades, Portfolio) co-founded Chieftain Capital Management in 1984 with partner John Shapiro, compounding accounts at 22.5% before management fees from 1984 through 2004, compared to 12.9% for the S&P 500. Chieftain Capital later split into two entities, with Greenberg leading Brave Warrior Advisors. The firm maintains a highly concentrated portfolio, describing it as a "defense against ignorance," and emphasizes return on invested capital while favoring companies with limited competition. Brave Warrior Advisors holds 41 stocks with total equity of $4.59 billion, with top holdings including Icon PLC
ICLR +0.26% 94
, SLM Corp
SLM +0.31% 89
, Elevance Health Inc
ELV -0.83% 90
, OneMain Holdings Inc
OMF +0.62% 83
, and TD Synnex Corp
SNX -1.5% 88
. The firm's top sectors are Financial Services and Healthcare.
Company Profile: AutoNation Inc
AN +0.55% 81
AutoNation is one of the largest automotive retailers in the United States, operating hundreds of new-vehicle franchises and used-vehicle stores across numerous states, primarily in Sunbelt metropolitan markets. The company sells new and used cars and light trucks through dealerships representing domestic and imported brands, and also operates collision centers, auction sites, and parts distribution businesses. Revenue streams include vehicle sales, finance and insurance products arranged through captive lending operations, and parts and service work. AutoNation serves retail consumers as well as fleet and wholesale customers, and was formerly known as Republic Industries before focusing on auto retailing. The stock has a market cap of $5.19 billion and is currently trading at $157.07.
Valuation and Financial Metrics AutoNation trades at a PE ratio of 7.28 and is considered "Modestly Undervalued" based on the GF Value of $218.56, with a price-to-GF Value ratio of 0.72. The stock has a GF Score of 81/100, indicating good outperformance potential, with ranks of 8/10 for GF Value Rank, 7/10 for Profitability Rank, 7/10 for Growth Rank, and 7/10 for Momentum Rank. Financial strength metrics show a Balance Sheet Rank of 4/10, a cash-to-debt ratio of 0.01, and interest coverage of 3.46. Profitability metrics include a ROE of 32.80% and ROA of 5.33%, with a three-year revenue growth of 15.10% but a three-year earnings growth of -8.40%. The stock has an Altman Z Score of 2.78 and a Piotroski F-Score of 4.
Market Performance and Technical Indicators Since the transaction date, the stock has declined 0.24%, and year-to-date the stock is down 23.93%. Since its IPO in 1951, the stock has gained 5,254.88%. Technical indicators show RSI values of 31.61 (5-day), 29.23 (9-day), and 29.58 (14-day), suggesting oversold conditions. The Momentum Index for 6-1 month is 6.29, while the 12-1 month Momentum Index is -3.22. These figures indicate that while short-term momentum has been weak, there may be signs of stabilization. The oversold RSI readings often attract value investors looking for entry points in fundamentally sound companies. The significant year-to-date decline contrasts with the long-term appreciation since the IPO, highlighting the cyclical nature of the automotive retail sector.
Other Guru Activity and Ownership First Eagle Investment (Trades, Portfolio) Management, LLC is the largest guru holder of AutoNation shares. Other gurus holding the stock include Ken Fisher (Trades, Portfolio), Jefferies Group (Trades, Portfolio), and Brandes Investment Partners, LP (Trades, Portfolio). The presence of multiple value-oriented investors may indicate broader institutional interest in the stock. According to GuruFocus's Premium Guru 13F Ownership data, 10 gurus currently hold the stock, with 6 adding and 6 trimming positions in recent quarters. This proprietary ownership signal, which is not available on platforms like Simply Wall St or Morningstar, provides unique insight into how notable investors are positioning themselves. The mixed activity suggests a divergence in opinion, yet the net interest from value-focused firms remains notable.
Key Considerations for Value Investors Greenberg's concentrated investment approach and emphasis on return on invested capital align with the profile of a value-oriented investor. AutoNation's modest undervaluation relative to GF Value, combined with a low PE ratio and high ROE, may present an attractive opportunity for value investors. However, the company's low cash-to-debt ratio and declining earnings growth warrant attention. The stock's oversold technical condition and significant year-to-date decline could signal a potential entry point for long-term investors. The transaction's influence on the portfolio is meaningful, given the 1.36% impact and the increased position size. As of Oct. 9, 2026, all data and rankings are accurate, offering a snapshot of a stock that balances deep value characteristics with operational challenges.
This stock alert was generated using automated technology and GuruFocus financial data to provide readers with timely and accurate market reporting. This content was reviewed by GuruFocus editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
AutoNation klesla o 10 % poté, co upozornila na pomalejší růst tržeb z náhradních dílů a servisu před třetím čtvrtletím. Slabší výhled stáhl dolů i další dealery.
Key Takeaways AutoNation fell 10% after flagging weak parts-and-service growth, its historically stable segment.Sector-wide selloff hit Sonic, Lithia, Asbury and Group 1. Carvana's used-car model held steady.Fed's rate hike adds financing pressure just as affordability hits routine maintenance too. AutoNation Inc. (AN - Free Report) shares fell 10% on Thursday and hit a new 52-week low, after executives gave a cautious outlook at a Morgan Stanley investor conference. The stock's move dragged the rest of the dealership sector with it. Shares of Sonic Automotive (SAH - Free Report) Lithia Motors (LAD - Free Report) , Asbury Automotive (ABG - Free Report) and Group 1 Automotive (GPI - Free Report) fell roughly 9%, 5%, 4% and 3%, respectively. The details behind the drop point to a broader problem.
AutoNation’s management highlighted that parts-and-service revenues, typically one of the more stable parts of the business, are growing slower than expected heading into the third quarter. That's a significant concern, because for these auto retailers, aftermarket sales have long served as a recurring earnings buffer as vehicle sales soften.
Beyond the weaker parts-and-service outlook, AutoNation also flagged that the new-vehicle gross profit is also under pressure. Additionally, electric-vehicle demand has dropped sharply. And affordability, executives said, is now affecting not just vehicle purchases but routine maintenance spending as well— a category that rarely gets cut, even in slower economic periods.
The sector-wide reaction backs up the read that this is bigger than AutoNation. Carvana was the outlier, inching up less than 1%. Carvana's business is built on used-vehicle sales rather than service revenues or new-car margins, which explains why it wasn't caught in the same selloff.
Two additional data points support the idea that this is a sector-level shift rather than a one-off.
First, Cox Automotive's latest dealer survey shows tariff concerns have eased since March 2025, with more dealers expecting a negotiated trade outcome. But concern over parts, reconditioning and service costs has risen among both franchised and independent dealers. That lines up directly with AutoNation's commentary— the pressure point has moved from trade policy to the cost side of day-to-day dealership operations.
Second, the Fed raised its benchmark rate by 25 basis points yesterday— its first hike in three years. Higher rates raise the cost of auto financing, adding pressure on buyers who are already showing signs of pulling back.
Last WordTogether, these four things— slower service revenues, muted expectations for new-vehicle gross profit, weak EV demand and tighter financing— are all happening at once. Service and parts revenues are usually the one part of the business that holds up when new-car sales slow. And if that part starts slipping too, dealers don't have their usual backup. All these could be weighing on the auto retailers’ third-quarter results.
BlackRock ve 2. čtvrtletí koupil novou pozici v AutoNation za zhruba 438,7 milionu USD a vlastní 7,14 % společnosti. Analytici nyní mají konsenzus „Moderate Buy“ a cílovou cenu 250 USD.
BlackRock Inc. bought a new position in shares of AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN – Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 2,361,210 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $438,689,000. BlackRock Inc. owned 7.14% of AutoNation at the end of the most recent reporting period.
A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in AutoNation by 27.1% during the fourth quarter. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC now owns 57,269 shares of the company’s stock valued at $11,825,000 after purchasing an additional 12,210 shares in the last quarter. WINTON GROUP Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of AutoNation during the fourth quarter worth about $6,443,000. Evolve Private Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of AutoNation during the fourth quarter worth about $4,077,000. Intech Investment Management LLC raised its position in shares of AutoNation by 180.1% during the 4th quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 13,206 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,727,000 after purchasing an additional 8,491 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Leonteq Securities AG acquired a new position in shares of AutoNation during the 4th quarter worth about $2,247,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.62% of the company’s stock.
Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on AN shares. Stephens lifted their price objective on AutoNation from $220.00 to $232.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, August 10th. Northcoast Research raised AutoNation from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $240.00 target price for the company in a report on Tuesday, July 14th. Seaport Research Partners restated a “buy” rating and issued a $255.00 target price on shares of AutoNation in a research report on Monday, August 3rd. Barclays boosted their price target on AutoNation from $255.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 15th. Finally, Weiss Ratings upgraded AutoNation from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a report on Monday, August 17th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $250.00.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on AutoNation Insider Activity at AutoNation In related news, Director Lisa Lutoff-Perlo sold 900 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $220.00, for a total value of $198,000.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 7,989 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,757,580. The trade was a 10.12% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 1.40% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
AutoNation Price Performance Shares of AN stock opened at $196.55 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.68, a current ratio of 0.78 and a quick ratio of 0.18. The company has a market capitalization of $6.50 billion, a PE ratio of 9.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.81 and a beta of 0.71. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $200.66 and its two-hundred day moving average is $197.57. AutoNation, Inc. has a 12 month low of $176.62 and a 12 month high of $235.81.
AutoNation (NYSE:AN – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 31st. The company reported $5.56 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $5.48 by $0.08. AutoNation had a net margin of 2.82% and a return on equity of 31.24%. The business had revenue of $6.93 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $7 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.26 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down .6% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts predict that AutoNation, Inc. will post 21.69 earnings per share for the current year.
About AutoNation (Free Report)
AutoNation, Inc is the largest automotive retailer in the United States, operating a network of franchised new vehicle dealerships, pre-owned vehicle superstores and collision-repair centers. The company offers a comprehensive range of automotive products and services, including the sale of new cars and light trucks from leading manufacturers, certified pre-owned vehicles and a wide selection of used models. In addition to retail vehicle sales, AutoNation provides financing, insurance and extended service contracts through its in-house financial services division, as well as genuine and aftermarket parts, factory-recommended maintenance and collision-repair services.
Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, AutoNation was founded in 1996 by entrepreneur H.
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AutoNation vykázala rekordní hrubý zisk v segmentu Parts & Service ve výši 607 mil. USD a vyšší zisk z financování a pojištění, což podporuje opakované tržby. Zároveň dál provádí zpětný odkup akcií, ale brzdí ji vysoký dluh a slabší ziskovost nových vozů.
Key Takeaways AutoNation's record Parts & Service profits and growing finance earnings provide recurring growth drivers.AN is investing in digital capabilities while repurchasing shares to support per-share earnings.High debt, weaker new-vehicle profitability and elevated SG&A remain key challenges. AutoNation (AN - Free Report) is set to gain from record aftersales profits, expanding finance earnings, digital investments and share repurchases. However, high debt limits financial flexibility, while weaker new-vehicle profitability and elevated operating costs remain concerns.
Let’s dig deeper and see why this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock is worth retaining in your portfolio.
Aftersales Contribution & Investment in Technology Aid ANAftersales remains AutoNation’s largest gross profit contributor and provides a recurring earnings stream across vehicle cycles. In the second quarter of 2026, Parts & Service gross profit reached a record $607 million, up 1% year over year, while customer-pay gross profit rose 7% in total and 4% on a same-store basis. Same-store franchise technician headcount rose more than 2%, and the company expects technician capacity and customer retention to be key to sustaining mid-single-digit aftersales gross profit growth over time.
AutoNation Finance continues to expand its earnings contribution as the loan portfolio scales and external funding increases. In second-quarter 2026, originations were $485 million, and the portfolio reached $2.67 billion, up about 52% year over year. Quarterly profit rose to $11 million from $2 million, while first-half profit reached $20 million versus $2 million a year earlier. Finance penetration was 11% of total vehicle sales and 18% of financed sales.
AutoNation continues to invest in digital and omni-channel capabilities as customers increasingly use online resources for vehicle research and purchasing. AutoNation Express supports online buying and selling, while its minority investment in TrueCar broadens digital reach. AN is also adding functionality across research, purchase and vehicle-fulfillment channels to match changing customer preferences. These investments complement store execution, and second-quarter 2026 market share remained consistent with the first quarter in the markets AutoNation serves.
AutoNation continues to deploy capital toward share repurchases, which remains an important lever for per-share earnings and boosts shareholder confidence. From Jan. 1 to July 29, 2026, AutoNation repurchased 2.3 million shares. As of June 30, 2026, $618.9 million remained authorized under the current program.
High Debt & Operating Cost Ail AutoNationAutoNation’s balance sheet remains leveraged as capital deployment expands. As of June 30, 2026, non-vehicle debt was $4.4 billion, cash was $53 million and liquidity was about $1 billion. The firm’s long-term debt-to-capital ratio stands at 0.72 compared to the industry’s 0.27. High debt restricts the firm’s financial flexibility.
New-vehicle economics remain exposed to vehicle costs, manufacturer incentives and changes in powertrain mix even as sequential profitability has stabilized. In second-quarter 2026, new-vehicle gross profit per unit was $2,381, down 15% from $2,785 a year earlier, while new units fell 4%. The decline reflected higher average vehicle costs and lower manufacturer incentives, with BEV sales down more than 30% year over year. Premium Luxury new units fell 4%, while Domestic units declined 12%. The company expects prior-year tariff and EV-credit comparison effects to ease in the second half, but sustaining margins still depends on vehicle costs and mix.
Operating efficiency remains below the company’s long-term target despite sequential progress. Adjusted SG&A was 68.2% of gross profit in the second quarter of 2026, up from the 66% to 67% target range and 66.2% a year earlier. Advertising costs rose to support vehicle sales, while first-half spending also reflected customer experience investments and higher self-insured losses.
Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates AN has underperformed the Zacks Automotive - Domestic industry in the last six months. Its shares have gained 1.8% compared to the industry’s growth of 14.3%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation perspective, AN appears undervalued. Going by its price/sales ratio, the company is trading at a forward sales multiple of 0.23, lower than the industry’s 0.3.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AN’s 2026 EPS has improved 28 cents in the past 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Stocks to ConsiderSome better-ranked stocks in the auto space are China Yuchai International Limited (CYD - Free Report) and Garrett Motion Inc. (GTX - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CYD’s 2026 sales and earnings implies year-over-year growth of 58.6% and 68.6%, respectively.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GTX’s 2026 sales and earnings implies year-over-year growth of 7.2% and 25.7%, respectively. The EPS estimate for 2026 and 2027 has improved 10 cents each over the past 30 days.
Key Takeaways AutoNation's Q2 adjusted EPS rose 1.8% to $5.56, beating the $5.43 consensus estimate by 2.4%.After-Sales gross profit hit a record $607.1M, becoming AutoNation's largest gross profit contributor.AutoNation expects second-half adjusted EPS growth on After-Sales, CFS, finance growth and fewer shares. AutoNation, Inc. (AN - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $5.56 per share, up 1.8% from $5.46 a year ago. Earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.43 by 2.4%. Results benefited from record After-Sales gross profit and stronger Customer Financial Services profitability. Revenues of $6.93 billion declined 0.6% year over year and missed the consensus estimate of $6.97 billion by 0.6%.
AN's After-Sales Business Delivers Record ProfitParts and service revenues increased 3.4% year over year to $1.26 billion. Gross profit rose 1.4% to a record $607.1 million, making After-Sales the largest contributor to AutoNation's gross profit.
Customer-pay revenues increased 7% year over year, while wholesale parts revenues advanced 16%. Customer-pay repair orders rose 5% and warranty repair orders increased 8%. Parts and service gross margin declined to 48.1% from 49%, mainly reflecting a higher mix of lower-margin wholesale parts.
AutoNation's Finance Businesses Show MomentumCustomer Financial Services gross profit totaled $357.6 million, down 2.7% from $367.7 million a year earlier as lower retail vehicle volumes offset stronger per-unit profitability. CFS gross profit per vehicle retailed climbed 3.2% to $2,799 from $2,712. The improvement came despite an approximately 2% drag from higher AutoNation Finance originations.
AutoNation Finance, meanwhile, generated income of $10.7 million, up from $2 million a year ago. The portfolio reached $2.67 billion, increasing about 52% from $1.76 billion, while quarterly originations totaled $485 million. AN Finance accounted for 11% of total vehicle sales and 18% of financed vehicle sales, highlighting the growing contribution of the captive finance platform.
AN's Vehicle Volumes Remain Under PressureNew vehicle revenues declined 3.1% to $3.29 billion as retail unit sales fell 4% to 63,240. New vehicle gross profit per unit dropped 14.5% to $2,381, reflecting higher vehicle costs. Much of the volume decline was due to weaker battery-electric vehicle sales and difficult comparisons against tariff-related demand pull-forward in 2025.
Used vehicle revenues increased 1.3% to $2.01 billion despite a 7.5% decline in retail unit sales to 64,521. Retail used vehicle revenue per unit increased 8.4% to $28,674, while gross profit per unit slipped 2.5% to $1,582.
AN's Gross Profit and Adjusted Income DeclineTotal gross profit fell 3.5% year over year to $1.23 billion, with gross margin narrowing to 17.8% from 18.3%. Adjusted operating income declined 7% to $343.1 million from $369.3 million.
Adjusted SG&A expenses represented 68.2% of gross profit, improving sequentially from 69.8% in the first quarter but remaining above 66.2% a year ago. Management expects the ratio to reach its 66%-67% target range on a run-rate basis by year-end.
AutoNation's Cash Flow Funds Acquisitions and BuybacksAdjusted free cash flow totaled $439.2 million in the first half of 2026, representing 125% of adjusted net income. AutoNation spent $316.5 million on acquisitions and $126 million on capital expenditures during the period.
The company also repurchased 2.3 million shares for $457 million in the first half. As of June 30, 2026, cash and cash equivalents were $53.3 million. Non-vehicle debt was $4.43 billion. AutoNation had about $1 billion of liquidity, including $0.9 billion available under its revolving credit facility, net of commercial paper borrowings.
AN Expects Earnings Growth in the Second HalfManagement expects after-sales customer-pay gross profit to maintain mid-single-digit growth, supported by customer retention and technician capacity. With stable vehicle unit profitability, continued CFS and After-Sales growth, AutoNation Finance expansion and a lower share count, management expects adjusted earnings per share to grow year over year in the second half of 2026.
AN stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Peer ReleasesPenske Automotive Group, Inc. (PAG - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $3.62 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.38 by 7.1%. Adjusted earnings declined 4.2% from the comparable $3.78 per share a year ago. Penske’s revenues rose 6% year over year to $8.51 billion and topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.93 billion by 7.4%. For the first six months of 2026, cash flow from operations totaled $418 million and capital expenditures were $134.9 million. As of June 30, Penske’s liquidity was about $1.4 billion, including $69.5 million in cash.
Sonic Automotive, Inc. (SAH - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $1.82 per share, down 17% year over year. Earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.75 by 4%. Revenues rose 8% to $3.93 billion and topped the consensus mark of $3.78 billion by 4%. Sonic ended the quarter with about $294 million of cash and floor plan deposits and roughly $676 million of total available liquidity. The company raised full-year new-vehicle gross profit per unit guidance to $2,850-$3,000 from $2,700-$3,000. Sonic’s EchoPark unit is still expected to deliver 12%-15% retail used-unit growth this year.
Lithia Motors (LAD - Free Report) posted second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $10.03 per share, which increased 9% from $9.20 a year ago. The bottom line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $8.67 by 15.7%. Quarterly revenues increased 2.2% year over year to $9.79 billion and topped the consensus estimate of $9.64 billion by 1.6%. As of June 30, 2026, Lithia had cash, restricted cash and cash equivalents of $363.9 million, up from $341.8 million as of Dec. 31, 2025. During the quarter, Lithia repurchased roughly 854,000 shares at a weighted average price of $284, representing $242 million of share repurchases.
AutoNation uvedla, že poptávka je i přes slabší 2. čtvrtletí odolná a čeká stabilizaci ziskovosti nových i ojetých vozů. Celkové výnosy ve 2. čtvrtletí meziročně klesly o 1 %.
Automotive retailer AutoNation has found that the industry and consumers are “in good shape,” despite declines in sales volume and profit that the company saw in the second quarter, AutoNation CEO Michael Manley said during a Friday (July 31) earnings call.
“Consumer sentiment is improving every month,” Manley said. “Our banking partners are reporting 20% increases in applications and originations, and their delinquencies continue to improve.”
During the second quarter, AutoNation’s revenue was down 1% year over year. The company saw year-over-year declines of 2% in same-store revenue, 5% in same-store gross profit, 5% in same-store new vehicle retail unit sales and 8% in same-store used vehicle retail unit sales, according to a Friday earnings release.
In a presentation released Friday, AutoNation said the company faced headwinds related to tariffs and battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales. New vehicles sales were impacted by the “tariff pull-ahead” seen in April 2025 and the BEV subsidies that were in place through September 2025.
During an earlier earnings call, in February, Manley said AutoNation and others in the industry had seen shoppers race to buy vehicles in early 2025 before the implementation of tariffs and the expiration of electric vehicle tax credits. That created a “strong pull ahead” that affected vehicle sales in subsequent quarters, Manley said.
During Friday’s earning call, Manley said that during the second quarter, BEV sales were down by more than 30% year over year.
“We’re looking forward to the second half when the volume comparison headwinds from 2025 relating to tariffs and EV credits lapse,” Manley said.
Looking ahead, AutoNation expects to see consumer and industry sales remain resilient, new and used vehicle profitability stabilize, and its market share grow, according to the presentation.
Manley said during the call that the seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) is “at a healthy place” and consumers are “incredibly resilient given everything that is going on.” He added that affordability levels are the best they’ve been in a few years. While not back to pre-COVID levels, affordability is “significantly improved” over the past 24 to 48 months.
“That was largely stable Q1 to Q2, and I think it’s going to be stable as we get into Q3 and Q4, which means, from my point of view, the underlying SAAR, absent a shock that none of us can see, I think is going to be in a good place as we get into the second half,” Manley said.
AutoNation oznámila zisk na akcii 5,56 USD, nad odhadem 5,43 USD. Tržby 6,93 mld. USD za čtvrtletí končící v červnu 2026 ale skončily pod očekáváním o 0,52 %.
AutoNation (AN - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $5.56 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.43 per share. This compares to earnings of $5.46 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +2.39%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this auto retailer would post earnings of $4.71 per share when it actually produced earnings of $4.69, delivering a surprise of -0.42%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times.
AutoNation, which belongs to the Zacks Automotive - Retail and Whole Sales industry, posted revenues of $6.93 billion for the quarter ended June 2026, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.52%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $6.97 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates just once over the last four quarters.
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
AutoNation shares have added about 4% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 8.7%.
What's Next for AutoNation?While AutoNation has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for AutoNation was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $5.62 on $7.17 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $21.41 on $27.95 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Automotive - Retail and Whole Sales is currently in the bottom 22% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
Another stock from the same industry, Titan Machinery (TITN - Free Report) , has yet to report results for the quarter ended July 2026.
This agriculture and construction equipment seller is expected to post quarterly loss of $0.33 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -26.9%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
Titan Machinery's revenues are expected to be $489.03 million, down 10.5% from the year-ago quarter.
AutoNation zveřejní výsledky za 2. čtvrtletí před otevřením trhu v pátek; analytici čekají EPS 5,46 USD a tržby 7 mld. USD. Akcie ve čtvrtek klesly o 6,7 % na 214,65 USD.
AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN) will release its second quarter earnings report before the opening bell on Friday, July 31.
Analysts expect the Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based company to report quarterly earnings of $5.46 per share, compared to $5.46 per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for AutoNation’s quarterly revenue is $7 billion. It reported $6.97 billion last year, according to Benzinga Pro.
On June 23, AutoNation acquired three premium luxury dealerships in San Francisco.
Shares of AutoNation fell 6.7% to close at $214.65 on Thursday.
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AutoNation koupila tři prémiové luxusní autosalony v oblasti San Franciska: Audi Fremont, Mercedes-Benz of Fremont a Porsche Fremont. Podniky mají zhruba 400 milionů USD ročních tržeb.
AutoNation Expands California Footprint with Acquisition of Three Premium Luxury Dealerships AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE: AN), one of the largest automotive retailers in the United States, today announced the acquisition of three premium luxury dealerships in the San Francisco Bay Area, effective June 22, 2026. The acquired stores are Audi Fremont, Mercedes-Benz of Fremont, and Porsche Fremont. Together, the stores represent approximately $400 million in annual revenue and 4,800 retail new and used vehicle annual sales per year.
AutoNation’s footprint expands in California, the largest auto retail market in the U.S., to 46 locations, including 21 Premium Luxury stores, 7 Domestic stores, 16 Import stores, a collision center, and an auction center. Nationwide, AutoNation now operates 25 Mercedes-Benz, 11 Audi, and 8 Porsche stores.
“This acquisition strengthens our Premium Luxury portfolio in a highly attractive California market and reflects our disciplined approach to deploying capital into high-quality assets,” said Mike Manley, Chief Executive Officer. “Over the past 12 months, including our Baltimore, Chicago, and Atlanta area acquisitions, we have added approximately $1 billion in annual revenue, enhancing our scale, supporting long-term growth, and positioning us to deliver attractive returns for shareholders.”
AutoNation remains focused on disciplined capital allocation, balancing strategic acquisitions that expand scale in attractive markets with share repurchases that return capital to shareholders. AutoNation has invested approximately $450 million year-to-date to repurchase more than 2.2 million shares, reducing shares outstanding by more than 6 percent.
About AutoNation, Inc.
AutoNation, one of the largest automotive retailers in the United States, offers innovative products and exceptional services as part of a portfolio of comprehensive solutions for our customers and their automotive needs. With a nationwide network of dealerships strengthened by a recognized brand, we offer a wide variety of new and used vehicles, customer financing, parts, and expert maintenance and repair services. Through DRV PNK, we have raised over $50 million for cancer-related causes, demonstrating our commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of our Associates, Customers, and the communities we serve.
Please visit www.autonation.com, investors.autonation.com, and www.x.com/autonation, where AutoNation discloses additional information about the Company, its business, and its results of operations.
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