Core Insights - AutoNation, Inc. reported first-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings of $4.68 per share, a 4% increase year over year, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.35, driven by strong revenues and profits from retail new and used vehicles [1] - Total revenues for the quarter reached $6.69 billion, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.57 billion and up from $6.48 billion in the first quarter of 2024 [1] Revenue Breakdown - New vehicle revenues increased by 9% year over year to $3.24 billion, exceeding the estimate of $2.83 billion, with retail units sold totaling 62,387, a 6% increase from the previous year [2] - Average selling price (ASP) for new vehicles rose by 2.9% year over year to $52,064, surpassing the estimate of $47,541 [2] - Gross profit from new vehicles was $175 million, a decline of 10.7% year over year, but above the estimate of $112.5 million [2] Used Vehicle Performance - Retail used-vehicle revenues decreased by 2.3% year over year to $1.79 billion, but exceeded the projection of $1.77 billion due to higher ASP [3] - Used vehicle retail units sold were 68,000, down 1.6% year over year, missing the projection of 69,429 units [3] - ASP for used vehicles was $26,354, down 0.7% year over year, but above the estimate of $25,562 [3] - Gross profit from used vehicles increased by 11% to $113 million, surpassing the estimate of $86.3 million [3] Wholesale and Other Segments - Revenues from wholesale used vehicles fell by 19.7% to $130.3 million, missing the estimate of $165.7 million, while gross profit rose to $11.5 million from $9.7 million, exceeding the estimate of $6.2 million [4] - Finance and insurance business net revenues were $352.5 million, a 5.3% increase year over year, beating the projection of $332.2 million [4] - Parts and service revenues contracted by 0.7% to $1.16 billion, missing the estimate of $1.3 billion, while gross profit rose by 2.1% to $567.7 million, below the estimate of $618 million [5] Segmental Performance - Domestic segment revenues declined by 2.2% year over year to $1.71 billion, exceeding the projection of $1.7 billion, with segment income down 8.2% to $69 million, but above the estimate of $60 million [5] - Import segment revenues increased by 3.4% to $2 billion, surpassing the forecast of $1.95 billion, with income contracting by 2% to $126 million, exceeding the estimate of $113 million [6] - Premium Luxury segment sales rose by 6.7% to $2.57 billion, surpassing the projection of $2.44 billion, with segment income increasing by 4.1% to $178.7 million, exceeding the estimate of $160 million [6] Financial Position - As of March 31, 2025, the company's liquidity stood at $1.6 billion, including $71 million in cash and nearly $1 billion available under its revolving credit facility [7] - Inventory was valued at $3.23 billion, and non-vehicle debt was $3.96 billion [7] - Capital expenditure for the quarter was $75.2 million [7] Share Repurchase Activity - During the first quarter of 2025, AutoNation repurchased 1.4 million shares for $225 million, with a total of 1.5 million shares repurchased for $254 million since the beginning of the year [8] - The company currently has $607 million remaining under its share repurchase program [8]

Company Overview - AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE: AN) is a retailer of both new and used cars in the United States, offering a diverse range of car brands, prominently including Toyota [1] Investment Philosophy - The investment philosophy focuses on identifying mispriced securities by understanding the financial drivers of a company, often revealed through a DCF model valuation [1]

Group 1 - The company AutoNation (NYSE: AN) is viewed positively, with a focus on its revenue generation from vehicle sales and related parts [1] - The automotive retail sector is highlighted as a potential area for investment, particularly in the context of market trends and consumer demand [1] Group 2 - Crude Value Insights provides an investment service centered on oil and natural gas, emphasizing cash flow and growth prospects [1] - Subscribers benefit from a comprehensive stock model account and detailed cash flow analyses of exploration and production firms [2]

April 25, 2025 Overview 1Q 2025 First Quarter 2025 Earnings Release 1 Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Words such as "anticipates," "expects," "estimates," "intends," "goals," "targets," "projects," "plans, ...

AutoNation (AN) Q1 2025 Earnings Call April 25, 2025 07:34 PM ET Company Participants Derek Fiebig - VP - Investor RelationsMichael Manley - CEO & DirectorThomas Szlosek - Executive VP & CFOJohn Murphy - Managing DirectorRajat Gupta - Executive Director, AutosDaniela Haigian - Vice President - Equity ResearchBret Jordan - Managing DirectorDavid Whiston - Equity Strategist - U.S. Autos Conference Call Participants Michael Ward - Vice President & Senior Analyst - US InsuranceColin Langan - Automotive & Mobili ...

Financial Performance - For the three months ended March 31, 2025, net income was $175.5 million, with diluted earnings per share of $4.45, compared to net income of $190.1 million and diluted earnings per share of $4.49 in the same period of 2024[121]. - Total revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2025, was $6,690.4 million, representing a 3.2% increase from $6,485.7 million in 2024[137]. - Operating income for the period was $336.0 million, a slight decrease of 1.3% from $340.3 million in 2024[137]. - Total gross profit for the three months ended March 31, 2025, was $1,219.9 million, up 1.8% from $1,197.9 million in 2024[137]. - The company reported net cash used in operating activities of $52.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to net cash provided of $294.5 million for the same period in 2024[213]. Revenue Breakdown - New vehicle sales accounted for 49% of total revenue and 14% of total gross profit, while used vehicle sales accounted for 29% of total revenue and 10% of total gross profit[117]. - New vehicle revenue increased by 9.0% to $3,248.1 million in 2025 from $2,979.3 million in 2024[137]. - Retail used vehicle revenue decreased by 2.3% to $1,792.1 million in 2025 from $1,833.8 million in 2024[137]. - Total revenue for used vehicles decreased to $1,922.4 million, a decline of 3.7% from $1,996.1 million in Q1 2024[152]. - Same store retail used vehicle revenue decreased by 2.1% to $1,766.5 million, attributed to a decrease in unit volume[153]. Sales and Inventory - U.S. industry retail new vehicle unit sales increased approximately 8% in Q1 2025 compared to Q1 2024, driven by higher manufacturer vehicle production and increased consumer demand[118]. - Retail vehicle unit sales for new vehicles increased by 6.0% to 62,387 units in 2025 from 58,863 units in 2024[137]. - New vehicle inventory units were 39,300 as of March 31, 2025, compared to 38,200 in the previous year, with cumulative write-downs of $1.3 million[125]. - Inventory days supply for new vehicles improved to 38 days in 2025 from 44 days in 2024, while used vehicles increased to 36 days from 31 days[138]. Segment Performance - Domestic segment revenue decreased by 2.2% to $1,717.4 million, primarily due to a decline in used vehicle revenue, which was impacted by lower unit volume and average selling prices[165]. - Import segment revenue increased by 3.4% to $2,047.3 million, driven by a 5.5% increase in new vehicle revenue, largely due to higher average selling prices[168]. - Premium Luxury segment revenue rose by 6.7% to $2,576.5 million, with new vehicle revenue increasing by 14.5% to $1,325.9 million[170]. - Premium Luxury segment income increased by 4.1% to $178.7 million, supported by higher gross profit across new vehicles and finance and insurance[170]. Expenses and Costs - SG&A expenses increased to $821.9 million in Q1 2025 from $793.1 million in Q1 2024, with SG&A as a percentage of total gross profit rising to 67.4% from 66.2%[179]. - Floorplan interest expense decreased to $46.5 million in Q1 2025 from $49.4 million in Q1 2024, primarily due to lower average interest rates[182]. - Other interest expense decreased to $42.3 million in Q1 2025 from $44.6 million in Q1 2024, driven by lower average debt balances[184]. Investments and Acquisitions - The company made cash payments of $69.6 million for business acquisitions during the three months ended March 31, 2025, having purchased one Domestic store and one Import store[199]. - The company is investing significantly in strategic initiatives, including the expansion of AutoNation Finance and AutoNation USA used vehicle stores[224]. Financial Position - As of March 31, 2025, the company's long-term debt, net of current maturities, was $3,104.5 million, an increase from $2,613 million as of December 31, 2024[203]. - The company had a leverage ratio of 2.56x and an interest coverage ratio of 4.33x as of March 31, 2025, both of which were in compliance with the covenants under its credit agreement[209]. - Cash and cash equivalents increased to $70.5 million as of March 31, 2025, compared to $59.8 million at December 31, 2024[189]. Market Conditions and Risks - Tariffs announced by the U.S. government in Q1 2025 could increase costs or consumer prices and limit inventory availability, potentially impacting business operations[120]. - The automotive retail industry is sensitive to economic conditions, including unemployment levels and consumer confidence, which could affect the company's performance[224]. - The company is subject to various risks associated with originating and servicing auto finance loans, which could adversely affect its business[224]. - The company’s operations are subject to extensive governmental laws and regulations, which could impact its business and financial results[224].

Core Insights - AutoNation, Inc. (AN) has shown moderate performance over the past year, with a stock price increase of approximately 8% as the company continues to generate substantial cash flow and reduce its share count [1] Group 1 - The company has been successful in generating significant cash flow, which is a positive indicator for its financial health [1] - AutoNation has been actively reducing its share count, which can enhance shareholder value by increasing earnings per share [1] - Despite its positive performance, the stock has faced challenges and is not immune to market fluctuations [1]

Group 1: Earnings Performance - AutoNation reported quarterly earnings of $4.68 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.35 per share, and showing an increase from $4.49 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of 7.59% [1] - The company posted revenues of $6.69 billion for the quarter ended March 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.75%, compared to $6.49 billion in the same quarter last year [2] - Over the last four quarters, AutoNation has surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times and topped consensus revenue estimates two times [2] Group 2: Stock Performance and Outlook - AutoNation shares have increased by approximately 2.1% since the beginning of the year, while the S&P 500 has declined by 6.8% [3] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $4.47 on revenues of $6.72 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $18.22 on revenues of $27.02 billion [7] - The estimate revisions trend for AutoNation is mixed, resulting in a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) for the stock, indicating expected performance in line with the market in the near future [6] Group 3: Industry Context - The Automotive - Retail and Whole Sales industry is currently in the top 21% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting a favorable outlook for stocks within this sector [8] - Empirical research indicates a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which can be tracked by investors [5]

Financial Performance - AutoNation reported Q1 2025 revenue of $6.7 billion, a 4% increase year-over-year on a same-store basis[2]. - Total revenue for Q1 2025 was $6,690.4 million, a 3.2% increase from $6,485.7 million in Q1 2024[21]. - Total revenue for Q1 2025 was $6,655.0 million, up from $6,380.8 million in Q1 2024, marking a 4.3% increase[38]. - New vehicle revenue reached $3.2 billion, up $300 million or 10% compared to the previous year[10]. - New vehicle revenue increased by 9.0% to $3,248.1 million, while used vehicle revenue decreased by 3.7% to $1,922.4 million[24]. - New vehicle revenue increased by 10.2% to $3,247.6 million in Q1 2025 from $2,947.4 million in Q1 2024[38]. - Net income decreased to $175.5 million, compared to $190.1 million in the same quarter last year, resulting in diluted earnings per share of $4.45[21]. - EPS for the quarter was $4.45, down 1% from $4.49 a year ago, while adjusted EPS increased by 4% to $4.68[6]. Sales Performance - Same-store new vehicle retail unit sales increased by 7% to 62,379 units, while used vehicle retail unit sales decreased by 2% to 66,787 units[5]. - Retail new vehicle unit sales increased by 6.0% to 62,387 units, while retail used vehicle unit sales decreased by 1.6% to 68,000 units[27]. - Retail vehicle unit sales for new vehicles rose to 62,379 in Q1 2025, an increase of 7.1% from 58,227 in Q1 2024[38]. Profitability - Record After-Sales gross profit of $568 million, reflecting a 4% increase year-over-year[6]. - Gross profit rose to $1,219.9 million, reflecting a 1.8% increase compared to $1,197.9 million in the previous year[24]. - Total gross profit increased to $1,213.6 million in Q1 2025 from $1,179.0 million in Q1 2024, a growth of 2.9%[38]. - The gross profit per new vehicle retailed decreased by 15.8% to $2,803, while the gross profit per used vehicle retailed increased by 12.8% to $1,662[24]. - Gross profit from new vehicles declined to 5.4% in Q1 2025 compared to 6.6% in Q1 2024[39]. - Gross profit from used vehicle retail increased to 6.3% in Q1 2025 from 5.6% in Q1 2024[39]. - Total gross profit as a percentage of revenue slightly decreased to 18.2% in Q1 2025 from 18.5% in Q1 2024[39]. Expenses and Costs - SG&A as a percentage of gross profit increased to 67.4%, up from 65.6% in the prior year[10]. - The company reported a decrease in selling, general, and administrative expenses to $821.9 million, down from $793.1 million[24]. - Capital expenditures decreased to $75.2 million in Q1 2025 from $93.7 million in Q1 2024[30]. Liquidity and Capital Management - AutoNation's liquidity as of March 31, 2025, was $1.6 billion, including $71 million in cash[11]. - The company repurchased 1.4 million shares for $225 million at an average price of approximately $165 per share[9]. - Stock repurchases surged to $224.8 million in Q1 2025, significantly higher than $38.7 million in Q1 2024, with shares repurchased increasing from 0.2 million to 1.4 million[30]. - The leverage ratio stood at 2.56x, well below the covenant limit of 3.75x, indicating strong financial health[30]. Segment Performance - The finance and insurance segment reported a net revenue increase of 5.3% to $352.5 million[24]. - Interest and fee income increased to $41.9 million in Q1 2025 from $21.8 million in Q1 2024, a variance of $20.1 million[28]. - Total interest margin after provision for loan losses rose to $9.1 million in Q1 2025, compared to $4.6 million in Q1 2024, reflecting an increase of $4.5 million[28]. Revenue Mix - New vehicle revenue mix increased to 48.8% in Q1 2025 from 46.2% in Q1 2024[39]. - Used vehicle revenue mix decreased to 28.5% in Q1 2025 from 30.8% in Q1 2024[39]. - Parts and service revenue mix remained consistent at 17.4% in Q1 2025 compared to 17.8% in Q1 2024[39].

Despite a turbulent tariff environment that engulfs the auto sector, prospects of the Zacks Auto Retail and Wholesale industry remain robust on the back of a diversified product mix and multiple income streams. Players like Lithia Motors, Inc. (LAD) , AutoNation, Inc. (AN) and Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (GPI) continue to expandtheir market share and strengthen their offerings to reach a broader audience, thereby improving profitability. Industry Overview The performance of the automotive sector relies on its ...