The bigger they are, the harder they fall...
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g_J-YWI1c0kBRLb0dv9bfDHQLoSwD949GM280
AutoNation swings to $1.41 billion 3Q loss
By MICHAEL FELBERBAUM
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — AutoNation Inc. said Thursday it swung to a loss in the third quarter, with customers finding it increasingly difficult to get a car loan and the overall economy heading south.
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based AutoNation, the nation's largest automotive retailer, said it lost $1.41 billion, or $7.99 per share, compared with a profit of $72.1 million, or 37 cents per share, a year ago. It recorded non-cash charges for goodwill and franchise impairments of $1.46 billion after-tax.
Revenue fell 21 percent to $3.5 billion from $4.5 billion in the year-ago period.
Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters, on average, expected earnings of 29 cents per share on revenue of $3.88 billion. Those estimates typically exclude charges.
Shares fell 12 cents to $5.97 in early trading Thursday. The stock has traded between $3.97 and $19.59 over the last 52 weeks.
The company said the tough vehicle market and the drop in its share price resulted in the charges. Excluding those items, AutoNation said it earned $44 million, or 25 cents per share.
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g_J-YWI1c0kBRLb0dv9bfDHQLoSwD949GM280
AutoNation swings to $1.41 billion 3Q loss
By MICHAEL FELBERBAUM
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — AutoNation Inc. said Thursday it swung to a loss in the third quarter, with customers finding it increasingly difficult to get a car loan and the overall economy heading south.
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based AutoNation, the nation's largest automotive retailer, said it lost $1.41 billion, or $7.99 per share, compared with a profit of $72.1 million, or 37 cents per share, a year ago. It recorded non-cash charges for goodwill and franchise impairments of $1.46 billion after-tax.
Revenue fell 21 percent to $3.5 billion from $4.5 billion in the year-ago period.
Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters, on average, expected earnings of 29 cents per share on revenue of $3.88 billion. Those estimates typically exclude charges.
Shares fell 12 cents to $5.97 in early trading Thursday. The stock has traded between $3.97 and $19.59 over the last 52 weeks.
The company said the tough vehicle market and the drop in its share price resulted in the charges. Excluding those items, AutoNation said it earned $44 million, or 25 cents per share.