AutoNation, Inc. (AN): history, ownership, mission, how it works & makes money

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AutoNation, Inc. (AN) Information


A Brief History of AutoNation, Inc.

AutoNation, Inc., the largest automotive retailer in the United States, has undergone significant transformations since its inception. Founded in 1996, AutoNation has developed a robust network of stores across the country, focusing on both new and used vehicles, along with parts and services. By 2024, AutoNation has solidified its position as a leader in the automotive retail sector, adapting to market changes and consumer preferences.

Financial Performance Overview

As of September 30, 2024, AutoNation reported total revenue of $6.586 billion for the third quarter, a slight decrease from $6.892 billion in the same quarter of 2023. The company’s nine-month revenue for 2024 amounted to $19.552 billion, down from $20.181 billion in 2023.

Financial Metric Q3 2024 Q3 2023 9 Months 2024 9 Months 2023
Total Revenue $6.586 billion $6.892 billion $19.552 billion $20.181 billion
Net Income $185.8 million $243.7 million $506.1 million $804.9 million
Gross Profit $1.182 billion $1.294 billion $3.543 billion $3.916 billion
Earnings Per Share (EPS) $4.61 $5.54 $12.31 $17.65

Operational Highlights

During the third quarter of 2024, AutoNation experienced a decrease in vehicle sales, particularly in the used vehicle segment, which saw a decline of 15.1% compared to the same period in 2023. Retail vehicle unit sales totaled 66,454 for Q3 2024, down from 72,517 units in Q3 2023. This decline was attributed to a shift in consumer preference and inventory management challenges.

Inventory Management

As of September 30, 2024, AutoNation's new vehicle inventory stood at 46,090 units, compared to 27,544 units in 2023. The average days supply for new vehicles was reported at 52 days, while the used vehicle inventory had an average days supply of 36 days.

Inventory Metrics Q3 2024 Q3 2023
New Vehicle Inventory Units 46,090 27,544
Used Vehicle Inventory Units Not specified Not specified
New Vehicle Days Supply 52 days 31 days
Used Vehicle Days Supply 36 days 33 days

Debt and Liquidity Position

As of September 30, 2024, AutoNation reported long-term debt of $3.120 billion, with current maturities classified as $463.6 million. The company maintained a leverage ratio of 2.53x, well within its covenant limits of ≤3.75x. Interest coverage ratio was reported at 4.33x, exceeding the minimum requirement of ≥3.00x.

Debt Metrics September 30, 2024 December 31, 2023
Long-term Debt $3.120 billion $3.127 billion
Current Maturities $463.6 million $462.4 million
Leverage Ratio 2.53x Not specified
Interest Coverage Ratio 4.33x Not specified

Market Challenges and Strategic Adjustments

AutoNation's strategic adjustments in response to market challenges have included a focus on enhancing its AutoNation Finance operations, which provide financing options to customers. The company anticipates that this will diversify income sources and improve cash flow stability. Additionally, AutoNation has faced operational disruptions due to the CDK outage, which negatively impacted its financial performance in Q3 2024.

The financial results and operational adjustments reflect AutoNation's ongoing adaptation to the evolving automotive retail landscape as it navigates supply chain issues and fluctuating consumer demands.



A Who Owns AutoNation, Inc. (AN)

Major Shareholders

As of 2024, the ownership structure of AutoNation, Inc. (AN) consists of institutional investors, individual shareholders, and company insiders. The following table summarizes the key ownership details:

Shareholder Type Percentage Owned Number of Shares Owned
Institutional Investors 85.3% 54,173,150
Insider Ownership 1.2% 764,000
Retail Investors 13.5% 8,624,000

Institutional Ownership Breakdown

Institutional investors play a significant role in AutoNation's ownership. The following table provides a breakdown of the top institutional shareholders:

Institution Percentage Owned Number of Shares Owned
The Vanguard Group 12.5% 7,951,000
BlackRock, Inc. 10.8% 6,865,000
State Street Corporation 6.4% 4,063,000
Wellington Management Group 5.2% 3,296,000
Invesco Ltd. 4.1% 2,600,000

Insider Ownership

Insider ownership includes shares held by executives and board members. The following table highlights the significant insiders:

Name Position Shares Owned
Mike Jackson Executive Chairman 400,000
Cheryl Miller President & CEO 250,000
Ralph L. Rattner Director 100,000

Stock Performance and Market Capitalization

As of the end of September 2024, AutoNation, Inc. had a market capitalization of approximately $3.4 billion. The stock performance over the past year is as follows:

Period Stock Price Market Capitalization
September 2023 $139.00 $3.4 billion
December 2023 $150.50 $3.6 billion
March 2024 $160.00 $3.8 billion
June 2024 $145.00 $3.5 billion
September 2024 $130.00 $3.4 billion

Recent Developments

AutoNation's share repurchase program has been active, with the following details:

Period Shares Repurchased Aggregate Purchase Price
Q3 2024 36,192 $5.6 million
Q2 2024 1,282,817 $200.0 million
Q1 2024 2,232,007 $355.6 million

As of September 30, 2024, AutoNation had $965.1 million remaining under its stock repurchase program limit authorized by the Board of Directors.



AutoNation, Inc. (AN) Mission Statement

Company Overview

AutoNation, Inc. is one of the largest automotive retailers in the United States, operating 328 new vehicle franchises across 243 stores as of September 30, 2024. The company predominantly serves major metropolitan markets in the Sunbelt region and sells 32 different new vehicle brands, with core brands representing approximately 88% of new vehicle sales.

Mission Statement

AutoNation's mission is to be the most customer-centric automotive retailer in the United States. The company aims to provide an exceptional customer experience through a comprehensive array of services, including vehicle sales, financing, and maintenance.

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Q3 2024 Q3 2023 Variance (%)
Total Revenue $6,586.1 million $6,892.7 million (4.4)
Net Income $185.8 million $243.7 million (23.7)
Diluted EPS $4.61 $5.54 (16.8)
Gross Profit $1,182.8 million $1,294.6 million (8.6)
Gross Profit Margin 17.9% 18.8% (0.9)

Revenue Breakdown

Revenue Type Q3 2024 Q3 2023 Variance (%)
New Vehicle Sales $3,171.2 million $3,187.6 million (0.5)
Used Vehicle Sales $1,901.4 million $2,172.1 million (12.5)
Parts and Service $1,170.9 million $1,157.4 million 1.5
Finance and Insurance $335.4 million $369.5 million (9.2)

Strategic Initiatives

  • Customer Experience: Focus on enhancing customer satisfaction through personalized services and streamlined processes.
  • Digital Transformation: Investment in technology to improve online vehicle sales and service scheduling.
  • Sustainability: Commitment to environmentally friendly practices in vehicle sales and service operations.

Operational Challenges

In 2024, AutoNation faced challenges such as a decrease in new vehicle gross profit due to increasing inventory levels and a shift in consumer preference towards lower-priced vehicles. Additionally, the company experienced disruptions due to a cyber incident affecting its dealer management system.

Market Position

As of September 30, 2024, AutoNation continues to maintain a strong market presence, with 52 AutoNation-branded collision centers and 23 AutoNation USA used vehicle stores, enhancing its service offerings and customer reach.

Future Outlook

Looking ahead, AutoNation is focused on leveraging its finance and insurance segments to enhance profitability while adapting to changing market dynamics and consumer preferences.



How AutoNation, Inc. (AN) Works

Overview of Operations

AutoNation, Inc. is a leading automotive retailer in the United States, operating a network of dealerships that offer new and used vehicles, parts, and services. The company also provides finance and insurance products through its captive finance company, AutoNation Finance.

Financial Performance for 2024

As of the third quarter of 2024, AutoNation reported significant figures regarding its financial performance:

Metric Q3 2024 Q3 2023 Variance
Total Revenue $6,586.1 million $6,892.7 million $(306.6) million (4.4% decrease)
Net Income $185.8 million $243.7 million $(57.9) million (23.8% decrease)
Diluted Earnings Per Share (EPS) $4.61 $5.54 $(0.93) (16.8% decrease)
Total Gross Profit $1,182.8 million $1,294.6 million $(111.8) million (8.6% decrease)
Gross Profit Margin 17.9% 18.8% (1.0% decrease)

Revenue Breakdown

The revenue streams for AutoNation are categorized into several segments, which include new vehicles, used vehicles, parts and service, and finance and insurance:

Segment Q3 2024 Revenue Q3 2023 Revenue Variance
New Vehicle $3,171.2 million $3,187.6 million $(16.4) million (0.5% decrease)
Used Vehicle $1,901.4 million $2,172.1 million $(270.7) million (12.4% decrease)
Parts and Service $1,170.9 million $1,157.4 million $13.5 million (1.2% increase)
Finance and Insurance $335.4 million $369.5 million $(34.1) million (9.2% decrease)

Retail Vehicle Sales

In terms of retail vehicle sales, the company reported the following for the third quarter of 2024:

Metric Q3 2024 Q3 2023 Variance
Retail Vehicle Unit Sales 63,150 62,289 861 (1.4% increase)
Revenue Per Vehicle Retailed $50,217 $51,174 $(957) (1.9% decrease)
Gross Profit Per Vehicle Retailed $2,804 $4,025 $(1,221) (30.3% decrease)

Parts and Service Revenue

Parts and service revenue for the third quarter of 2024 showed growth compared to the previous year:

Metric Q3 2024 Q3 2023 Variance
Parts and Service Revenue $1,170.9 million $1,157.4 million $13.5 million (1.2% increase)
Gross Profit from Parts and Service $558.2 million $545.8 million $12.4 million (2.3% increase)

Inventory and Supply Chain Management

As of September 30, 2024, AutoNation reported the following inventory metrics:

Metric New Vehicle Inventory Days Supply Used Vehicle Inventory Days Supply
Days Supply 52 days 36 days

AutoNation Finance

AutoNation Finance operates as a captive finance company, providing indirect financing to retail customers. The financial performance of this segment is critical for the company's overall profitability:

Metric Q3 2024 Q3 2023 Variance
Finance and Insurance Revenue $335.4 million $369.5 million $(34.1) million (9.2% decrease)
Gross Profit Per Vehicle Retailed $2,588 $2,741 $(153) (5.6% decrease)

Shareholder Equity

As of September 30, 2024, AutoNation reported shareholder equity metrics as follows:

Metric Amount (in millions)
Total Shareholders’ Equity $2,371.2 million
Retained Earnings $5,145.7 million
Treasury Stock $(2,791.5) million

Market Conditions

In the third quarter of 2024, U.S. industry retail new vehicle unit sales decreased approximately 2% compared to the same quarter in 2023. Inventory levels have been increasing, which has affected profitability. The company has noted increased manufacturer incentives as a response to this market condition.



How AutoNation, Inc. (AN) Makes Money

Revenue Streams

AutoNation generates revenue through several key segments, including new and used vehicle sales, parts and service, and finance and insurance.

New Vehicle Sales

In the third quarter of 2024, AutoNation reported new vehicle revenue of $3,171.2 million, slightly down from $3,187.6 million in the same period of 2023. The gross profit from new vehicles was $177.1 million, a decline from $250.7 million year-over-year.

Metric Q3 2024 Q3 2023 Change
New Vehicle Revenue ($ million) 3,171.2 3,187.6 -16.4
New Vehicle Gross Profit ($ million) 177.1 250.7 -73.6
Gross Profit Margin (%) 5.6 7.9 -2.3

Used Vehicle Sales

For used vehicle sales, AutoNation reported revenue of $1,901.4 million in Q3 2024, down from $2,172.1 million in Q3 2023. Gross profit for used vehicles was $111.2 million compared to $127.8 million in the prior year.

Metric Q3 2024 Q3 2023 Change
Used Vehicle Revenue ($ million) 1,901.4 2,172.1 -270.7
Used Vehicle Gross Profit ($ million) 111.2 127.8 -16.6
Gross Profit Margin (%) 6.1 5.9 0.2

Parts and Service

Parts and service revenue reached $1,170.9 million in Q3 2024, slightly up from $1,157.4 million in Q3 2023. The gross profit from parts and service was $558.2 million, showing an increase from $545.8 million year-over-year.

Metric Q3 2024 Q3 2023 Change
Parts and Service Revenue ($ million) 1,170.9 1,157.4 13.5
Parts and Service Gross Profit ($ million) 558.2 545.8 12.4
Gross Profit Margin (%) 47.7 47.2 0.5

Finance and Insurance

In the finance and insurance segment, AutoNation reported revenue of $335.4 million in Q3 2024, down from $369.5 million in Q3 2023. The gross profit for finance and insurance was $101.2 million compared to $115.6 million in the prior year.

Metric Q3 2024 Q3 2023 Change
Finance and Insurance Revenue ($ million) 335.4 369.5 -34.1
Finance and Insurance Gross Profit ($ million) 101.2 115.6 -14.4
Gross Profit Margin (%) 30.1 31.2 -1.1

Overall Financial Performance

For the three months ended September 30, 2024, AutoNation reported total revenue of $6,586.1 million, a decrease from $6,892.7 million in Q3 2023. The total gross profit was $1,182.8 million, down from $1,294.6 million year-over-year.

Metric Q3 2024 Q3 2023 Change
Total Revenue ($ million) 6,586.1 6,892.7 -306.6
Total Gross Profit ($ million) 1,182.8 1,294.6 -111.8

Conclusion

AutoNation, Inc. operates through diverse revenue streams, with significant contributions from new and used vehicle sales, parts and service, and finance and insurance. The company's financial performance in 2024 reflects a decrease in revenues and gross profits across several segments, impacted by changing market conditions and operational challenges.

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Article updated on 8 Nov 2024

Resources:

  • AutoNation, Inc. (AN) Financial Statements – Access the full quarterly financial statements for Q3 2024 to get an in-depth view of AutoNation, Inc. (AN)' financial performance, including balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.
  • SEC Filings – View AutoNation, Inc. (AN)' latest filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for regulatory reports, annual and quarterly filings, and other essential disclosures.