AutoNation stock falls as price target drops to USD 255

Published on 09/22/2026 at 14:18 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

AutoNation stock opened at USD 168.78 on September 22, 2026, near its 52-week low. Citigroup cut its target to USD 255, while quarterly EPS reached USD 5.56.

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AutoNation stock opened at USD 168.78 on the NYSE on September 22, 2026, while the 52-week range stood at USD 165.14 to USD 235.81. The market capitalization was USD 5.58 billion, placing the current quote close to the lower end of its annual range.

Citigroup cuts target to USD 255

According to MarketBeat on September 21, 2026, Citigroup lowered its AutoNation price target from USD 290 to USD 255 while maintaining a buy rating. The revised target was reported against a share price of USD 167.27, making the target change the clearest current analyst signal for the stock.

The valuation debate is tied to the latest quarterly figures. AutoNation reported EPS of USD 5.56 for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, exceeding the USD 5.48 consensus estimate by USD 0.08, according to MarketBeat. Quarterly revenue was USD 6.93 billion, below the USD 7.00 billion expectation and down 0.6 percent year over year.

Revenue remains the counter-factor

The earnings comparison is mixed rather than uniformly negative: EPS of USD 5.56 was above consensus and far above the USD 2.26 recorded in the prior-year quarter, while revenue declined 0.6 percent year over year. The reported net margin was 2.82 percent for the same quarter, a figure that leaves revenue performance central to the valuation discussion.

MarketBeat also reported a 50-day moving average of USD 204.21 and a 200-day moving average of USD 197.20 on September 22, 2026. With the opening price below both averages, the quoted technical levels provide a concrete contrast to the earnings beat and explain why the reduced target remains materially above the market price.

AutoNation stock stays near its low

AutoNation stock opened at USD 168.78 on the NYSE on September 22, 2026. The same market snapshot placed the 52-week low at USD 165.14 and the 52-week high at USD 235.81, while market capitalization stood at USD 5.58 billion.