Autonation Stock Beneish M Score

AN Stock  USD 165.43  4.45  2.62%   
This module uses fundamental data of AutoNation to approximate the value of its Beneish M Score. AutoNation M Score tells investors if the company management is likely to be manipulating earnings. The score is calculated using eight financial indicators that are adjusted by a specific multiplier. Please note, the M Score is a probabilistic model and cannot detect companies that manipulate their earnings with 100% accuracy. Check out AutoNation Piotroski F Score and AutoNation Altman Z Score analysis.
To learn how to invest in AutoNation Stock, please use our How to Invest in AutoNation guide.
  
At this time, AutoNation's Short Term Debt is very stable compared to the past year. As of the 30th of April 2024, Long Term Debt is likely to grow to about 3.5 B, while Net Debt is likely to drop about 3 B. At this time, AutoNation's Capex To Operating Cash Flow is very stable compared to the past year. As of the 30th of April 2024, Days Payables Outstanding is likely to grow to 64.82, while Price To Sales Ratio is likely to drop 0.24.
At this time, it appears that AutoNation is a possible manipulator. The earnings manipulation may begin if AutoNation's top management creates an artificial sense of financial success, forcing the stock price to be traded at a high price-earnings multiple than it should be. In general, excessive earnings management by AutoNation executives may lead to removing some of the operating profits from subsequent periods to inflate earnings in the following periods. This way, the manipulation of AutoNation's earnings can lead to misrepresentations of actual financial condition, taking the otherwise loyal stakeholders on to the path of questionable ethical practices and plain fraud.
-1.68
Beneish M Score - Possible Manipulator
Elasticity of Receivables

1.14

Focus
Asset Quality

0.82

Focus
Expense Coverage

1.04

Focus
Gross Margin Strengs

1.21

Focus
Accruals Factor

1.04

Focus
Depreciation Resistance

0.77

Focus
Net Sales Growth

0.58

Focus
Financial Leverage Condition

0.99

Focus

AutoNation Beneish M-Score Indicator Trends

The cure to earnings manipulation is the transparency of financial reporting. It will typically remove the temptation of the top executives to inflate earnings (i.e., to promote the idea of 'winning at any cost'). Because a healthy internal audit department can enhance transparency, the board should promote the auditors' access to all the record-keeping systems across the enterprise. For example, if AutoNation's auditors report directly to the board (not management), the managers will be reluctant to manipulate simply due to the fear of punishment. On the other hand, the auditors will be free to investigate the ledgers properly because they know that the board has their back.
Current ValueLast YearChange From Last Year 10 Year Trend
Net Receivables710 M1.1 B
Way Down
Slightly volatile
Total Revenue15.7 B26.9 B
Way Down
Slightly volatile
Total Assets7.6 B12.4 B
Way Down
Slightly volatile
Total Current Assets3.4 B4.3 B
Significantly Down
Slightly volatile
Non Current Assets Total4.2 BB
Way Down
Slightly volatile
Property Plant Equipment2.5 B4.1 B
Way Down
Slightly volatile
Depreciation And Amortization177.9 M220.5 M
Significantly Down
Slightly volatile
Selling General Administrative1.8 BB
Way Down
Slightly volatile
Total Current Liabilities3.2 B5.6 B
Way Down
Slightly volatile
Non Current Liabilities Total4.8 B4.6 B
Sufficiently Up
Slightly volatile
Short Term Debt1.9 B952.4 M
Way Up
Pretty Stable
Long Term Debt3.5 B3.4 B
Sufficiently Up
Slightly volatile
Long Term Investments242.5 M272.8 M
Fairly Down
Slightly volatile

AutoNation Beneish M-Score Driver Matrix

One of the toughest challenges investors face today is learning how to quickly synthesize historical financial statements and information provided by the company, SEC reporting, and various external parties in order to detect the potential manipulation of earnings. Understanding the correlation between AutoNation's different financial indicators related to revenue, expenses, operating profit, and net earnings helps investors identify and prioritize their investing strategies towards AutoNation in a much-optimized way. Analyzing correlations between earnings drivers directly associated with dollar figures is the most effective way to find AutoNation's degree of accounting gimmicks and manipulations.

About AutoNation Beneish M Score

M-Score is one of many grading techniques for value stocks. It was developed by Professor M. Daniel Beneish of the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University and published in 1999 under the paper titled The Detection of Earnings Manipulation. The Beneish score is a multi-factor model that utilizes financial identifiers to compile eight variables used to classify whether a company has manipulated its reported earnings. The variables are built from the officially filed financial statements to create a final score call 'M Score.' The score helps to identify companies that are likely to manipulate their profits if they show deteriorating gross margins, operating expenses, and leverage against growing revenue.

Current Deferred Revenue

40.38 Million

At this time, AutoNation's Current Deferred Revenue is very stable compared to the past year.

AutoNation Earnings Manipulation Drivers

Although earnings manipulation is typically not the result of intentional misconduct by the c-level executives, it is still a widespread practice by the senior management of public companies such as AutoNation. It is usually done by a series of misrepresentations of various accounting rules and operating activities across multiple financial cycles. The best way to spot the manipulation is to examine the historical financial statement to find inconsistencies in earning reports to find trends in assets or liabilities that are not sustainable in the future.
201920202021202220232024 (projected)
Net Receivables916.7M845.2M730M858.8M1.1B710.0M
Total Revenue21.3B20.4B25.8B27.0B26.9B15.7B
Total Assets10.5B9.9B8.9B10.1B12.4B7.6B
Total Current Assets4.4B4.2B2.8B3.1B4.3B3.4B
Net Debt6.0B4.6B4.9B6.3B4.6B3.0B
Short Term Debt4.2B3.1B1.8B2.2B952.4M1.9B
Long Term Debt1.6B1.8B2.8B312.9M3.4B3.5B
Operating Income823.6M1.1B1.9B2.0B1.5B1.6B
Investments(115.8M)55.4M(5.5M)(19.6M)(729M)(692.6M)

About AutoNation Fundamental Analysis

The Macroaxis Fundamental Analysis modules help investors analyze AutoNation's financials across various querterly and yearly statements, indicators and fundamental ratios. We help investors to determine the real value of AutoNation using virtually all public information available. We use both quantitative as well as qualitative analysis to arrive at the intrinsic value of AutoNation based on its fundamental data. In general, a quantitative approach, as applied to this company, focuses on analyzing financial statements comparatively, whereas a qaualitative method uses data that is important to a company's growth but cannot be measured and presented in a numerical way.
Please read more on our fundamental analysis page.

Pair Trading with AutoNation

One of the main advantages of trading using pair correlations is that every trade hedges away some risk. Because there are two separate transactions required, even if AutoNation position performs unexpectedly, the other equity can make up some of the losses. Pair trading also minimizes risk from directional movements in the market. For example, if an entire industry or sector drops because of unexpected headlines, the short position in AutoNation will appreciate offsetting losses from the drop in the long position's value.

Moving against AutoNation Stock

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The ability to find closely correlated positions to AutoNation could be a great tool in your tax-loss harvesting strategies, allowing investors a quick way to find a similar-enough asset to replace AutoNation when you sell it. If you don't do this, your portfolio allocation will be skewed against your target asset allocation. So, investors can't just sell and buy back AutoNation - that would be a violation of the tax code under the "wash sale" rule, and this is why you need to find a similar enough asset and use the proceeds from selling AutoNation to buy it.
The correlation of AutoNation is a statistical measure of how it moves in relation to other instruments. This measure is expressed in what is known as the correlation coefficient, which ranges between -1 and +1. A perfect positive correlation (i.e., a correlation coefficient of +1) implies that as AutoNation moves, either up or down, the other security will move in the same direction. Alternatively, perfect negative correlation means that if AutoNation moves in either direction, the perfectly negatively correlated security will move in the opposite direction. If the correlation is 0, the equities are not correlated; they are entirely random. A correlation greater than 0.8 is generally described as strong, whereas a correlation less than 0.5 is generally considered weak.
Correlation analysis and pair trading evaluation for AutoNation can also be used as hedging techniques within a particular sector or industry or even over random equities to generate a better risk-adjusted return on your portfolios.
Pair CorrelationCorrelation Matching
When determining whether AutoNation offers a strong return on investment in its stock, a comprehensive analysis is essential. The process typically begins with a thorough review of AutoNation's financial statements, including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements, to assess its financial health. Key financial ratios are used to gauge profitability, efficiency, and growth potential of Autonation Stock. Outlined below are crucial reports that will aid in making a well-informed decision on Autonation Stock:
Check out AutoNation Piotroski F Score and AutoNation Altman Z Score analysis.
To learn how to invest in AutoNation Stock, please use our How to Invest in AutoNation guide.
You can also try the Sectors module to list of equity sectors categorizing publicly traded companies based on their primary business activities.

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Is AutoNation's industry expected to grow? Or is there an opportunity to expand the business' product line in the future? Factors like these will boost the valuation of AutoNation. If investors know AutoNation will grow in the future, the company's valuation will be higher. The financial industry is built on trying to define current growth potential and future valuation accurately. All the valuation information about AutoNation listed above have to be considered, but the key to understanding future value is determining which factors weigh more heavily than others.
Quarterly Earnings Growth
(0.26)
Earnings Share
22.71
Revenue Per Share
624.386
Quarterly Revenue Growth
0.014
Return On Assets
0.0865
The market value of AutoNation is measured differently than its book value, which is the value of AutoNation that is recorded on the company's balance sheet. Investors also form their own opinion of AutoNation's value that differs from its market value or its book value, called intrinsic value, which is AutoNation's true underlying value. Investors use various methods to calculate intrinsic value and buy a stock when its market value falls below its intrinsic value. Because AutoNation's market value can be influenced by many factors that don't directly affect AutoNation's underlying business (such as a pandemic or basic market pessimism), market value can vary widely from intrinsic value.
Please note, there is a significant difference between AutoNation's value and its price as these two are different measures arrived at by different means. Investors typically determine if AutoNation is a good investment by looking at such factors as earnings, sales, fundamental and technical indicators, competition as well as analyst projections. However, AutoNation's price is the amount at which it trades on the open market and represents the number that a seller and buyer find agreeable to each party.