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AutoNation Inc (AN) fair value: what the stock is really worth

As of Sep 23, 2026: fair value of AutoNation Inc $397, price $165, upside +140.5%, quality 49 out of 100. Calculated from audited financials with 26 valuation models and 37 quality factors, updated daily.

  1. Fair value above price? Yes
  2. Good quality? No
  3. Add to watchlist

Consumer Cyclical · US · ISIN US05329W1027

AI AutoNation Inc logo Some data Sep 24, 2026

AutoNation Inc

AN · US

Cheap, value-trap riskThe stock looks deeply undervalued, but low quality raises value-trap risk.

✓Fair value $396.99 · Strongly undervalued (+141%)
!Quality 49/100
!Expensive Growth (revenue 5y +6.3 %/yr)
!Thin margins · 2.5% net margin (TTM)
!High debt · negative free cash flow
✓Ranks above peers (8/13)
!Moderate moat 51/100
!Insider activity 40/100
!Evidence only medium, so the estimate is less certain
!The models disagree: range $230.18 to $841.84

What runs behind every stock

69 individual criteria per stock, every one traceable See the method →

Price vs Fair Value

$229.98 $91.99 Fair Value $396.99 Jun 2021 Sep 2026

White line = price, green steps = our fair value per fiscal year, dashed = 300-day average. As of Sep 24, 2026.

How to read this chart

60‑month range $91.99 – $229.98 · fair‑value band $230.18 – $841.84 · the $165.05 price screens below the $396.99 fair value. Green steps = our fair value per fiscal year (point-in-time, no hindsight). Dashed = 300-day average. As of Sep 24, 2026.

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Company profile

AutoNation, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as an automotive retailer in the United States. The company operates through four segments: Domestic, Import, Premium Luxury, and AutoNation Finance.

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AutoNation, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as an automotive retailer in the United States. The company operates through four segments: Domestic, Import, Premium Luxury, and AutoNation Finance. It offers a range of automotive products and services, including new and used vehicles; and parts and services, such as automotive repair and maintenance, and wholesale parts and collision services. The company also provides automotive finance and insurance products comprising vehicle services and other protection products; and indirect financing, as well as arranges finance for vehicle purchases through third-party finance sources. It owns and operates new vehicle franchises from stores located in metropolitan markets in the Sunbelt region, as well as AutoNation-branded collision centers, AutoNation USA used vehicle stores, AutoNation-branded automotive auction operations, and parts distribution centers. The company was formerly known as Republic Industries, Inc. and changed its name to AutoNation, Inc. in 1999. AutoNation, Inc. was incorporated in 1980 and is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Stock analysis

AutoNation Inc (AN) currently trades at $165.05, while our model-based Fair Value estimate is $396.99, implying the stock looks roughly 58.4% undervalued today.

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Valuation

Bull case: the Growth Earnings group reads highest at a median of $901.25 per share, and 14 of the 15 models we run sit above the $165.05 price.

Bear case: the Asset-Based group reads lowest at $46.88, and 1 of the 15 models stay below the price. Evidence for this calculation is medium.

Scenario range: $230.18 (bear) to $841.84 (bull), the price of $165.05 sits below it. Bear and bull are the same models on cautious and optimistic assumptions, a range, not a price target.

Quality & growth

The Quality Score stands at 49/100 (below-average quality), in the Consumer Cyclical sector.

Expensive Growth: The company is growing, but growth may require heavy reinvestment or weak cash conversion.

AutoNation Inc reported revenue of $27.6B in FY2025 versus $25.8B in FY2021, a compound +1.7%/yr. Reported net income was $649M in FY2025, compounding −17.1%/yr from FY2021.

Key figures

Market cap $6.9B · P/E ratio 9.0 · P/S ratio 0.21 · EPS (TTM) $18.43 · Net margin 2.3% · Return on equity 29.3% · Return on assets (EBIT) 14.9% · Operating margin 4.7%.

Competitive moat

Our AI-assisted moat analysis scores the competitive advantage at 47 out of 100 (low confidence).

What moves the price

The share trades about 28% below its 52-week high and at its 52-week low, currently below its 200-day average.

For context, the median of 10 Consumer Cyclical peers we cover trades at 9% fair-value upside, at 141%, AN screens cheaper than that median.

Fair Value models

Bear $230.18 Fair Value $396.99 Bull $841.84
Model ⓘEach model values the company its own way (discounted cash flow, earnings, assets, dividends). The fair value above is their evidence-weighted blend, not the output of a single model. Based on fiscal year 2025 figures (about 9 months old). Earnings retained since then ($13.48 per share) are deliberately not added. Bear ⓘBear = the cautious scenario: the same model computed with conservative anchors (lower growth, margins and valuation multiples). Together with Bull it frames a plausible valuation range, not a price target.BaseBull ⓘBull = the optimistic scenario: the same model computed with favourable anchors (higher growth, margins and valuation multiples). Together with Bear it frames a plausible valuation range, not a price target. Evidence ⓘEvidence = how well-backed THIS model's estimate is for this stock (0–100): how complete and reliable its input data are, and how well the model fits the company. The final Fair Value is an evidence-weighted blend, so better-evidenced models count more. Green ≥70, amber 50–69, grey below 50.
Highest evidence
EPV $133.54 $180.71 $221.40 74
ROIC Compounder $205.03 $352.86 $478.83 68
Owner Earnings $231.93 $714.88 $1,691 66
All 15 models by family
DCF Models
Owner Earnings $231.93 $714.88 $1,691 66
Earnings-Based
Graham-Dodd $131.91 $919.92 $1,291 61
Lynch FV $475.26 $678.94 $882.63 59
PEG = 1.0 $475.26 $678.94 $882.63 55
EPV $133.54 $180.71 $221.40 74
Multiples
P/E Multiple $320.07 $426.77 $533.46 63
P/S Multiple $247.33 $329.77 $412.22 58
P/B Multiple $209.89 $279.86 $349.82 55
EV/EBIT $373.39 $552.91 $732.43 65
EV/EBITDA $261.49 $403.71 $545.93 66
EV/Revenue $197.86 $353.44 $509.03 52
Asset-Based
NCAV (Graham) $34.98 $46.88 $69.96 54
Economic Profit
Residual Income $130.42 $178.46 $1,180 56
ROIC Compounder $205.03 $352.86 $478.83 68
Growth Earnings
Growth-Adj P/E $630.88 $901.25 $1,172 65

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Quality Score breakdown

Overall quality 49/100

Of which business quality 46 · Market factors (momentum, volatility) 33

Profitability 63
Margins and returns on capital today
Quality Growth 31
Are margins and returns improving?
Cashflow 7
Earnings quality: real cash, not paper profit
Fin. Strength 27
Balance sheet, leverage, solvency risk
Investment 71
Disciplined investing over empire-building
Low Volatility 72
Calm price path (market factor)
Momentum 25
Price trend over the last 3–12 months (market factor)
52W Momentum 3
Distance to the 52-week high (market factor)
Net Issuance 100
Share count: buybacks or dilution?

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Revenue & earnings trend

Growth Quality ⓘGrowth is valuable only when reinvestment earns attractive returns (Aswath Damodaran): sustainable growth depends on return on capital, reinvestment and efficiency. Basis: total company revenue over the periods shown on the cards (3Y/5Y/all years), not per share, so a merger can show up as a growth jump; per-share earnings growth is in the value-creation card. 45/100
The company is growing, but growth may require heavy reinvestment or weak cash conversion.
Revenue growth 1 year
+3.2%
Revenue growth 3 years ⓘMeasures the company's TOTAL revenue from reported annual statements: compound average growth per year (CAGR) from the fiscal year 3, 5 or N years back to the most recent comparable fiscal year. Not per share: buybacks do not change this number, and a merger can appear as a growth jump. Per-share growth (which does include buybacks) is in the value-creation card.
+0.8%
Revenue growth 5 years ⓘMeasures the company's TOTAL revenue from reported annual statements: compound average growth per year (CAGR) from the fiscal year 3, 5 or N years back to the most recent comparable fiscal year. Not per share: buybacks do not change this number, and a merger can appear as a growth jump. Per-share growth (which does include buybacks) is in the value-creation card.
+6.3%
Start year 2020 (pandemic). Over 10 years: +2.9% a year
Revenue growth 37 years ⓘMeasures the company's TOTAL revenue from reported annual statements: compound average growth per year (CAGR) from the fiscal year 3, 5 or N years back to the most recent comparable fiscal year. Not per share: buybacks do not change this number, and a merger can appear as a growth jump. Per-share growth (which does include buybacks) is in the value-creation card.
+33.7%
What shareholders gained per year (last 5 years) ⓘWhat the business itself delivers per year: earnings growth per share plus the dividend yield. This is what you get IF the market keeps valuing the stock the same way: it contains no assumption about the market changing its mind. Computed per share, so buybacks count and a merger does not pass as growth. For a company that pays no dividend it is pure earnings growth per share. Period: earnings growth per share as CAGR over the last 5 reported fiscal years (annual statements), plus the current dividend yield. The start value is the median of the three years around the start, so a single crisis year (a pandemic or a write-down) does not distort the rate. Basis: adjusted.
+22.3%
Earnings growth per share plus dividend.
Earnings per share, growth per year+22.3%
Dividend (yield on the price)0.0%
Pace: 5 vs 10 years ⓘTwo data points, not a trend model: earnings growth per share over the last 5 fiscal years against the last 10. Labelled "steady" when both rates are within 3 percentage points of each other, otherwise picking up or flattening. Shown only when ten years of history exist.28% vs 16%, picking up
Profit margin 2020 to 2025 ⓘOperating margin then vs now, from reported annual statements. A falling margin after a boom year is the classic peak-earnings signal: the growth rate then leans on an inflated base.3% → 5%
Start year 2020 (pandemic)

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Recent news

News mood ⓘNews mood, the average tone of recent news (97 articles), rated against how stocks are usually covered. 🚀 Hype = unusually upbeat · 🙂 Positive = above average · 😐 Neutral = typical · 🙁 Negative = below average · 😨 Very negative = unusually downbeat. It reflects the tone of coverage, not our valuation. Positive
Recent news coverage is more positive than average.

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Peer GroupⓘHow this stock ranks against its industry: the green marker is this stock, the band is the typical 25–75% peer range, and the tick is the median.Auto & Truck Dealerships · 104 stocks

Beats the industry median on 8/12 measures
Overall it ranks above its industry peers.
Valuation
Quality Score 49 · Below median
Fair Value upside +141% · Top 25%
Profitability
Return on equity (TTM) 29% · Top 25%
Return on assets 6% · Top 25%
Net margin (TTM) 2% · Above median
Operating margin (TTM) 5% · Above median
Growth and dividend
Revenue growth −2% · Below median
Balance sheet
Debt / equity 2.39× · Highest 25%

Valuation Multiplesvs Auto & Truck Dealerships median · lower = cheaper

P/E (TTM) 9.0× · Cheapest 25%
P/B 2.94× · book value is mostly goodwill ⓘGoodwill and other intangible assets are larger than the equity. The book value mainly reflects prices paid for past acquisitions, so we do not rank this P/B against the peer group.
P/S (TTM) 0.25× · Cheaper than median
EV/EBITDA 8.0× · Pricier than median
PEG 0.77× · Cheaper than median

Strength profile in five axes (Snowflake)

VALUEFUTUREPASTHEALTHDIVIDEND
This stock
VALUEFUTUREPASTHEALTHDIVIDEND
Sector peers
VALUE (fair-value potential)100 · sector 38
FUTURE (revenue growth)0 · sector 9
PAST (return on equity)100 · sector 20
HEALTH (low debt)0 · sector 88
DIVIDEND (yield)0 · sector 78

Context: sector, industry, market

Values & ESG

Does this company touch areas you may want to avoid? The classification is inferred from sector and industry.

None of the checked exposures detected

Similar stocks

10 more Auto & Truck Dealerships stocks, each showing price versus our Fair Value estimate.

Stock Price Fair Value vs Fair Value
Carvana Co CVNA $65.40 $21.85 −67%
Penske Automotive Group PAG $209.86 $229.60 +9%
Hotai Motor Co 2207 510.00 TWD 558.82 TWD +10%
CarMax, Inc KMX $56.84 $29.62 −48%
Lithia Motors, Inc LAD $312.32 $498.50 +60%
Rush Enterprises, Inc RUSHA $48.27 $87.70 +82%
Valvoline Inc VVV $28.67 $24.55 −14%
OPENLANE, Inc OPLN $34.63 $35.22 +2%
Eagers Automotive Limited APE A$19.15 A$17.66 −8%
Asbury Automotive Group ABG $187.06 $460.31 +146%

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Cite: Fair Value Calculator (2026). "AutoNation Inc Fair Value". https://www.fairvalue-calculator.com/stock/AN

Frequently asked questions

Is AutoNation Inc (AN) overvalued or undervalued?
As of Sep 24, 2026, our model estimates a fair value of $396.99 versus a price of $165.05, about +141% upside (undervalued).
What is the fair value of AN?
Our model-based fair value for AutoNation Inc is $396.99 (as of Sep 24, 2026), built from audited fundamentals. The current price: $165.05.
What is the quality score of AN?
AutoNation Inc has a Quality Score of 49/100. It measures business quality (profitability, growth, cash flow, balance-sheet strength, investment discipline, share issuance). Market factors such as price momentum and volatility do not enter the number; they are shown separately in the detail view.
What is the price target for AutoNation Inc (AN)?
Our model-based price target is the fair value of $396.99 (as of Sep 24, 2026) from 15 valuation models. Cautious scenario $230.18, optimistic scenario $841.84. It is a calculation from audited fundamentals, not an analyst target.
What is the AutoNation Inc stock forecast for 2026?
Our models put fair value at $396.99, about +141% upside versus a price of $165.05 (undervalued). Cautious scenario $230.18, optimistic scenario $841.84. The calculation is refreshed regularly with new filings.
What is the revenue of AutoNation Inc (AN)?
AutoNation Inc reported trailing-twelve-month revenue of about $27.5B (latest available figure, as of Sep 24, 2026).
What is the intrinsic value of AutoNation Inc (AN)?
Intrinsic value and fair value mean the same thing: what the business is worth on its numbers, independent of the share price. For AutoNation Inc it is $396.99 per share (as of Sep 24, 2026), against a price of $165.05. It is the blended result of 15 valuation models (cash flow, earnings, asset, dividend).
Is AutoNation Inc stock overvalued or undervalued in 2026?
As of Sep 24, 2026, AN trades below its calculated fair value: price $165.05, fair value $396.99, a gap of about +141% (undervalued). The calculation is refreshed with each new quarterly report, so the verdict can change during the year.
Is fair value the same as the market price of AN?
No. The price is what the market pays today ($165.05); the fair value is what the company's own numbers justify ($396.99). For AutoNation Inc the two are $231.94 per share apart. That gap is exactly why we show both numbers side by side.
How much is AutoNation Inc worth?
The market values AutoNation Inc at about $6.9B (market capitalisation, as of Sep 24, 2026). Per share that is $165.05; our models calculate a fair value of $396.99 per share.
What do the bullish and bearish scenarios say about AN?
Our models span a range for AutoNation Inc: cautious scenario $230.18, base $396.99, optimistic $841.84 per share (as of Sep 24, 2026, price $165.05). The range comes from different growth and margin assumptions, not from analyst opinions.
What is the P/E ratio of AN?
AutoNation Inc trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.0 (as of Sep 24, 2026). A P/E on its own says little: it compares the price with ONE year of profit, while our fair value of $396.99 is built from several models across several years. Other multiples: PEG 0.8, P/B 2.9, P/S 0.3, EV/EBITDA 8.0.
What is the PEG ratio of AN?
The PEG ratio of AutoNation Inc is 0.77 (P/E divided by earnings growth, as of Sep 24, 2026). That is below 1, so growth is priced more cheaply than the earnings multiple alone suggests.
How solid is the balance sheet of AutoNation Inc (AN)?
Balance-sheet figures for AutoNation Inc (as of Sep 24, 2026): return on equity 29.3%, debt of 2.39 per unit of equity. They feed the Quality Score of 49/100, which measures business quality independently of the share price.
How far is AN from its 52-week high?
AutoNation Inc trades at $165.05, about 28% below its 52-week high of $229.98 and at the low of $165.05 (as of Sep 23, 2026). Distance from the high says nothing about value: that is what the fair value of $396.99 is for.
Which stocks are comparable to AutoNation Inc?
From the same area (Consumer Cyclical) we also value Carvana Co, Penske Automotive Group, Hotai Motor Co, CarMax, Inc, among others. Each of them has its own fair-value calculation on this site using the same models, so the comparison is like for like.
Is AutoNation Inc stock attractive at the current price?
The data as of Sep 24, 2026: price $165.05, calculated fair value $396.99 (+141%), Quality Score 49/100, from 15 models. Whether that fits your horizon and risk tolerance is your call. We provide the calculation, not investment advice.
How is the fair value of AN calculated?
We run AutoNation Inc through 15 models from four families: discounted cash flow, earnings models, asset and balance-sheet models, and dividend models. Every model gets the same audited fundamentals; the result is the weighted average of $396.99, with the spread shown as a cautious and an optimistic scenario.
Is it still worth investing in stocks now?
The global stock market currently sits 14.1 % above its aggregate fair value. AutoNation Inc currently trades 141 % below its own fair value, and the market average says nothing about that. An expensive market is no reason to stay out and no reason to buy everything at once: keep a broad savings plan running, buy single stocks only with money you can do without, and hold part of your money liquid while the market is high. The full picture including sectors is on is it worth investing now.
What is the share price of AutoNation Inc (AN)?
The closing price on Sep 23, 2026 was $165.05. Our model-based fair value is $396.99, about +141% upside (undervalued). We carry closing prices from our data provider, not a live tick.
What should I pay attention to with AutoNation Inc right now?
The price is below even our cautious bear case ($230.18). The market is more pessimistic than our downside scenario. The model range is unusually wide ($230.18 to $841.84). The outcome hinges heavily on assumptions, so read the point estimate with caution. Solid quality (49/100) at a price below fair value, the discount is the argument here, not the business quality.
Where does the earnings growth of AutoNation Inc (AN) come from?
Earnings per share at AutoNation Inc grew +19.6 % a year from 2014 to 2025. Broken into its drivers: revenue per share +15.3 %, EBIT margin +2.6 %, tax rate +2.2 %, residual (interest, one-offs) −1.1 %. The four rates multiply to the earnings growth rate, they do not add up. Start and end are three-year averages so a single exceptional year does not distort the result.

Key figures of AutoNation Inc

How large is the market capitalisation of AutoNation Inc (AN)?
The market capitalisation of AutoNation Inc is $6.9B. The stock-market value of the whole company: share price times number of shares. It is what the market asks for the entire business today.
What is the P/S ratio of AutoNation Inc (AN)?
The price-to-sales ratio of AutoNation Inc is 0.21 (P/E × margin). Price to sales: market value relative to yearly revenue. Useful when profit is thin or distorted.
What are the earnings per share of AutoNation Inc (AN)?
Earnings per share at AutoNation Inc are $18.43 (price ÷ EPS = P/E 9.0). Earnings per share over the last twelve months: total profit spread across every single share.
What is the net margin of AutoNation Inc (AN)?
The net margin of AutoNation Inc is 2.3% (fiscal year 2025). How much of every unit of revenue ends up as profit. 10% means 10 cents of profit per dollar of sales.
What is the return on equity of AutoNation Inc (AN)?
The return on equity (ROE) of AutoNation Inc is 29.3% (last twelve months). Profit relative to shareholders' equity, how efficiently the company works with its owners' money.
What is the EBIT return on assets of AutoNation Inc (AN)?
On an EBIT basis the return on assets of AutoNation Inc is 14.9% (avg 5y). Operating profit (EBIT) relative to everything the company owns, as a multi-year average. It describes the business model rather than one good or bad year.
What is the operating margin of AutoNation Inc (AN)?
The operating margin of AutoNation Inc is 4.7% (last twelve months). Profit from the core business (before interest and taxes) relative to revenue.
How fast is revenue growing at AutoNation Inc (AN)?
Revenue at AutoNation Inc is growing −2.1% versus a year earlier (3y avg +0.8%). How much revenue grew versus a year earlier (YoY). The 3-year average next to it puts the single year in context.
How fast are earnings growing at AutoNation Inc (AN)?
Earnings per share at AutoNation Inc are growing +31.5% versus a year earlier. How much earnings per share grew versus a year earlier.
How much free cash flow does AutoNation Inc (AN) generate?
The free cash flow of AutoNation Inc is −$198M (fiscal year 2025). The cash truly left after running and investing in the business, this is what pays dividends and buybacks.
How much net debt does AutoNation Inc (AN) carry?
The net debt of AutoNation Inc is $10.1B (fiscal year 2025). Debt minus cash on hand. The note shows how many years of free cash flow could in theory pay it off.
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