This story was originally published on Automotive Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Automotive Dive newsletter. September new vehicle sales are projected to edge up from last year but overall growth remains modest as affordability pressures and a tax-credit-fueled electric vehicle sales spike affect the market, according to a Sept. 25 sales forecast from J.D. Power and data analytics firm GlobalData. Consumers were projected to spend $45 billion on new vehicles in Septem ...

Core Viewpoint - U.S. franchise auto dealerships are showing solid momentum despite tariff challenges and the expiration of EV credits, with demand remaining better than expected in the near term [1][2]. Demand and Affordability - Retail new-vehicle sales are experiencing mid- to high-single-digit growth in Q3, driven by stable consumer spending and limited price increases from OEMs despite tariffs [4]. - The expiration of certain EV incentives has accelerated demand, increasing the battery-electric vehicle mix to approximately 10% in the current quarter, up from about 7% in the previous quarter [4]. Inventory and Profitability - Inventory levels and days' supply are stable, contributing to a gradual normalization in gross profit per unit (GPU) rather than a sudden reset [5]. - Used vehicle volumes remain strong, and service lanes are experiencing healthy traffic and pricing, indicating the resilience of higher-margin fixed operations [5][7]. Market Outlook - JPMorgan has raised its Q3 estimates for U.S. franchise auto dealers, projecting about 2% above previous estimates and roughly 7% above consensus [6]. - The bank's top picks include Lithia & Driveway and AutoNation, while noting potential impacts from a recent cyber incident affecting some U.K.-exposed operators [6]. Future Risks - Looking beyond Q3, there are increasing risks to demand and GPUs as EV credits phase out and tariffs are fully reflected in vehicle prices, alongside a softening labor market in key regions [8]. - JPMorgan forecasts a U.S. SAAR of approximately 15.5 million in 2026, slightly down from 16.0 million in 2025, with potential upside if trade outcomes with Canada and Mexico improve [8].

Core Viewpoint - U.S. franchise auto dealerships are showing resilience in fundamentals despite potential macroeconomic headwinds, with demand performing better than expected in the near term [1][2]. Demand and Affordability - Retail new-vehicle sales are experiencing mid- to high-single-digit growth in Q3, driven by stable consumer spending and limited price increases from OEMs despite tariffs [4]. - The expiration of certain EV incentives has accelerated demand, increasing the battery-electric vehicle mix to approximately 10% in the current quarter, up from about 7% in the previous quarter [4]. Inventory and Profitability - Inventory levels and days' supply are stable, contributing to a gradual normalization in gross profit per unit (GPU) rather than a sudden reset [5]. - Used vehicle volumes remain strong, and service lanes are experiencing healthy traffic and pricing, indicating robust higher-margin fixed operations [5]. Market Outlook - JPMorgan has raised its Q3 estimates, projecting them to be about 2% above previous estimates and roughly 7% above consensus [6]. - The bank's top picks in the sector are Lithia & Driveway and AutoNation, although a recent cyber incident may impact certain U.K.-exposed operators [6]. Used Vehicle Market - Industry checks indicate mid- to high-single-digit year-over-year gains in used retail sales through July and August, with tight late-model supply expected to ease in the coming quarters [7]. - Wholesale prices have cooled after an initial spike due to tariffs, and retail/wholesale spreads suggest a favorable GPU environment, although sourcing remains competitive [7]. Future Risks - Beyond Q3, there are increasing risks to demand and GPUs as EV credits expire and tariffs are fully reflected in vehicle prices amid a softening labor market [8]. - JPMorgan projects a U.S. SAAR of approximately 15.5 million in 2026, slightly down from 16.0 million in 2025, with potential upside if trade outcomes with Canada and Mexico improve [8].

Core Insights - Penske Automotive Group (PAG) reported second-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings of $3.78 per share, a 4.7% increase year over year, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.56 [1][10] - The company achieved net sales of $7.66 billion, which fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.87 billion, representing a 0.4% decline from the previous year [1][10] Financial Performance - Gross profit for the quarter rose 2.6% year over year to $1.30 billion, while operating income increased by 3% to $348.2 million [2] - SG&A costs totaled $906.3 million, reflecting a 2.1% year-over-year increase [7] - As of June 30, 2025, cash and cash equivalents stood at $155.3 million, up from $72.4 million at the end of 2024, with long-term debt reduced to $906.7 million from $1.13 billion [7] Segment Performance - Retail Automotive segment revenues decreased by 1.5% to $6.52 billion, missing estimates, with total new and used vehicle deliveries down 11.9% year over year to 102,545 units [4] - Retail Commercial Truck segment revenues increased by 5.7% to $943.6 million, exceeding estimates, although gross profit slightly declined [5] - The Commercial Vehicle Distribution and Other segment saw revenues rise by 6.5% to $201.2 million, surpassing estimates, but gross profit fell short of expectations [6] Shareholder Returns - PAG repurchased 630,044 shares for $93.3 million, with $295.7 million remaining in stock repurchase authorization as of June 30, 2025 [8] - The quarterly dividend was increased by 6 cents to $1.32 per share, marking the 19th consecutive quarterly increase, payable on September 3, 2025 [8]

Core Insights - Asbury Automotive (ABG) reported second-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings per share of $7.43, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.82 and up from $6.40 in the previous year, driven by better-than-expected gross profits from vehicle sales [1][9] - Total revenues for the quarter were $4.37 billion, reflecting a nearly 3% year-over-year increase but falling short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.45 billion [1][9] Segment Performance - New vehicle revenues increased by 6% year over year to $2.30 billion, slightly missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.31 billion, attributed to lower-than-expected selling prices and unit sales [2] - Retail units sold in the new vehicle segment totaled 44,437, a 4% increase year over year, but below the consensus mark of 45,291 units [2] - The average selling price (ASP) for new vehicles was $51,846, up 2% year over year, but missed the consensus estimate of $52,011 [2] - Gross profit from new vehicles was $160 million, up 3% from the prior year and surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $148 million [2] - Used vehicle retail revenues declined by 3% year over year to $1.13 billion, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.15 billion due to lower ASP and unit sales [3] - Retail used vehicle units sold totaled 36,233, down 6% year over year, lagging behind the consensus mark of 36,382 units [3] - The ASP for used vehicles was $31,171, up 3% year over year, but fell short of the consensus estimate of $31,207 [3] - Gross profit from used vehicles was $62.3 million, an 11% increase year over year, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $57 million [3] - Revenues from the used vehicle wholesale business rose 11% to $156.3 million, beating the consensus estimate of $153 million [4] - Gross profit from the wholesale unit surged 43% to $6.6 million, surpassing the consensus mark of $2.72 million [4] - Net revenues from the finance and insurance business were $182 million, down 5% year over year and below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $203 million [5] - Gross profit in this segment was $168.1 million, a 4% year-over-year decline, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $170 million [5] - Revenues from the parts and service business reached $601.5 million, up from $580.9 million in the previous year but missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $625 million [6] - Gross profit from parts and service was $354.8 million, which lagged the consensus mark of $359 million but represented a 4% year-over-year increase [6] Financial Metrics - Selling, general & administrative expenses as a percentage of gross profit increased to 63.2%, a decrease of 198 basis points year over year [7] - As of June 30, 2025, the company had cash and cash equivalents of $54.8 million, down from $69.4 million as of December 31, 2024 [7] - Long-term debt stood at $3.05 billion as of June 30, 2025, down from $3.14 billion as of December 31, 2024 [7]

Core Insights - Penske Automotive reported revenue of $7.66 billion for the quarter ended June 2025, a decrease of 0.5% year-over-year, with EPS at $3.78, up from $3.61 in the previous year [1] - The revenue fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.87 billion, resulting in a surprise of -2.63%, while the EPS exceeded expectations by +6.18% [1] Financial Performance Metrics - Retail Automotive Gross Profit Per Vehicle Retailed for new vehicles was $5,443, surpassing the average estimate of $5,125.47 [4] - Retail Commercial Truck Revenue Per Vehicle Retailed for new vehicles was $141,345, exceeding the average estimate of $138,729.90 [4] - Retail Automotive Units for used retail were 54,999, below the average estimate of 62,109 [4] - Retail Automotive Revenue Per Vehicle Retailed for new vehicles was $61,340, compared to the estimated $56,292.94 [4] - Revenue from Retail Automotive for new vehicles was $2.94 billion, lower than the estimated $3.13 billion, reflecting a -1.8% change year-over-year [4] - Revenue from Retail Automotive for fleet and wholesale was $358.1 million, below the estimated $376.45 million, representing a -6.3% change year-over-year [4] - Revenue from Retail Automotive for service and parts was $816.6 million, exceeding the estimate of $791.44 million, with a year-over-year change of +8.5% [4] - Revenue from Retail Automotive for finance and insurance was $200.5 million, compared to the estimated $208.12 million, reflecting a -3.9% change year-over-year [4] - Revenue from Retail Automotive for used vehicles was $2.2 billion, below the estimated $2.27 billion, representing a -3.3% change year-over-year [4] - Total Revenue from Retail Automotive was $6.52 billion, lower than the estimated $6.78 billion, indicating a -1.5% change year-over-year [4] - Revenue from Retail Commercial Truck was $943.6 million, exceeding the estimated $906.79 million, with a +5.8% change year-over-year [4] - Revenue from Commercial Vehicle Distribution and Other was $201.2 million, surpassing the estimated $195.44 million, reflecting a +6.5% change year-over-year [4] Stock Performance - Penske's shares have returned -5.5% over the past month, contrasting with the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.4% change [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell), indicating potential underperformance relative to the broader market in the near term [3]

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]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue for Q2 2025 was $7 billion, an increase of 8% year over year on both total and same store basis [12] - Adjusted net income rose to $209 million, up 29% from $163 million a year ago [15] - Adjusted EPS was $5.46 for the quarter, an increase of $1.47 or 37% from a year ago [15][8] - Same store gross profit increased by 10% year over year to $1.3 billion, with a gross profit margin of 18.3%, up 40 basis points from a year ago [13] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - New vehicle sales increased by 8% year over year, with domestic segment sales up 19% [4][17] - Used vehicle gross profit increased by 13% year over year, with unit sales up 6% [5][21] - Customer financial services gross profit also increased by 13%, with finance penetration stable at around 75% [6][22] - After sales revenue grew by 12% year over year, with gross profit margins expanding by 100 basis points to record levels [28][29] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - New vehicle unit volumes increased by 7% year over year, with hybrid sales up over 40% and battery electric sales up nearly 20% [17] - Used vehicle retail unit sales improved by 6% year over year, with stable average retail prices [20] - The company ended the quarter with 41,000 new vehicle units in inventory, representing 49 days of supply [18] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on growth and efficiency across all business lines, with a strong emphasis on technician recruitment and retention [7][35] - There is a commitment to explore M&A opportunities to add scale and density in existing markets, while also returning capital to shareholders through share repurchases [32][34] - The company aims to leverage its broad portfolio of brands to cushion against potential new tariffs [10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the second half of 2025, despite some fluctuations in sales patterns due to tariff uncertainties [56][59] - The company expects to maintain market share and is encouraged by provisions in recent federal statutes that could stimulate vehicle purchases [11] - Management noted that the mobile service business, while facing challenges, has the potential to contribute positively to income as it matures [36][39] Other Important Information - The company completed its inaugural asset-backed securitization, which was oversubscribed, allowing for increased debt funding levels [26][27] - Adjusted free cash flow for the first half totaled $394 million, representing 100% of adjusted net income [30] - The company received $10 million in insurance recoveries related to the previous year's CDK outage, with expectations for more recoveries in 2025 [31] Q&A Session Summary Question: What kind of flexibility do you have regarding M&A opportunities? - Management indicated a cautious approach post-tariff announcement but noted an improvement in the M&A pipeline and a commitment to both M&A and share repurchases [45][46] Question: What are your thoughts on the consumer landscape and demand outlook? - Management believes there is still pent-up demand and expects stability in margins, despite potential fluctuations in sales patterns [56][58] Question: Can you provide an update on AutoNation USA and its strategy? - Management stated that growth will be more deliberate, focusing on density in markets to ensure success [82][84] Question: How do you see the competition in the used vehicle market? - Management acknowledged competition but emphasized the large market size and the company's small share, indicating plenty of growth opportunities [95][96] Question: Can you discuss the performance of AutoNation Finance? - Management highlighted that AutoNation Finance is driving growth and has a superior attach rate compared to other lenders, positively influencing overall business performance [101][105]

Core Insights - Sonic Automotive, Inc. (SAH) reported second-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings per share of $2.19, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.63 and reflecting a 49% increase from the previous year [1] - Total revenues reached $3.66 billion, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.44% and increasing from $3.45 billion in the same quarter last year [1] Revenue Breakdown - Consolidated revenues from new vehicle sales amounted to $1.7 billion, up 7% year over year; used vehicle sales were $1.18 billion, nearly flat; and wholesale vehicle sales totaled $83.3 million, up 17% [2] - Revenues from parts, service, and collision repair increased by 12% to $495.6 million, while finance, insurance, and other revenues rose 17% year over year to $202.1 million [2] Franchised Dealerships Segment - In the Franchised Dealerships segment, revenues from new vehicle sales were $1.66 billion (up 7% year over year), used vehicle sales were $745 million (up 2%), and wholesale vehicle sales were $57.8 million (up 19%) [3] - Parts, service, and collision repair revenues increased by 12% to $484.9 million, and finance, insurance, and other revenues rose 16% to $144.3 million [3] - Same-store revenues increased by 6% to over $3 billion, with same-store retail units of new and used vehicles totaling 52,451, up 1% from the same quarter of 2024 [3] EchoPark Segment - The EchoPark segment reported quarterly revenues of $508.6 million, down 2% year over year, with used vehicle sales contributing $427.4 million (down 5%), wholesale vehicle sales at $25.4 million (up 16%), and finance, insurance, and other revenues at $55.8 million (up 20%) [4] - The segment sold 16,742 used vehicles and 3,097 wholesale vehicles, reflecting a 1% and 19% increase year over year, respectively [4] Powersports Segment - In the Powersports segment, revenues from new vehicle sales totaled $26.9 million (up 24% year over year), used vehicle sales were $8.3 million (up 57%), while wholesale vehicle sales decreased to $0.3 million (down 67%) [5] - Parts, service, and collision repair revenues rose by 9% to $10.6 million, with finance, insurance, and other revenues at $2 million [5] - Same-store revenues increased by 12% to $42.2 million, with same-store retail units of new and used vehicles totaling 1,962, up 19% year over year [5] Financial Metrics - Selling, general, and administrative expenses decreased by 5% year over year to 68.5% of gross profit [6] - Cash and cash equivalents stood at $110.4 million as of June 30, 2025, up from $44 million as of December 31, 2024; long-term debt decreased to $1.47 billion from $1.51 billion over the same period [6] Dividend Announcement - Sonic Automotive increased its quarterly dividend by 9% to $0.38 per share, payable on October 15, 2025, to shareholders of record as of September 15 [7]

Financial Performance - Total revenue increased by 8% year-over-year, from $6480 million in 2Q 2024 to $6974 million in 2Q 2025[4] - Gross profit increased by 10% year-over-year, from $1163 million in 2Q 2024 to $1275 million in 2Q 2025[4] - Adjusted net income increased by 29% year-over-year, from $163 million in 2Q 2024 to $209 million in 2Q 2025[4] - Diluted adjusted EPS increased by 37% year-over-year, from $399 in 2Q 2024 to $546 in 2Q 2025[4] Sales Performance - New vehicle unit sales increased by 8% year-over-year on a same-store basis[3] - Used vehicle gross profit increased by 12% year-over-year on a same-store basis[3] - After-sales gross profit increased by 13% year-over-year on a same-store basis, with gross margin expansion greater than 100 bps[3] - AutoNation Finance originations increased by 100%[3] AutoNation Finance - AutoNation Finance originations increased from $395 million in 1H 2024 to $924 million in 1H 2025[13] - AutoNation Finance portfolio balance increased from $772 million in 1H 2024 to $1761 million in 1H 2025[14] - Penetration rate of AutoNation Finance reached 10% of units sold in 2Q 2025, up from 6% in 2Q 2024[15] Capital Allocation - Capital expenditures decreased by approximately 15% compared to 1H 2024[22] - The company repurchased over 15 million shares at an average price of $164[22] - Leverage ratio decreased to 233x, below the mid-point of the company's targeted range[22, 29]