For the quarter ended June 2024, AutoNation (AN Quick QuoteAN - Free Report) reported revenue of $6.48 billion, down 6% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $3.99, compared to $6.29 in the year-ago quarter.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of -4.09% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.76 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $4.31, the EPS surprise was -7.42%.

While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.

Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.

Here is how AutoNation performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

• Unit sales - Total - Retail

  : 126,772 compared to the 132,033 average estimate based on four analysts.

• Revenue per Vehicle retailed - New Vehicle

  : $50,965 compared to the $50,624.99 average estimate based on four analysts.

• Revenue per Vehicle retailed - Used Vehicle

  : $26,617 versus the four-analyst average estimate of $27,151.13.

• Gross profit per vehicle retailed - Finance and insurance

  : $2,556 versus $2,673.35 estimated by four analysts on average.

• Unit sales - Used Vehicle - Retail

  : 65,504 versus the four-analyst average estimate of 69,327.

• Revenue- Other

  : $5.70 million versus the five-analyst average estimate of $6 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -9.5%.

• Revenue- New Vehicle

  : $3.12 billion versus $3.20 billion estimated by five analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -4.8% change.

• Revenue- Used Vehicle

  : $1.91 billion versus the five-analyst average estimate of $1.99 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -8.5%.

• Revenue- Parts and service

  : $1.12 billion versus $1.21 billion estimated by five analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -2.5% change.

• Revenue- Finance and insurance net

  : $324 million versus $352.15 million estimated by five analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -12.3% change.

• Revenue- Used Vehicle- Retail

  : $1.74 billion versus $1.86 billion estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -10.6% change.

• Revenue- Used Vehicle- Wholesale

  : $167.60 million compared to the $141.67 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +20.8% year over year.

View all Key Company Metrics for AutoNation here>>>

Shares of AutoNation have returned +11.7% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.4% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), indicating that it could underperform the broader market in the near term.