Latest Ratios: P/E Ratio 9.7x · EV/EBITDA 9.9x · ROE 27.1%. (1996–2025 historical series)
Price-based multiples — how expensive the stock is relative to earnings, sales, book value, and cash flow
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap | $5.5B | $7.9B | $6.8B | $6.7B | $6.1B | $8.8B | $6.2B | $4.4B | $3.3B | $5.0B | $5.0B |
| Enterprise Value | $15.6B | $18.0B | $15.4B | $14.8B | $12.4B | $13.7B | $10.9B | $10.4B | $9.8B | $11.5B | $11.6B |
| P/E Ratio → | 9.69 | 12.12 | 10.04 | 6.60 | 4.42 | 6.38 | 16.23 | 9.78 | 8.23 | 11.59 | 11.72 |
| P/S Ratio | 0.20 | 0.28 | 0.26 | 0.25 | 0.23 | 0.34 | 0.30 | 0.21 | 0.15 | 0.23 | 0.23 |
| P/B Ratio | 2.69 | 3.36 | 2.79 | 3.05 | 2.97 | 3.69 | 1.91 | 1.39 | 1.20 | 2.13 | 2.19 |
| P/FCF | — | — | — | 21.50 | 4.54 | 6.21 | 5.89 | 8.80 | 29.58 | 22.23 | 18.95 |
| P/OCF | 49.35 | 70.30 | 21.75 | 9.31 | 3.65 | 5.38 | 5.13 | 5.72 | 6.38 | 9.33 | 9.79 |
P/E links to full P/E history page with 30-year chart
Enterprise-value multiples — capital-structure-neutral measures of total business value
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV / Revenue | — | 0.65 | 0.58 | 0.55 | 0.46 | 0.53 | 0.53 | 0.49 | 0.46 | 0.53 | 0.53 |
| EV / EBITDA | 9.86 | 11.34 | 9.99 | 7.91 | 5.59 | 6.52 | 14.27 | 10.34 | 10.39 | 11.46 | 11.19 |
| EV / EBIT | 11.72 | 14.36 | 11.39 | 8.72 | 6.17 | 7.09 | 15.37 | 12.11 | 12.59 | 13.45 | 12.92 |
| EV / FCF | — | — | — | 47.19 | 9.28 | 9.67 | 10.34 | 20.77 | 89.01 | 50.65 | 43.36 |
Margins and return-on-capital ratios measuring operating efficiency
Full margin charts and quarterly trend are on the Earnings History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Margin | 17.0% | 17.0% | 17.9% | 19.0% | 19.5% | 19.2% | 17.5% | 16.5% | 15.9% | 15.6% | 15.3% |
| Operating Margin | 4.8% | 4.8% | 4.9% | 6.1% | 7.5% | 7.4% | 2.8% | 3.9% | 3.6% | 3.9% | 4.1% |
| Net Profit Margin | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.6% | 3.8% | 5.1% | 5.3% | 1.9% | 2.1% | 1.8% | 2.0% | 2.0% |
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE | 27.1% | 27.1% | 29.7% | 47.9% | 62.3% | 48.9% | 11.9% | 15.3% | 15.6% | 18.6% | 18.5% |
| ROA | 4.7% | 4.7% | 5.5% | 9.3% | 14.5% | 14.6% | 3.7% | 4.2% | 3.8% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| ROIC | 8.5% | 8.5% | 9.2% | 13.3% | 19.4% | 18.8% | 5.0% | 6.7% | 6.5% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| ROCE | 17.2% | 17.2% | 20.0% | 25.3% | 32.3% | 32.8% | 10.0% | 15.5% | 16.1% | 19.0% | 20.6% |
Solvency and debt-coverage ratios — lower is generally safer
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt / Equity | 4.35 | 4.35 | 3.52 | 3.67 | 3.13 | 2.08 | 1.62 | 1.91 | 2.43 | 2.75 | 2.84 |
| Debt / EBITDA | 6.42 | 6.42 | 5.60 | 4.34 | 2.89 | 2.36 | 6.89 | 6.00 | 6.99 | 6.50 | 6.36 |
| Net Debt / Equity | — | 4.33 | 3.50 | 3.65 | 3.10 | 2.06 | 1.45 | 1.89 | 2.41 | 2.72 | 2.82 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 6.38 | 6.38 | 5.56 | 4.31 | 2.85 | 2.33 | 6.14 | 5.96 | 6.94 | 6.43 | 6.30 |
| Debt / FCF | — | — | — | 25.70 | 4.74 | 3.47 | 4.45 | 11.97 | 59.43 | 28.41 | 24.41 |
| Interest Coverage | 3.40 | 3.40 | 3.09 | 5.20 | 11.43 | 16.24 | 4.49 | 3.50 | 3.12 | 3.93 | 4.66 |
Short-term solvency ratios and asset-utilisation metrics
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio | 0.84 | 0.84 | 0.74 | 0.77 | 0.92 | 0.92 | 1.00 | 0.86 | 0.86 | 0.85 | 0.81 |
| Quick Ratio | 0.22 | 0.22 | 0.21 | 0.23 | 0.32 | 0.31 | 0.37 | 0.22 | 0.22 | 0.25 | 0.20 |
| Cash Ratio | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.14 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Asset Turnover | — | 1.92 | 2.06 | 2.25 | 2.68 | 2.89 | 2.06 | 1.99 | 2.01 | 2.10 | 2.15 |
| Inventory Turnover | 6.74 | 6.74 | 6.54 | 7.19 | 10.60 | 11.31 | 6.47 | 5.39 | 4.94 | 5.40 | 5.20 |
| Days Sales Outstanding | — | 12.53 | 14.82 | 14.40 | 11.62 | 10.31 | 15.59 | 16.14 | 17.12 | 18.83 | 17.45 |
Earnings, FCF, buyback, and dividend yields — total returns to shareholders
Full dividend history and growth charts are on the Dividend History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Payout Ratio | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earnings Yield | 10.3% | 8.3% | 10.0% | 15.1% | 22.6% | 15.7% | 6.2% | 10.2% | 12.2% | 8.6% | 8.5% |
| FCF Yield | — | — | — | 4.7% | 22.0% | 16.1% | 17.0% | 11.4% | 3.4% | 4.5% | 5.3% |
| Buyback Yield | 14.3% | 10.1% | 6.7% | 13.0% | 27.9% | 26.5% | 5.9% | 1.0% | 3.1% | 8.6% | 10.1% |
| Total Shareholder Yield | 14.3% | 10.1% | 6.7% | 13.0% | 27.9% | 26.5% | 5.9% | 1.0% | 3.1% | 8.6% | 10.1% |
| Shares Outstanding | — | $38M | $40M | $45M | $57M | $75M | $89M | $91M | $91M | $98M | $104M |
Includes 30+ ratios · 30 years · Updated daily
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Quick answers to the most common questions about buying AN stock.
AutoNation, Inc.'s current P/E ratio is 9.7x. The historical average is 13.0x. This places it at the 18th percentile of its historical range.
AutoNation, Inc.'s current EV/EBITDA is 9.9x. This enterprise value multiple compares the company's total value (equity + debt - cash) to its EBITDA. The historical average is 10.3x.
AutoNation, Inc.'s return on equity (ROE) is 27.1%. This is above the typical threshold of 15-20% considered good for most companies. The historical average is 15.7%.
Based on historical data, AutoNation, Inc. is trading at a P/E of 9.7x. This is at the 18th percentile of its historical P/E range. Compare with industry peers and growth rates for a complete picture.
AutoNation, Inc. has 17.0% gross margin and 4.8% operating margin.
AutoNation, Inc.'s Debt/EBITDA ratio is 6.4x, indicating high leverage. A ratio above 4x may signal elevated financial risk.
Key Metrics
Top Statement Risk
Elevated leverage and GPU normalization
Metrics are mathematically derived from official filings.
Discounted for Margin Normalization
AutoNation trades at 11.7x trailing earnings and 9.2x forward, per recent filings, a discount to peers like Penske (15.3x) and Sonic (22.7x), suggesting the market prices in continued margin compression.
The forward P/E of 9.22 implies the market expects earnings to decline from current levels, consistent with the decelerating revenue growth and GPU normalization. The PEG of 0.37, based on reported figures, appears low, but this likely reflects an expected earnings contraction rather than undervaluation. Compared to Lithia's 11.47x and Group 1's 10.42x, AutoNation's multiple is not exceptionally cheap, indicating investors are not rewarding its buyback-driven EPS growth.
Margins Hold but Face Headwinds
Gross margin dipped to 17.8% in 2026Q2 from 18.3% a year earlier, as per financial statements, while operating margin fell to 4.6% from 5.3%, indicating a gradual erosion of pricing power.
The stability in gross margin around 17-18% masks the underlying pressure from new vehicle GPU normalization, which is partially offset by higher-margin parts and service revenue. Operating margin contraction to 4.6% in 2026Q2, from 5.3% in 2025Q3, suggests SG&A costs are sticky relative to revenue, a concern if volume continues to soften. Net margin of 2.6% remains thin, and the recent EPS miss highlights the fragility of earnings quality.
ROIC Decay Signals Capital Allocation Risk
ROIC fell to 1.8% in 2026Q2 from 2.9% in 2024Q3, based on reported data, while ROE dropped to 8.1% from 8.2%, indicating that returns on invested capital are deteriorating.
The decline in ROIC from 2.9% to 1.8% over eight quarters suggests that the company's expansion into AutoNation USA and heavy capital expenditure are not yet generating adequate returns. ROE, though higher at 8.1%, is inflated by the aggressive share repurchases that have reduced equity to $2.3B, masking the underlying operational decay. This divergence between ROE and ROIC warrants monitoring, as it may indicate that financial engineering is obscuring true value creation.
Working Capital Drag Intensifies
Cash conversion cycle lengthened to 63 days in 2026Q2 from 60 days in 2024Q1, per reported figures, driven by DIO rising to 57 days, indicating inventory is tying up more cash.
The increase in DIO from 52-53 days to 57 days suggests that AutoNation is holding more inventory, possibly due to softer demand or strategic builds, which is consuming cash. DSO remains stable at 11-12 days, reflecting efficient receivables collection, but the negative FCF margin of -2.0% in 2026Q2 highlights the cash strain from working capital. The CCC of 63 days, while not extreme, is trending upward and may pressure liquidity if the trend continues.
Debt Load Grows as Coverage Erodes
Debt-to-equity climbed to 5.02 in 2026Q2 from 3.34 in 2024Q1, as per recent filings, while interest coverage fell to 2.60 from 3.77, signaling a tightening debt service capacity.
The rapid increase in D/E to 5.02, the highest in the series, reflects both rising debt and a stagnant equity base due to buybacks. Interest coverage of 2.60 is thin, and with D/EBITDA at 29.62, the company appears highly leveraged relative to its cash flow. In a rising rate environment, this could squeeze net margins further, and the lack of a liquidity cushion (current ratio 0.78) amplifies refinancing risk.
Thin Liquidity Leaves Little Room
Current ratio slipped to 0.78 in 2026Q2, with cash of $123.9M against $11.3B debt, per balance sheet data, indicating a tight liquidity position that may strain under operational shocks.
The quick ratio of 0.18 underscores the heavy reliance on inventory, which may not be easily liquidated in a downturn. With negative operating cash flow in 2026Q2 and a current ratio below 1, AutoNation appears vulnerable to a demand shock or credit tightening. The company's real estate holdings, though not reflected in these ratios, could provide a liquidity backstop, but that is not certain.
Misapplied P/E Overstates Cheapness
The trailing P/E of 11.71, based on reported figures, appears low, but it is distorted by aggressive buybacks that have reduced share count and inflated EPS, obscuring underlying operational weakness.
AutoNation's P/E is often compared to peers, but the heavy reliance on share repurchases means that EPS growth is partly a function of financial engineering rather than operational performance. A more appropriate metric is EV/EBITDA, which at 10.59 is higher than Group 1's 8.38 and Asbury's 9.50, indicating that on an enterprise basis, AutoNation is not as cheap as the P/E suggests. Investors should focus on EV/EBITDA and ROIC to assess true value creation, as the P/E may mislead.