Recent Updates — AN
AutoNation reported third-quarter 2026 revenue of $7.01 billion, essentially flat year-over-year, while GAAP diluted earnings per share declined to $4.87 from $5.65 in the prior year period due to lower new vehicle gross margins and higher interest expenses. Adjusted diluted EPS rose 2% to $5.11, marking the seventh consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth driven by record after-sales performance and a tenfold increase in AutoNation Finance profits. The company generated strong adjusted free cash flow of $739 million for the first nine months of 2026, utilizing nearly 85% for share repurchases that reduced shares outstanding by 9% year-to-date. In October, the Board authorized an additional $1 billion in buybacks, bringing total available capacity to $1.4 billion as of late October. AutoNation operates one of the largest automotive retail networks in the United States.
The Board of Directors appointed Mark Stewart as an independent member effective immediately, increasing board size to ten directors. Stewart brings extensive automotive and manufacturing leadership experience from roles at Goodyear, Stellantis, and Amazon. He will receive a prorated annual retainer of $50,000 for 2026 plus expense reimbursements and future equity awards under the Non-Employee Director Equity Plan. AutoNation operates one of the largest automotive retail networks in the United States.
On September 14, 2026, AutoNation amended its unsecured credit agreement to increase the revolving credit facility commitment from $1.9 billion to $2.0 billion and expand the accordion feature limit by up to $1.0 billion (up from $500 million). The maturity date was extended to September 14, 2031, while maintaining existing financial covenants of a maximum leverage ratio of 3.75x and a minimum interest coverage ratio of 3.00x. AutoNation operates in the automotive retail industry.
AutoNation reported second quarter 2026 results with revenue of $6.9 billion, a 1% decrease year-over-year, while diluted EPS rose to $5.39 from $2.26 in the prior year period. Adjusted diluted EPS was $5.56, up slightly from $5.46. The company achieved record After-Sales gross profit and saw Customer Pay growth of 7%. AutoNation Finance portfolio growth exceeded 50%, with YTD profit increasing tenfold. During the first half of 2026, the company repurchased 2.3 million shares for $457 million, reducing share count by over 6%. Additionally, AutoNation acquired four dealerships in Atlanta and San Francisco, adding approximately $600 million in annual revenue. The automotive retail industry operates through a nationwide network of dealerships offering new and used vehicles, financing, parts, and maintenance services.