Boardroom Alpha
Meeting calendar
AN · Annual meeting · Tuesday, April 28, 2026

Autonation Inc

9 nominees · 6 ballot items.

Election of nine directors; ratification of KPMG as independent auditor; advisory say-on-pay on named executive officer compensation; approval of the AutoNation, Inc. 2026 Employee Equity and Incentive Plan; and two stockholder proposals (Independent Board Chairman and GHG report) to be voted at the 2026 Annual Meeting.

Market cap
$7.0B
1Y TSR
-5.8%
Board grade
B+
Record date
Mar 9, 2026
Filing
DEF 14A
Meeting concluded · Apr 28, 2026

Follow how the vote landed and what changed on Autonation Inc’s board — director track records, governance grades, and ongoing monitoring — on the Boardroom Alpha platform.

Proposals

On the ballot6

  1. 1

    Election of Directors

    ManagementBoard: FOR

    Elect nine director nominees named in the proxy statement, each for a one-year term until the next annual meeting or until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

  2. 2

    Ratification of the Selection of KPMG LLP as Our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

    ManagementBoard: FOR

    Ratify the selection of KPMG LLP as AutoNation’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2026.

  3. 3

    Advisory Vote to Approve Named Executive Officer Compensation (Say-on-Pay

    ManagementBoard: FOR

    Non-binding, advisory vote to approve the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables, and related narrative.

    More detail

    This management proposal asks shareholders to cast a non-binding advisory vote to approve the Company’s 2025 executive compensation disclosures, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis and the compensation tables. Management seeks this advisory approval to confirm stockholder support for the design and implementation of its pay programs, which emphasize a large performance-based mix (annual performance bonuses and multi-year performance-based RSUs including relative TSR and ROIC measures) and retention incentives such as time-based RSUs and a one-time CEO PSU tied to five-year stock price appreciation. Key context includes robust pay-for-performance features: challenging performance grids, multi-year cliff vesting for PBRSUs, a capital charge included in incentive metrics, and an explicit recoupment (clawback) policy; the Committee also uses an independent consultant in setting pay. Although the vote is advisory, the Board and Compensation Committee will review results and consider them when making future compensation decisions. The Board recommends FOR because it believes the programs align management incentives with long-term shareholder returns and retention needs in a competitive market for automotive executives. The proposal is not a regulatory requirement; it is an annual governance practice that provides a governance signal to the Board on compensation approach and alignment. Given the Company’s recent strong performance metrics and the Committee’s use of multi-metric, long-term performance awards, management argues that continued approval supports consistent execution of compensation philosophy. Investors evaluating the proposal should consider the potential trade-offs between retention-driven special awards (including the CEO’s one-time PSU) and shareholder dilution/cost, and weigh past shareholder approval history and disclosed pay versus performance metrics when forming a view.

  4. 4

    Approval of the AutoNation, Inc. 2026 Employee Equity and Incentive Plan

    ManagementBoard: FOR

    Approve the AutoNation, Inc. 2026 Employee Equity and Incentive Plan (the 2026 Plan), which, if approved, will replace the 2017 Plan and authorize a new share reserve and updated governance features for equity and cash incentive awards.

    More detail

    Proposal 4 seeks shareholder approval for a new omnibus incentive plan (the 2026 Plan) that would replace the legacy 2017 Plan and provide up to an aggregate share reserve (1,275,000 new shares plus remaining 2017 Plan availability) to grant options, RSUs, performance units and cash-based awards to employees and select independent contractors. Management is pursuing shareholder approval to refresh the plan authority because it is the vehicle through which the Company grants long-term equity incentives used for retention, pay-for-performance alignment, and CEO/NEO incentives; without approval the Company would not be able to grant new awards under a successor plan. Notable governance features are emphasized by management: no repricing or reloads without shareholder approval, explicit clawback subject to the Company policy, minimum 12‑month vesting for most awards (with limited exceptions), limits on individual annual awards, no evergreen replenishment, and limits on shares deliverable as incentive stock options—features intended to address common investor concerns about dilution, governance and pay alignment. The Board’s recommendation FOR is supported by analysis of historical burn rate, dilution and overhang metrics and a view that the plan’s design balances competitive equity grants against shareholder interests. Investors should consider the plan’s share reserve size relative to historical grant usage, the potential dilution over time, and the plan’s provisions for performance metrics (e.g., TSR, ROIC) that will govern future award pay‑outs before voting. Approving the plan preserves the Company’s ability to attract and retain talent via equity awards while retaining shareholder protections; rejecting it would constrain future equity grant flexibility and require alternative retention/compensation approaches.

  5. 5

    Stockholder Proposal Regarding Independent Board Chairman

    Shareholder — John CheveddenBoard: AGAINST

    Stockholder proposal requesting the Board adopt a policy that separates the roles of Chairman and CEO so the Chairman is an independent director (Lead Director not a substitute), with allowance for an interim non-independent chair while seeking a permanent independent chairman.

  6. 6

    Stockholder Proposal Regarding GHG Report

    Shareholder — Green Century Capital Management, Inc. on behalf of Green Century Equity FundBoard: AGAINST

    Stockholder proposal requesting an annual report disclosing AutoNation’s greenhouse gas emissions and any targets for reduction, prepared at reasonable cost and updated annually; the proponent suggests including emissions from vehicles sold or rented.

Director elections

Nominees on the ballot9

Independent
Tenure on this board
35.2 yrs
Also a director at
Cbiz Inc (CBZ)
Independent
Tenure on this board
20.1 yrs
Also a director at
Strategic Education Inc (STRA)
Independent
Tenure on this board
5.6 yrs
Also a director at
Urban Edge Properties (UE)Re/Max Holdings Inc (RMAX)
Independent
Tenure on this board
6.5 yrs
Also a director at
Amerant Bancorp Inc (AMTB)
Not independent
Tenure on this board
4.7 yrs
Also a director at
Dover Corp (DOV)
Ownership

Top institutional holders10

Latest 13F quarter
1Brave Warrior Advisors, LLC4.6%1,547,728$302M
2VANGUARD PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT LLC4.4%1,456,851$284M
3VANGUARD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC4.2%1,403,982$274M
4BlackRock, Inc.4.1%1,358,126$265M
5DIMENSIONAL FUND ADVISORS LP4.0%1,350,188$264M
6Alyeska Investment Group, L.P.2.7%890,738$174M
7STATE STREET CORP2.6%886,376$173M
8AQR CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC2.4%816,114$159M
9BlackRock, Inc.2.3%776,900$152M
10Invesco Ltd.1.6%542,184$106M
Filings

Recent key filings

Periodic reports
Definitive proxies
Reference

Frequently asked questions

When is the Autonation Inc 2026 annual meeting?
Autonation Inc (AN) holds its 2026 annual shareholder meeting on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.
What is the record date for the Autonation Inc 2026 meeting?
The record date for the Autonation Inc 2026 meeting is Monday, March 9, 2026. Shareholders of record on or before that date are eligible to vote.
Who are the director nominees for Autonation Inc's 2026 meeting?
The board is presenting 9 director nominees at the Autonation Inc 2026 meeting, listed with their independence status and background.
What proposals will shareholders vote on at the Autonation Inc 2026 meeting?
Shareholders will vote on 6 proposals at the Autonation Inc 2026 meeting, each tagged with who proposed it and the board's recommendation.
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