If you are looking for a stock that has a solid history of beating earnings estimates and is in a good position to maintain the trend in its next quarterly report, you should consider Asbury Automotive Group (ABG) . This company, which is in the Zacks Automotive - Retail and Whole Sales industry, shows potential for another earnings beat.This auto dealership chain has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two ...

Core Viewpoint - The Zacks Auto Retail and Wholesale industry is experiencing a mixed operating environment, with challenges such as slowing vehicle sales, high borrowing costs, and affordability constraints, while some companies are positioned to outperform through strategic acquisitions and digital initiatives [1] Industry Overview - The auto retail and wholesale industry is crucial for delivering vehicles and parts to consumers, operating through dealership networks and retail chains [2] - The industry's performance is closely tied to economic conditions, with consumer spending on vehicles typically increasing during economic growth and declining during downturns [2] - The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the shift towards online tools and e-commerce, a trend expected to continue [2] Factors Shaping Industry Dynamics - U.S. vehicle sales are projected to decline, with total new vehicle sales expected to be around 15.8 million units in 2026, a 2.4% year-over-year decrease, and new retail sales likely to fall 1.5% to 13.1 million units [3] - High interest rates, reduced manufacturer incentives, and tight household budgets are negatively impacting demand, while average new car prices are around $50,000 [3] - The EV market is facing uncertainty due to the loss of federal tax incentives, leading automakers to reduce EV investments and focus on gas and hybrid models [4] Strategic Buyouts - Auto retailers are actively pursuing acquisitions to expand their market reach and enhance competitive positioning, which helps diversify brand portfolios and improve operational efficiencies [5] Digitization - Dealers are investing in digital platforms to enhance customer experience, with tools like virtual showrooms and online pricing improving transparency and engagement [6] Capital Allocation - Many auto retailers are focusing on shareholder returns through share buybacks and dividend increases, supported by strong cash flow from disciplined acquisitions and cost-control initiatives [7] Industry Rank - The Zacks Auto Retail & Wholesale industry holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 89, placing it in the top 36% of nearly 245 Zacks industries, indicating strong near-term prospects [9][10] Stock Performance - The industry has underperformed compared to the S&P 500 and the Auto, Tires, and Truck sector over the past year, declining more than 1% while the S&P 500 and sector grew by 18% and 12%, respectively [12] Valuation - The industry is currently trading at an EV/EBITDA ratio of 8.36X, significantly lower than the S&P 500's 18.68X and the sector's 26.92X [15] Company Highlights - **AutoNation**: A leading automotive retailer expanding through acquisitions, with recent additions expected to generate significant annual revenues. The company is also enhancing its digital capabilities and prioritizing shareholder returns with a $1 billion share repurchase plan [19][20][21] - **Asbury Automotive Group**: A diversified auto retailer benefiting from multiple income streams and strategic acquisitions, with a focus on digitization through its Clicklane platform. The company is also expanding into higher-margin segments and reporting improved productivity from new technology [24][25][26]

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]

Core Insights - The automotive retail industry is experiencing a significant digital transformation as dealership groups strive to modernize their operations through the adoption of cloud-based platforms [1] Industry Summary - Dealership groups are actively engaged in modernizing their operations to keep pace with the evolving digital landscape [1]

Core Viewpoint - Asbury Automotive Group Inc. (NYSE:ABG) has shown a short-term stock increase of 10.05% over the past month, but a decline of 3.91% over the past year, prompting long-term shareholders to consider the company's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio [1] Group 1: Stock Performance - The current share price of Asbury Automotive Group is $242.43, reflecting a 0.50% drop in the current market session [1] - The stock has increased by 10.05% over the past month, indicating positive short-term performance [1] - However, the stock has decreased by 3.91% over the past year, raising concerns about long-term performance [1] Group 2: P/E Ratio Analysis - The P/E ratio is a critical metric for investors, comparing the current share price to the company's earnings per share (EPS) [5] - Asbury Automotive Group has a P/E ratio of 8.55, which is significantly lower than the industry average P/E ratio of 28.51 in the Specialty Retail sector [6] - A lower P/E ratio may suggest that the stock is undervalued or that investors expect weaker performance compared to industry peers [6] Group 3: Investment Considerations - While the P/E ratio is a useful tool for evaluating market performance, it should be interpreted with caution as it may indicate undervaluation or weak growth prospects [9][10] - Investors are encouraged to consider the P/E ratio alongside other financial metrics, industry trends, and qualitative factors for a comprehensive analysis [10]

Core Insights - Asbury Automotive Group reported strong Q3 2025 earnings, with adjusted EPS of $7.17, surpassing estimates and showing a year-over-year increase from $6.35 [3] - Revenues for the quarter reached $4.80 billion, a nearly 13% increase year-over-year, exceeding the consensus estimate [3] Segment Performance - New vehicle revenues increased by 17% year-over-year to $2.53 billion, driven by higher unit sales, with retail units sold totaling 48,070, up 13% from the previous year [4] - Used vehicle retail revenues rose 7% to $1.23 billion but fell short of estimates due to lower unit sales, with retail used vehicle units sold at 37,696, up only 1% year-over-year [5] - Wholesale used vehicle revenues climbed 27% to $185.5 million, exceeding consensus estimates [6] - Finance and insurance business net revenues were $200.3 million, an 8% increase year-over-year, beating estimates [7] - Parts and service revenues reached $659.4 million, up from $593.1 million year-over-year, but missed the consensus estimate [8] Financial Metrics - Selling, general & administrative expenses as a percentage of gross profit increased to 65.7%, up 70 basis points year-over-year [9] - Cash and cash equivalents decreased to $32.2 million from $69.4 million at the end of 2024, while long-term debt rose to $3.6 billion [9] Market Outlook - Following the earnings release, there has been an upward trend in estimates for Asbury Automotive [10] - The company holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating expectations for an in-line return in the coming months [12] Industry Comparison - Asbury Automotive is part of the Zacks Automotive - Retail and Wholesale industry, where competitor AutoNation reported a 6.9% year-over-year revenue increase to $7.04 billion [13]

Core Insights - Zacks Premium offers various tools for investors to enhance their stock market engagement and confidence [1] - The Zacks Style Scores are designed to complement the Zacks Rank, providing additional stock ratings based on value, growth, and momentum [2][7] Zacks Style Scores - Each stock is rated from A to F based on value, growth, and momentum, with A being the highest score indicating better chances of outperforming the market [3] - The Value Score identifies attractive stocks using ratios like P/E, PEG, and Price/Sales, appealing to value investors [3] - The Growth Score focuses on a company's financial health and future outlook, analyzing projected and historical earnings and cash flow [4] - The Momentum Score capitalizes on price trends and earnings outlook changes, helping investors identify favorable times to invest [5] - The VGM Score combines value, growth, and momentum scores, aiding in the selection of stocks with the best overall potential [6] Zacks Rank - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that utilizes earnings estimate revisions to guide investors in building successful portfolios [7] - Stocks rated 1 (Strong Buy) have historically produced an average annual return of +23.93% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [8] - There are over 800 stocks rated 1 and 2, making it essential for investors to use Style Scores to narrow down choices [9] Investment Strategy - For optimal returns, investors should focus on stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B [10] - Stocks with a 3 (Hold) rank should also have A or B Scores to maximize upside potential [10] - A stock with a 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell) rating, even with high Style Scores, is likely to face declining earnings forecasts [11] Company Spotlight: Asbury Automotive Group - Asbury Automotive Group is a major automotive retailer in the U.S., operating 152 new vehicle dealerships and 37 collision repair centers [12] - Asbury holds a 3 (Hold) Zacks Rank and a VGM Score of A, with a Value Style Score of A due to a forward P/E ratio of 8.37 [13] - Recent upward revisions in earnings estimates for fiscal 2025 have increased the Zacks Consensus Estimate by $0.39 to $28.03 per share, with an average earnings surprise of +8.4% [13] - With a solid Zacks Rank and strong Value and VGM Style Scores, Asbury Automotive Group is recommended for investors' consideration [14]

Economic Overview - The year 2025 has been turbulent for the U.S. economy, marked by elevated uncertainty and job market weakness [1] Investment Approach - The investment strategy focuses on fundamental long-term perspectives, with a history of investing in REITs, preferred stocks, and high-yield bonds since high school [2] - Recent strategies include combining long stock positions with covered calls and cash secured puts [2] Analyst and Disclosure Information - There are no current stock, option, or similar derivative positions in any mentioned companies, nor plans to initiate such positions within the next 72 hours [3] - The article expresses personal opinions and is not compensated beyond the platform [3]

Group 1 - Barclays analyst John Babcock indicates investment opportunities in the automotive dealership sector due to expected profit growth in fiscal year 2026 and a recent decline in valuations [1] - The automotive retail industry is rated as "neutral," but certain companies show potential for above-average performance due to strong growth trends and resilience in adverse economic cycles [1] - Demand for used cars in the U.S. is weak, and auto credit data shows a decrease in demand in the subprime market [1] Group 2 - Companies rated "buy" include Carvana (CVNA.US) for its investment in optimizing online purchasing experience, while CarMax (KMX.US) is rated "sell" due to inconsistent operational performance and potential higher-than-expected loan loss reserves [1] - In the new and used car dealership segment, companies rated "buy" include AutoNation (AN.US), Group 1 Automotive (GPI.US), Lithia Motors (LAD.US), and Penske Automotive (PAG.US) based on strong same-store sales growth and stable operational performance [2] - Asbury Automotive (ABG.US) and Sonic Automotive (SAH.US) are rated "hold" [2]

Core Insights - Zacks Premium offers tools for investors to enhance their stock market strategies, including daily updates, research reports, and stock screens [1][9] - The Zacks Style Scores are designed to help investors select stocks with the highest potential to outperform the market in the short term [2] Zacks Style Scores Overview - The Style Scores consist of four categories: Value Score, Growth Score, Momentum Score, and VGM Score, each focusing on different investment strategies [3][4][5][6] - Value Score identifies undervalued stocks using financial ratios [3] - Growth Score assesses a company's future earnings and financial health [4] - Momentum Score capitalizes on price trends and earnings outlook changes [5] - VGM Score combines all three styles for a comprehensive evaluation [6] Zacks Rank and Performance - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that uses earnings estimate revisions to aid in stock selection [7] - Stocks rated 1 (Strong Buy) have historically outperformed the S&P 500, with an average annual return of +23.93% since 1988 [8] - There are over 800 top-rated stocks available, making the selection process potentially overwhelming [9] Stock Analysis: Asbury Automotive Group (ABG) - Asbury Automotive Group is a major automotive retailer in the U.S., operating 152 new vehicle dealerships and 37 collision repair centers [12] - ABG holds a 3 (Hold) rating on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A and a Value Style Score of A, indicating strong valuation metrics [13] - The forward P/E ratio for ABG is 8.08, making it attractive for value investors [13] - Recent upward revisions in earnings estimates suggest positive momentum, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by $0.37 to $27.57 per share [13] - ABG's average earnings surprise stands at +8.4%, reinforcing its potential as a solid investment choice [13][14]