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AN vs BBY
Which Stock Would AI Choose? AutoNation (AN) vs. Best Buy (BBY) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- AutoNation reported Q1 2026 revenue of $6.6 billion, down 2% year-over-year, with adjusted EPS of $4.69 and record after-sales gross profit.
- Best Buy is scheduled to report Q1 FY2027 results on May 28, 2026, following Q4 FY2026 comparable sales decline of 0.8% and adjusted EPS of $2.61.
- AN shares have delivered a year-to-date return of approximately 9.7% as of mid-May 2026, outperforming BBY’s roughly 6.5% YTD return.
- Both companies operate in the consumer discretionary sector but differ in exposure: AN to automotive retail and services, BBY to consumer electronics.
- AN executed $300 million in share repurchases during Q1 2026, reducing share count by 4%, while BBY maintains a dividend yield near 6.2%.
- Recent market activity shows AN benefiting from after-sales strength and capital returns, while BBY faces anticipation around earnings amid broader retail sentiment.
Introduction
This comparison examines AN and BBY, two consumer discretionary retailers with distinct business models. AutoNation focuses on vehicle sales, parts, and service, while Best Buy emphasizes technology products and services. The analysis highlights recent performance metrics, sector positioning, and observable trends relevant to investors evaluating relative momentum and risk profiles in the current environment. Traders and portfolio managers monitoring cyclical retail names may find the side-by-side review useful for assessing diversification or tactical allocation decisions.
AN Overview and Recent Performance
AutoNation, Inc. is the largest automotive retailer in the United States, operating new- and used-vehicle dealerships along with after-sales service and parts operations. In recent weeks, the company reported first-quarter 2026 results showing revenue of $6.6 billion, a 2% decline year-over-year, alongside adjusted earnings per share of $4.69 that slightly exceeded expectations. Record after-sales gross profit and sequential improvements in vehicle unit profitability supported sentiment. Share repurchases totaling $300 million during the quarter further contributed to capital return activity. Broader market activity reflected modest outperformance relative to the S&P 500 on a year-to-date basis, with the stock trading near $190 in mid-May 2026.
BBY Overview and Recent Performance
Best Buy Co., Inc. is a leading specialty retailer of consumer electronics, appliances, and related services. Recent market activity has centered on positioning ahead of the May 28, 2026 earnings release for the first quarter of fiscal 2027. The prior fourth-quarter results showed comparable sales down 0.8% year-over-year, with adjusted diluted EPS of $2.61. The company increased its quarterly dividend by 1% to $0.96 per share. Stock performance in recent weeks has reflected earnings anticipation, with shares trading near $62 in mid-May 2026 and delivering a year-to-date return of approximately 6.5%. Sector exposure remains tied to discretionary consumer spending patterns.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
AutoNation and Best Buy both participate in cyclical consumer spending but differ in core drivers. AN derives significant revenue from high-margin after-sales service and finance operations, providing a buffer during softer vehicle sales periods, whereas BBY relies more heavily on product sales volumes and has recently emphasized marketplace and advertising initiatives. Recent momentum favors AN following its Q1 earnings release and active share repurchase program, while BBY exhibits higher dividend yield but faces nearer-term uncertainty around comparable sales trends. Risk factors include AN’s sensitivity to interest rates and vehicle inventory levels, contrasted with BBY’s exposure to electronics demand and supply-chain dynamics. Sector sentiment remains mixed for both, with AN showing relatively greater stability in profitability metrics over the recent period.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable factors including recent earnings consistency, after-sales growth, and capital return activity, Tickeron’s AI models would currently assign a higher probabilistic weighting to AN over BBY. The assessment reflects AN’s demonstrated resilience in key profitability segments and active share reduction, relative to BBY’s upcoming earnings event and mixed comparable sales trajectory. This view remains conditional on continued trend stability and does not constitute investment advice.
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 Buy and BBY is a Hold.
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 undervalued. 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 1 FA rating(s) are green whileBBY’s FA Score has 3 green FA rating(s).
- AN’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 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, 3 bearish.
- BBY’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
AN (@Automotive Aftermarket) experienced а -1.89% price change this week, while BBY (@Specialty Stores) price change was -0.50% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Automotive Aftermarket industry was -2.38%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -2.30%, and the average quarterly price growth was -21.57%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Specialty Stores industry was -1.60%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +6.83%, and the average quarterly price growth was +3.40%.
Reported Earning Dates
AN is expected to report earnings on Jul 16, 2026.
BBY is expected to report earnings on Sep 01, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Automotive Aftermarket (-2.38% 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 (-1.60% 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.
| AN | BBY | AN / BBY | |
| Capitalization | 6.43B | 15.8B | 41% |
| EBITDA | 1.64B | 2.42B | 68% |
| Gain YTD | -6.935 | 16.830 | -41% |
| P/E Ratio | 10.21 | 14.08 | 73% |
| Revenue | 27.5B | 41.9B | 66% |
| Total Cash | 65.5M | 1.35B | 5% |
| Total Debt | 10.5B | 4.13B | 254% |
AN | BBY | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 84 | 36 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 68 Overvalued | 10 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 30 | 100 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 34 | 25 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 54 | 15 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 65 | 65 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 90 | 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 (10) in the Electronics Or Appliance Stores industry is somewhat better than the same rating for AN (68) 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 (30) in the Specialty Stores industry is significantly better than the same rating for BBY (100) 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 (25) in the Electronics Or Appliance Stores industry is in the same range as AN (34) 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 (15) in the Electronics Or Appliance Stores industry is somewhat better than the same rating for AN (54) in the Specialty Stores industry. This means that BBY’s stock grew somewhat faster than AN’s over the last 12 months.
BBY's P/E Growth Rating (65) in the Electronics Or Appliance Stores industry is in the same range as AN (65) 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 (%) | 2 days ago 70% | 2 days ago 71% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 73% | 2 days ago 78% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 67% | 6 days ago 66% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 73% | 2 days ago 66% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 66% | 2 days ago 72% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 66% | 2 days ago 66% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 8 days ago 67% | 2 days ago 65% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 16 days ago 61% | 8 days ago 69% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | N/A | 2 days ago 77% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 63% | 2 days ago 59% |
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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.