Core Viewpoint - Asbury Automotive Group held its Second Quarter 2025 Earnings Call, discussing financial results and future expectations [2][3]. Group 1: Company Overview - The call featured key participants including David Hult (President and CEO), Dan Clara (COO), and Michael Welch (CFO) [1][3]. - The press release detailing the second quarter results was made available on the company's investor relations website [3]. Group 2: Financial Performance - The earnings call is expected to include forward-looking statements regarding financial projections and forecasts, which are subject to uncertainties [4].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company generated $4.4 billion in revenue, with a gross profit of $752 million and a gross profit margin of 17.2% [11] - Adjusted operating margin was 5.8%, and adjusted earnings per share (EPS) was $7.43, with adjusted EBITDA at $256 million [12][19] - Adjusted net income for the quarter was $146 million, with a non-cash deferral headwind of $0.43 per share due to TCA [19][20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Same store revenue for new vehicles increased by 9% year over year, with units up by 7% and average gross profit per vehicle at $3,611 [12][12] - Used vehicle unit volume decreased by 4% year over year, with retail gross profit per unit at $17,290, marking the fourth quarter of sequential growth [13][14] - Parts and service gross profit increased by 7%, with a gross profit margin of 59.2% and a fixed absorption rate over 100% [16][17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The same store new day supply was 59 days at the end of June, while the used day supply of inventory was 37 days [12][14] - The company noted strong demand in the second quarter, although a decline was observed as the quarter progressed due to tariff impacts [8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on integrating the Herb Chambers acquisition and optimizing its portfolio by divesting nine stores, which generated proceeds of $250 million to $270 million [11][25] - The transition to Techeon is a key investment aimed at improving operational efficiency and guest experience, with full conversion expected by 2027 [10][60] - The company aims to reduce leverage over the next 12 to 18 months while remaining opportunistic with share repurchases [11][24] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the future, citing the resilience of the automotive retail business despite potential headwinds from tariffs and market conditions [81][82] - The company anticipates that the second half of the year will depend heavily on tariff decisions and their impact on consumer pricing [8][19] Other Important Information - The average age of passenger cars on the road is 14.5 years, indicating a strong potential for service growth in the parts and service business [18] - The company has a transaction-adjusted net leverage ratio of 2.46 times, which is expected to be above the target range following the Chambers acquisition [23][24] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you walk through the cadence of GPU and units as the quarter progressed? - Management noted that GPUs started strong but adjusted as the quarter progressed, with expectations for GPUs to fall into the $2,500 to $3,000 range [27][30] Question: What initiatives are keeping SG&A under control? - The focus is on productivity per employee and maintaining discipline on headcount, with some costs related to Techeon conversion impacting the SG&A numbers [34][35] Question: What opportunities for improvement exist with the Herb Chambers acquisition? - Management highlighted the luxury mix and market presence of Herb Chambers, indicating potential for operational efficiencies and improved metrics [39][41] Question: How does the company plan to maintain parts and service growth amid tougher comparisons? - Management expressed confidence in maintaining mid-single-digit growth in parts and service, despite anticipated headwinds from warranty work [42][45] Question: What is the strategy regarding used GPUs and inventory? - The strategy remains focused on maximizing gross profit rather than volume, with continuous assessment of market conditions [54][56] Question: What are the implementation costs for Techeon? - Implementation costs for Techeon were approximately $2 million in the quarter, split between duplication and third-party audit costs [62]

Core Insights - Lithia Motors reported revenue of $9.58 billion for the quarter ended June 2025, reflecting a 3.8% increase year-over-year and a surprise of +0.52% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9.53 billion [1] - Earnings per share (EPS) reached $10.24, compared to $7.87 in the same quarter last year, resulting in an EPS surprise of +4.7% against the consensus estimate of $9.78 [1] Financial Performance Metrics - New vehicle retail unit sales were 94,144, below the three-analyst average estimate of 98,009 [4] - Used vehicle retail unit sales totaled 109,053, also below the three-analyst average estimate of 112,524 [4] - The average selling price for new vehicles was $47,782, compared to the average estimate of $48,329.15 [4] - The average selling price for used vehicles was $28,379, exceeding the three-analyst average estimate of $27,338.08 [4] - Fleet and other revenue was $209.5 million, below the five-analyst average estimate of $241.66 million, representing a year-over-year decline of -13.1% [4] - Finance and insurance revenue was $373.8 million, slightly below the average estimate of $388.18 million, but showed a year-over-year increase of +3.6% [4] - Used vehicle wholesale revenue reached $383.1 million, surpassing the five-analyst average estimate of $338.23 million, marking a +32.3% year-over-year increase [4] - Used vehicle retail revenue was $3.09 billion, matching the five-analyst average estimate, with a year-over-year increase of +3.6% [4] - Service, body and parts/aftersales revenue was $1.02 billion, aligning with the average estimate [4] - New vehicle revenue was $4.5 billion, below the five-analyst average estimate of $4.78 billion, reflecting a +2.2% year-over-year increase [4] - Same store operating metrics for service, body and parts/aftersales revenue were $998 million, exceeding the two-analyst average estimate of $903.52 million, with a +28.3% year-over-year change [4] - Same store operating metrics for finance and insurance revenue were $366 million, slightly below the two-analyst average estimate of $368.42 million, showing a +16.7% year-over-year increase [4] Stock Performance - Lithia Motors' shares have returned -9.1% over the past month, contrasting with the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.6% change [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating potential performance in line with the broader market in the near term [3]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported record revenue of $9.6 billion for the second quarter, reflecting a 4% year-over-year same-store revenue increase [6][12] - Diluted earnings per share (EPS) increased by 29% year-over-year, reaching $9.87, with an adjusted EPS of $10.24, marking a 2530% increase year-over-year [5][6] - Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter was $489 million, a 20% increase year-over-year [26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Same-store aftersales gross profit grew by 8.5% year-over-year, with gross profit margin widening to 57.8%, a 180 basis point increase from last year [20][21] - Financing operations income more than doubled year-over-year from $7 million to $20 million, supported by a 50 basis point expansion in net interest margin to 4.6% [24][25] - New vehicle units increased by 2% year-over-year, while used vehicle units increased by 4% year-over-year [18][19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted a 50% same-store sales improvement in value auto sales compared to last year [19] - The UK market showed a 3% year-over-year profitability increase, indicating resilience despite challenging industry conditions [36] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to scale high-margin adjacencies and deepen customer relationships while maintaining capital discipline [7][12] - Strategic acquisitions remain a core pillar of growth, targeting $2 to $4 billion in annual revenue from acquisitions [14][70] - The company is focused on improving store performance and expanding its digital reach to grow U.S. market share from 1.1% to 5% [15] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the ability to grow profitably and take market share, despite pressures from lower gross profit units (GPUs) [7][12] - The evolving tariff landscape and broader consumer trends are being monitored closely [7] - Management highlighted the importance of operational efficiency and cost control in navigating current market conditions [23][24] Other Important Information - Over 60% of the company's net profit comes from aftersales operations, indicating a diversified earnings stream [8][21] - The company repurchased 3% of its outstanding shares in the first half of the year, with plans to continue aggressive buybacks [15][28] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you discuss SG&A to gross profit leverage? - Management acknowledged the need for operational improvements and emphasized the focus on driving growth and productivity [34][35] Question: How is the UK market performing? - The UK operations showed a 3% year-over-year profitability increase, with effective cost management in place [36][37] Question: How does the U.S. SG&A look? - The U.S. business continues to perform well on the SG&A front, with ongoing focus on cost control [41][42] Question: What is the outlook for DFC growth? - DFC is on a growth trajectory, with expectations for continued strong performance in the coming quarters [48][49] Question: How much of the aftersales growth is due to last year's issues? - Over 50% of the stronger same-store sales growth in aftersales can be attributed to lapping last year's CDK issues [75] Question: How will tariffs impact pricing? - Management indicated that manufacturers are already adapting to mitigate tariff impacts, and the company is well-positioned to manage these changes [98][100]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company generated $4.4 billion in revenue for Q2 2025, with a gross profit of $752 million and a gross profit margin of 17.2% [11] - Adjusted operating margin was reported at 5.8%, with adjusted earnings per share (EPS) at $7.43 and adjusted EBITDA at $256 million [12][19] - Adjusted net income for the quarter was $146 million, with a non-cash deferral headwind of $0.43 per share due to TCA [19][20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Same store revenue for new vehicles increased by 9% year over year, with units sold up by 7% and average gross profit per vehicle at $3,611 [12][13] - Used vehicle unit volume decreased by 4% year over year, but used retail gross profit per unit increased to $17,290, marking the fourth quarter of sequential growth [13][14] - Parts and service gross profit increased by 7%, with a gross profit margin of 59.2% and a fixed absorption rate over 100% [16][17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The same store new day supply was 59 days at the end of June, while the used day supply of inventory was 37 days [12][14] - The company noted strong performance in the Stellantis brand, with a 15.6% increase in volume compared to a national sales decline of 11.5% [12][13] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on integrating the Herb Chambers acquisition and optimizing its portfolio by divesting nine stores, which generated proceeds of $250 million to $270 million [11][25] - The transition to Techeon is a key investment aimed at improving operational efficiency and guest experience, with full conversion expected by 2027 [10][62] - The company aims to reduce leverage over the next 12 to 18 months while remaining opportunistic with share repurchases [11][25] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the future, despite potential headwinds from tariffs and market conditions, emphasizing the resilience of the automotive retail business [81][72] - The company anticipates that the second half of the year will depend heavily on tariff decisions and consumer pricing [8][19] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining productivity per employee to control SG&A expenses amid potential volume declines [34][35] Other Important Information - The average age of passenger cars on the road is 14.5 years, indicating a growing opportunity for service growth [18] - The company ended Q2 with $1.1 billion in liquidity and a transaction-adjusted net leverage ratio of 2.46 times [23][24] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you walk through the cadence of GPU and units as the quarter progressed? - Management noted that GPUs started strong but adjusted as the quarter progressed, with expectations of falling into the $2,500 to $3,000 range [27][28] Question: What initiatives are keeping SG&A under control? - The focus is on employee productivity and managing outside services, with some costs related to Techeon conversion impacting the SG&A ratio [34][35] Question: What opportunities exist for improving metrics post-Herb Chambers acquisition? - Management sees opportunities in luxury vehicle sales and operational efficiencies, emphasizing the strategic importance of the New England market [40][42] Question: How does the company plan to maintain parts and service growth amid tougher comparisons? - Management is confident in maintaining mid-single-digit growth, leveraging customer pay work to offset warranty headwinds [43][46] Question: What is the impact of tariffs on inventory and production? - Management indicated that while inventory is lean, it has not been negatively affected beyond normal operating levels, and OEMs have been preparing for tariff impacts [66][67] Question: Is California a potential market for future expansion? - Management stated that California is not currently a focus due to franchise laws and better investment opportunities in other states [69][70]

Core Insights - Asbury Automotive Group reported $4.37 billion in revenue for Q2 2025, a 3% year-over-year increase, with an EPS of $7.43 compared to $6.40 a year ago, indicating an EPS surprise of +8.94% against the consensus estimate [1] Financial Performance - Revenue of $4.37 billion was below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.45 billion, representing a surprise of -1.73% [1] - Unit sales for new vehicles were 44,437, slightly below the average estimate of 45,291 [4] - Unit sales for used vehicle retail were 36,233, compared to the average estimate of 36,382 [4] - Average selling price for new vehicles was $51.85 billion, slightly lower than the average estimate of $52.01 billion [4] - Revenues from new vehicles were $2.3 billion, a 6.4% year-over-year increase, compared to the average estimate of $2.31 billion [4] - Revenues from used vehicles were $1.29 billion, a -1.7% change year-over-year, below the average estimate of $1.32 billion [4] - Revenues from parts and service were $601.5 million, a 3.6% year-over-year increase, below the average estimate of $624.93 million [4] - Revenues from finance and insurance net were $182 million, a -5.4% change year-over-year, below the average estimate of $203.25 million [4] - Revenues from used vehicle retail were $1.13 billion, a -3.2% change year-over-year, below the average estimate of $1.15 billion [4] - Revenues from used vehicle wholesale were $156.3 million, a 10.9% year-over-year increase, above the average estimate of $153.27 million [4] Stock Performance - Asbury Automotive shares returned -3.9% over the past month, while the Zacks S&P 500 composite increased by +3.6% [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), suggesting it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term [3]

Company Highlights - Asbury's revenue has increased by 138% since 2019, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of +19%[13] - Adjusted Earnings Per Share (EPS) has increased by 188% since 2019, with a CAGR of +24%[13] - The number of new car dealerships has increased by 73% since 2019[13] - Total revenue reached $173 billion[17], with 320118 new and used vehicles retailed[18] Financial Performance (2Q25) - Total company revenue increased by 3%, with same-store revenue up by 5%[34] - New vehicle revenue increased by 6%, with same-store revenue up by 9%[34] - Used vehicle retail decreased by 3%, with same-store retail down by 1%[34] - Parts & Service revenue increased by 4%, with same-store revenue up by 6%[34] Total Care Auto (TCA) - TCA standalone pre-tax income is estimated to be $75 million in 2025[53] - Consolidated TCA pre-tax income is estimated to be $35 million in 2025[53] Herb Chambers Acquisition - The acquisition is valued at approximately $145 billion[77] - Herb Chambers generated $29 billion in revenue in FY2024[69] - The acquisition is expected to increase Asbury's luxury brand mix from 30% to 35%[81]

Core Insights - Lithia & Driveway reported record second quarter revenue of $9.6 billion, a 4% increase from $9.2 billion in Q2 2024, and a 25% increase in diluted earnings per share (EPS) to $9.87 from $7.87 in the same period last year [1][2][22]. Financial Performance - The second quarter 2025 net income was $258 million, representing a 19.2% increase compared to $217 million in Q2 2024. Adjusted net income for the same period was $268 million, a 24% increase from $217 million in 2024 [3][4]. - For the first half of 2025, revenues increased by 5% to $18.8 billion from $17.8 billion in 2024. Diluted EPS for the first six months was $17.80, a 29% increase from $13.75 in 2024 [5][6]. Corporate Development - In June 2025, Lithia & Driveway expanded its network by acquiring two Mercedes-Benz stores in Tennessee and Mississippi, expected to generate $220 million in annualized revenue. Year-to-date acquisitions are projected to contribute $400 million in expected annualized revenues [7]. Balance Sheet and Cash Flow - The company ended Q2 2025 with approximately $1.3 billion in cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, and available credit [8]. - Cash flows from operating activities for the first half of 2025 were reported at $331.4 million, compared to $144.0 million in 2024 [27]. Shareholder Returns - The Board of Directors approved a dividend of $0.55 per share for Q2 2025, to be paid on August 22, 2025 [9]. - The company repurchased approximately 387,000 shares at an average price of $306 during Q2 2025, with a total of 791,000 shares repurchased in 2025 at an average price of $316 [10]. Operational Highlights - Total gross profits increased by 4.3% compared to Q2 2024, with aftersales gross profit rising by 11.5% [14]. - Driveway Finance Corporation originated $731 million in loans, with U.S. penetration increasing to 14.8% and net interest margin rising to 4.6% [14].

Report Industry Investment Rating - No information provided on the report industry investment rating Core Viewpoints - Asian IGs tightened by 1 - 3bps this morning, indicating a positive trend in the Asian investment - grade bond market [3] - Li & Fung's tender offer and new issue are beneficial to perp holders, and the company plans to reduce debt and adjust its balance sheet [7][8][9] - Zhongsheng's early redemption of ZHOSHK 3 01/13/26 reflects sufficient liquidity, and ZHOSHK 5.98 01/30/28 remains a good shorter - dated carry play [14] Summary by Related Catalogs Trading Desk Comments - In KR, LGENSO 26 - 35s tightened by 2 - 5bps; in Chinese IGs, BABA 31/MEITUA 30 tightened 1bp, ZHOSHK 26 - 28s were unchanged to 1bp tighter [1] - In financials, CSILTD priced a 3yr floating - rated bond at SOFR + 60; SUMIBK/STANLN Float 28 - 31s tightened 1 - 3bps [1] - In insurance, SHIKON 35 tightened 1bp, NSINTW 34 widened 1bp; ASAMLI Perps/MYLIFE 55s were up 0.1pt [1] - In AT1s, HSBC 6.95/LLOYDS 8/BACR 7.625 Perps were 0.2 - 0.4pt higher; in HK, BNKEA/DAHSIN/NANYAN 31 - 34s tightened 1 - 3bps [1] - In Chinese properties, DALWAN 26 was down 0.7pt; RAODKG 28 - 30s/Perps were 0.2pt lower to 0.3pt higher [1] - Outside properties, EHICAR 26 - 27s were 1.2 - 1.4pts higher; in SE Asia, GLPSP 28/Perps were 0.8 - 1.6pts higher [1] - VEDLN 28 - 33s were up 0.1 - 0.3pt; VLLPM 29 lowered 1.2pts; PTTEPT/PTTTB 42s were 0.6pt lower [1] - In CNH space, CCAMCL priced 3.5yr and 5yr CNH bonds at 2.35% and 2.43% respectively; onshore AAA guaranteed CNH LGFVs tightened 20 - 50bps [2] - BADNHI 6.9 28s/ZBZCHD 6.9 28s were 0.5 - 2.7pts higher; in SOE perps, CHPWCN Perp was up 0.1pt [4] Last Trading Day's Top Movers - Top performers included KAFEDI 6 1/2 06/04/28 with a price of 96.3 and a change of 2.7, GLPSP 4 1/2 PERP with a price of 55.3 and a change of 1.6 [5] - Top underperformers included TSIVMG 1.55 12/17/29 with a price of 70.4 and a change of - 1.2, VLLPM 9 3/8 07/29/29 with a price of 64.5 and a change of - 1.2 [5] Marco News Recap - On Monday, S&P was up 0.02%, Dow was down 0.14%, and Nasdaq was up 0.33%; long - term UST yield was higher, with 2/5/10/30 yield at 3.91%/3.96%/4.42%/4.96% [6] Desk Analyst Comments - Li & Fung launched a tender offer for LIFUNG 5.25 Perp at USD55, with a maximum acceptance amount of USD50mn, funded by a new 3.5NC2 USD bond [7] - The FV of the new LIFUNG 29 is expected to be mid - 8% vs IPT at 9% [7] - The tender offer is seen as a de facto voluntary partial exchange beneficial to perp holders [8] - With new issuance proceeds and cash on hand, Li & Fung plans to redeem bonds, repay loans, and adjust its balance sheet [9] - Zhongsheng announced to make - whole ZHOSHK 3 01/13/26 on 27 Aug'25, reflecting sufficient liquidity [14] - ZHOSHK 5.98 01/30/28 is considered a good shorter - dated carry play, and a buy recommendation is maintained [14] Offshore Asia New Issues - No offshore Asia new issues were priced today; in the pipeline, Chengdu Xisheng Investment Group plans a 3yr issue, China CITIC Bank London Branch plans a 3yr issue of up to USD300mn, and Li & Fung plans a 3.5NC2 issue [18] News and Market Color - 84 credit bonds were issued yesterday onshore with an amount of RMB92bn; month - to - date, 1,881 credit bonds were issued with a total amount of RMB2,024bn, a 15.2% yoy increase [21] - Adani Green Energy 1Q26 total revenue rose 36% yoy to INR38bn (cUSD439.2mn) [21] - Diamond Power won an INR13.5bn (cUSD155.6mn) order from Adani Energy Solutions [21] - China Cinda AMC issued 3.5y CNH3bn bonds at 2.35% and 5yr CNH2.3bn bonds at 2.43% [21] - Lippo Cikarang's 1H25 presales reached 48% of FY25 target [21] - SJM Holdings agreed to buy a property in Zhuhai for RMB724.2mn (cUSD101.1mn) [21]

Core Insights - AutoNation reported strong Q2 FY2025 results with adjusted earnings per share of $5.46, exceeding analyst estimates of $4.70, while revenue reached $7.0 billion, surpassing the forecast of $6.85 billion [1][2] - The company is focusing on diversifying its revenue streams, particularly in After-Sales and Customer Financial Services, to mitigate reliance on new vehicle sales [4][9] - Despite revenue growth, GAAP net income and earnings per share declined due to significant non-cash asset impairment charges [1][8] Financial Performance - Adjusted EPS (Non-GAAP) was $5.46, a 37% increase year-over-year from $3.99 [2] - GAAP EPS fell to $2.26, down 29% from $3.20 in Q2 2024 [2] - Revenue increased by 8% year-over-year, driven by new vehicles, used vehicles, and After-Sales [5] - Gross profit reached $1.28 billion, a 10% increase from the previous year, with a gross margin percentage of 18.3% [2][7] Business Model and Strategy - AutoNation operates a diverse business model, including new and used vehicle sales, parts and service, and finance and insurance products [3] - The company has prioritized After-Sales and Customer Financial Services, which together contributed 75.7% of the gross profit mix [4][9] - Digital retailing initiatives are ongoing, allowing customers to complete more steps of the buying process online [9] Segment Performance - Domestic segment income increased by 83% to $92 million, while Import and Premium Luxury segments saw income increases of 23% to $133 million and 27% to $180 million, respectively [6] - Customer Financial Services revenue rose by 13%, and After-Sales revenue climbed by 12% [5] Operational Efficiency - SG&A expenses as a percentage of adjusted gross profit improved to 66.2% from 67.3% year-over-year [10] - The company completed its first asset-backed securitization for $700 million, enhancing its liquidity position [11] Future Outlook - Management did not provide formal guidance for the next quarter but expressed confidence in cash flow generation and capital deployment [12]