Which Dealership Stock I’m Betting On in the Digital Era

Core Insights - The automotive retail industry is experiencing a digital transformation, with major dealership groups investing in cloud-based platforms to enhance operational efficiency [2] Group 1: Company Performance - Asbury Automotive operates 175 new vehicle dealerships and 39 collision centers, generating $4.80 billion in revenue during Q3 2025 [3] - AutoNation, the largest automotive retailer in the U.S., reported $27.92 billion in trailing twelve-month revenue [4] - Lithia Motors, the second-largest retailer, achieved $37.61 billion in revenue [5] Group 2: Digital Initiatives - Asbury is implementing Tekion's cloud-based dealership management system across its network, with a focus on improving operational efficiency [3][7] - AutoNation has invested in digital retail innovations, allowing customers to complete approximately 80% of the car-buying process online [4] - Lithia Motors has developed its Driveway digital platform, averaging 1.3 million unique visitors per month in Q2 2025 [5] Group 3: Financial Metrics - Asbury posted a 13% revenue growth year-over-year in Q3, outperforming AutoNation's 6.9% and Lithia's 4.9% [6][8] - Asbury's profit margin stands at 3.15%, exceeding AutoNation's 2.38% despite AutoNation's larger scale [6] - Asbury trades at an 8x P/E ratio, compared to AutoNation's 12x and Lithia's 10x, reflecting its faster growth [8]