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AN vs BBY
Which Stock Would AI Choose? AutoNation (AN) vs. Best Buy (BBY) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- AN reported second-quarter 2026 revenue of $6.9 billion, down 1% year-over-year, with adjusted diluted EPS rising to $5.56 and strong performance in its after-sales segment.
- BBY shares have delivered a 32.02% year-to-date return through August 21, 2026, significantly outpacing the S&P 500’s 12.11% gain, supported by institutional buying ahead of its August 27 earnings report.
- AN trades near $199.49 with a 52-week range of $176.62–$235.81, reflecting resilience in used-vehicle and service operations amid softer new-vehicle demand.
- BBY trades near $85.89, with a market capitalization of approximately $18 billion, positioning it as a consumer-electronics retailer benefiting from AI-enabled product cycles and recent CFO transition.
- Both stocks operate in consumer discretionary sectors but differ in exposure: AN to automotive retail and BBY to technology hardware and services.
- Relative momentum favors BBY on a year-to-date basis, while AN shows stability through share repurchases and after-sales growth.
Introduction
Investors and traders seeking to compare two prominent consumer discretionary names often examine AN and BBY because both respond to shifts in household spending, interest rates, and technological adoption. AutoNation operates one of the largest automotive retail networks in the United States, while Best Buy serves as a leading specialty retailer of consumer electronics and appliances. This comparison highlights differences in business models, recent price behavior, and market positioning that may appeal to those evaluating relative value, momentum, or sector rotation strategies within the current environment.
AN Overview and Recent Performance
AutoNation, Inc. is a major automotive retailer offering new and used vehicles, parts, and service across its dealership network. In recent weeks, the company reported second-quarter 2026 results showing revenue of $6.9 billion, a 1% decline year-over-year, offset by record after-sales gross profit and adjusted diluted earnings per share of $5.56. The stock has traded in a range between approximately $177 and $236 over the past year, closing near $199.49 on August 21, 2026, after reaching an all-time high near $229 in late July. Performance has been supported by ongoing share repurchases and resilient service operations, though broader new-vehicle demand softness has tempered top-line growth.
BBY Overview and Recent Performance
Best Buy Co., Inc. is a specialty retailer focused on consumer electronics, computing devices, and home appliances, with a growing emphasis on AI-enabled products. In recent market activity, shares have shown notable volatility ahead of the August 27, 2026 earnings release, trading near $85.89 as of August 21. Year-to-date returns stand at 32.02%, outpacing the broader market, aided by institutional accumulation and analyst target increases. The company recently appointed Anne Bramman as chief financial officer, effective mid-August, while maintaining expectations for modest comparable sales growth and fiscal 2027 adjusted earnings guidance.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
AutoNation focuses on automotive retail with significant after-sales and financing revenue streams, whereas Best Buy centers on technology hardware and services, exposing each to different demand drivers such as vehicle affordability versus gadget replacement cycles. On recent momentum, BBY has posted stronger year-to-date gains amid AI-product tailwinds, while AN has emphasized operational efficiency and capital returns through buybacks. Risk factors include interest-rate sensitivity for vehicle financing at AN and competitive pricing pressure plus tariff exposure for BBY. Sector exposure places both in consumer discretionary, yet AN carries greater cyclicality tied to durable-goods purchases, whereas BBY benefits from recurring technology upgrades. Market sentiment reflects cautious optimism for both ahead of upcoming catalysts, with BBY showing higher price volatility in the near term.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable trend consistency, year-to-date relative performance, and positioning ahead of near-term catalysts, Tickeron’s AI models would currently assign a modestly higher probability of favorable momentum to BBY over the coming weeks, while recognizing AN’s stability in after-sales operations and capital allocation. This assessment remains probabilistic and subject to evolving market conditions and earnings outcomes.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is AN is a Hold and BBY is a StrongBuy.
| AN | BBY | AN / BBY | |
| Capitalization | 6.73B | 19B | 35% |
| EBITDA | 1.75B | 2.58B | 68% |
| Gain YTD | -1.361 | 39.563 | -3% |
| P/E Ratio | 9.44 | 15.11 | 62% |
| Revenue | 27.4B | 42.2B | 65% |
| Total Cash | 53.3M | 2.26B | 2% |
| Total Debt | 11.3B | 4.13B | 273% |
AN | BBY | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 12 | 81 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 73 Overvalued | 18 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 29 | 99 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 31 | 24 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 49 | 17 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 82 | 78 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 75 | n/a |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
BBY's Valuation (18) in the Electronics Or Appliance Stores industry is somewhat better than the same rating for AN (73) in the Specialty Stores industry. This means that BBY’s stock grew somewhat faster than AN’s over the last 12 months.
AN's Profit vs Risk Rating (29) in the Specialty Stores industry is significantly better than the same rating for BBY (99) in the Electronics Or Appliance Stores industry. This means that AN’s stock grew significantly faster than BBY’s over the last 12 months.
BBY's SMR Rating (24) in the Electronics Or Appliance Stores industry is in the same range as AN (31) in the Specialty Stores industry. This means that BBY’s stock grew similarly to AN’s over the last 12 months.
BBY's Price Growth Rating (17) in the Electronics Or Appliance Stores industry is in the same range as AN (49) in the Specialty Stores industry. This means that BBY’s stock grew similarly to AN’s over the last 12 months.
BBY's P/E Growth Rating (78) in the Electronics Or Appliance Stores industry is in the same range as AN (82) in the Specialty Stores industry. This means that BBY’s stock grew similarly to AN’s over the last 12 months.
| AN | BBY | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | N/A | N/A |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 67% | 2 days ago 72% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 77% | 2 days ago 67% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 77% | 2 days ago 62% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 65% | 2 days ago 67% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 60% | 2 days ago 69% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 9 days ago 67% | 2 days ago 67% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 60% | 4 days ago 70% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 68% | 2 days ago 65% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 58% | 2 days ago 75% |
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is overvalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
AN’s FA Score shows that 2 FA rating(s) are green while BBY’s FA Score has 3 green FA rating(s).
- AN’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- BBY’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
AN’s TA Score shows that 5 TA indicator(s) are bullish while BBY’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s).
- AN’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 5 bearish.
- BBY’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 3 bearish.
Price Growth
AN (@Automotive Aftermarket) experienced а -4.09% price change this week, while BBY (@Specialty Stores) price change was +0.59% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Automotive Aftermarket industry was -6.57%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -9.27%, and the average quarterly price growth was -5.93%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Specialty Stores industry was -4.09%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -7.27%, and the average quarterly price growth was -0.74%.
Reported Earning Dates
AN is expected to report earnings on Oct 22, 2026.
BBY is expected to report earnings on Nov 24, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Automotive Aftermarket (-6.57% weekly)The Automotive Aftermarket consists of the manufacturing, remanufacturing, distribution, retailing, and installation of vehicle parts and accessories, after the sale of the automobile by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to the consumer. The aftermarket parts many not be manufactured by the OEM. According to a Technavio study, the US automotive parts aftermarket size is estimated to grow by USD 24.33 billion during 2018-2022 (CAGR 3%). Like many other industries, the automotive aftermarket is also being intensely penetrated by the digital boom. The online auto parts sales market is predicted to exceed $13B by 2020 (according to a study by Mirakl).
@Specialty Stores (-4.09% weekly)The specialty stores sector includes companies dedicated to the sale of retail products focused on a single product category, such as clothing, carpet, books, or office supplies. A specialty store could face intense competition from big-box departmental chains, and therefore offering an adequate collection of the product type it specializes in is key in maintaining/growing its market.
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AN and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, AN has been closely correlated with PAG. These tickers have moved in lockstep 79% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if AN jumps, then PAG could also see price increases.
BBY and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, BBY has been loosely correlated with CPRT. These tickers have moved in lockstep 61% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if BBY jumps, then CPRT could also see price increases.