AutoNation (AN Quick QuoteAN - Free Report) reported $7.01 billion in revenue for the quarter ended September 2026, representing a year-over-year decline of 0.4%. EPS of $5.11 for the same period compares to $5.01 a year ago.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.06 billion, representing a surprise of -0.71%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of -1.73%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $5.20.

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.

As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.

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 - New: 63,929 versus the four-analyst average estimate of 64,503.
• Retail vehicle unit sales - Total: 129,339 compared to the 133,112 average estimate based on four analysts.
• Retail vehicle unit sales - Used: 65,410 versus 68,609 estimated by four analysts on average.
• Gross profit per vehicle retailed - Used: $1,524.00 versus $1,557.14 estimated by three analysts on average.
• Gross profit per vehicle retailed - New: $2,176.00 versus the three-analyst average estimate of $2,201.29.
• Revenue- Other: $5.1 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $4.98 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of 0%.
• Revenue- New vehicle: $3.33 billion compared to the $3.38 billion average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of -2.5% year over year.
• Revenue- Used vehicle: $2.04 billion compared to the $2.02 billion average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +1% year over year.
• Revenue- Parts and service: $1.29 billion compared to the $1.29 billion average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +5.2% year over year.
• Revenue- Finance and insurance net: $349 million versus $366.33 million estimated by four analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -6.9% change.
• Revenue- Used vehicle- Retail used vehicle: $1.88 billion versus the three-analyst average estimate of $1.89 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +0.5%.
• Revenue- Used vehicle- Wholesale: $152.5 million compared to the $149.53 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +7.9% year over year.

View all Key Company Metrics for AutoNation here>>>

Shares of AutoNation have returned +2.6% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.7% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), indicating that it could underperform the broader market in the near term.