Analyst Unfazed by AutoNation Stock Struggles

AN hit 7-month lows last session and is heading for its worst month of the year

Laura McCandless

Deputy Editor

Oct 31, 2023 at 10:47 AM

AutoNation Inc (NYSE:AN) stock is up 1.3% to trade at $130.90 at last check, after J.P. Morgan Securities just upgraded the auto retailer to "neutral" from "underweight," with a price-target cut to $145 from $150, citing the company's valuation. Stephens also threw in an adjustment, lowering AN's price target to $152 from $155.

Today's rise isn't doing much to help AutoNation stock dig out of a 15% deficit for October, on track to be its worst month since September 2022. Yesterday, the shares traded at their lowest levels since March, although AN does still sport a 20% year-to-date lead.

There's ample room for a short squeeze. Short interest is off by 13.9% in the two most recent reporting periods, yet the 3.62 million shares sold short represents 9.4% of the stock's available float. It would take shorts over six trading days to cover their bets, at AN's average pace of trading.

Plus, AutoNation stock's 14-day relative strength index (RSI) of 22.8 sits firmly in "oversold" territory, which typically indicates short-term bounce could be on the way.

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