AutoNation (AN Quick QuoteAN - Free Report) reported $6.55 billion in revenue for the quarter ended March 2026, representing a year-over-year decline of 2.1%. EPS of $4.69 for the same period compares to $4.68 a year ago.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of -1.6% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.66 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $4.71, the EPS surprise was -0.43%.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

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:

• Retail vehicle unit sales - Total: 123,300 versus the four-analyst average estimate of 128,790.
• Revenue per vehicle retailed - New: $52,382.00 versus $52,208.53 estimated by four analysts on average.
• Revenue per vehicle retailed - Used: $27,646.00 compared to the $26,605.80 average estimate based on four analysts.
• Gross profit per vehicle retailed - Finance and insurance: $2,855.00 versus $2,722.82 estimated by four analysts on average.
• Retail vehicle unit sales - Used: 65,818 versus the four-analyst average estimate of 67,774.
• Revenue- Other: $4.4 million compared to the $4.58 million average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +29.4% year over year.
• Revenue- New Vehicle: $3.01 billion versus the four-analyst average estimate of $3.18 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -7.3%.
• Revenue- Used Vehicle: $1.96 billion compared to the $1.9 billion average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +2.2% year over year.
• Revenue- Parts and service: $1.22 billion versus the four-analyst average estimate of $1.21 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +4.9%.
• Revenue- Finance and insurance net: $352 million compared to the $350.49 million average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of -0.1% year over year.
• Revenue- Used Vehicle- Retail used vehicle: $1.82 billion compared to the $1.81 billion average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +1.5% year over year.
• Revenue- Used Vehicle- Wholesale: $144.2 million versus $130.46 million estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +10.7% change.

View all Key Company Metrics for AutoNation here>>>

Shares of AutoNation have returned +7.4% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +10.5% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.