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Asbury Automotive Group Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 28 July 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income and EPS declined: Net income was $114.6 million, or $6.25 per diluted share, against $152.8 million and $7.76 a year earlier. Adjusted net income was $125.0 million, or $6.82 per diluted share, against $146.3 million and $7.43. Source
  • Operating income fell 15%: Gross profit was $753.1 million, against $751.9 million. Income from operations fell to $219.5 million, and operating margin was 5.0% against 5.9%. Adjusted operating margin was 5.3% against 5.8%. Source
  • New vehicle gross profit per unit fell: New vehicle gross profit per unit was $3,124, against $3,601 a year earlier, down 13%. New vehicle gross margin was 5.9% against 6.9%. New vehicle gross profit was $138.2 million against $160.0 million. Source
  • Used retail gross profit per unit rose: Used retail gross profit per unit was $2,002, up 16%, and used retail gross profit was $66.2 million against $62.3 million. Used retail units fell 9% to 33,098, and used retail revenue was $1,094.0 million, down 3%. Source
  • Same-store revenue down 7%: Same-store revenue was $3,764.8 million, down 7% from $4,032.2 million. Same-store gross profit was $643.2 million, down 7%, and same-store gross margin was 17.1% against 17.2%. Source
  • SG&A rose faster than gross profit: Selling, general and administrative expense was $506.4 million, up 7%, and was 67.2% of gross profit against 63.2%. Gross profit was level with the prior year. Dealership rent and related expenses were $41.0 million against $28.6 million. Source
  • Liquidity fell to $966 million: Liquidity at June 30, 2026 was $966 million, including $154 million of cash, short-term investments and floorplan offset accounts. At March 31, 2026 total liquidity was $1.2 billion. Source
  • Second-quarter buyback of $131 million: The company repurchased about 668,000 shares for $131 million in the second quarter, against $147 million in the first quarter. Year-to-date it repurchased about 1.35 million shares for $278 million. Source
  • Tekion conversion reached 70%: About 70% of stores had converted to Tekion as of July 28, 2026, against over 50% as of April 28, 2026 in the first quarter release. Source

“Our second quarter marked a significant milestone in our enterprise technology transformation, as we completed approximately 70% of our Tekion implementation.”

Dan Clara, Asbury’s President and Chief Executive Officer

What changed from last quarter

  • New: The second quarter release names Dan Clara as President and Chief Executive Officer. The first quarter release named David Hult in the same role. The documents do not describe the transition. Source

Results and profitability

  • Net income and EPS declined: Net income was $114.6 million, or $6.25 per diluted share, against $152.8 million and $7.76 a year earlier. Adjusted net income was $125.0 million, or $6.82 per diluted share, against $146.3 million and $7.43. Source
  • Operating income fell 15%: Gross profit was $753.1 million, against $751.9 million. Income from operations fell to $219.5 million, and operating margin was 5.0% against 5.9%. Adjusted operating margin was 5.3% against 5.8%. Source
  • Six-month net income rose on divestiture gain: For the six months, net income was $302.4 million against $284.9 million, and diluted EPS was $16.20 against $14.46. The period includes a $125.8 million gain on dealership divestitures, against $10.1 million a year earlier. Source

Segments, footprint and portfolio

  • Dealerships segment income declined: Dealerships segment operating income was $196.9 million, against $232.1 million a year earlier. Segment operating income includes floor plan interest expense and excludes asset impairments. Source
  • Total Care Auto income rose: Total Care Auto, Powered by Asbury, reported segment operating income of $21.1 million against $18.5 million. Revenue from external customers was $82.2 million against $79.5 million. Source
  • Store count held at 158: At June 30, 2026, Asbury operated 158 new vehicle dealerships with 202 franchises across 34 brands, plus 37 collision repair centers. The first quarter release gave the same dealership count. Source
  • Q1 divestitures of ten dealerships: In the first quarter 2026 the company divested ten dealerships and terminated seven franchises. The 13 stores contributed estimated annualized revenue of $625 million, and the ten divested stores produced about $210 million of net proceeds.

“While a dealership management system (DMS) conversion requires substantial planning and resources, we believe this investment will deliver meaningful long-term value”

Dan Clara, Asbury’s President and Chief Executive Officer

Vehicle sales and brand mix

  • New vehicle units edged lower: New vehicle revenue was $2,330.2 million, up 1%. New vehicle units were 44,245 against 44,437, and the average selling price was $52,666, up 2%. Domestic units fell 15% to 10,425. Source
  • New vehicle gross profit per unit fell: New vehicle gross profit per unit was $3,124, against $3,601 a year earlier, down 13%. New vehicle gross margin was 5.9% against 6.9%. New vehicle gross profit was $138.2 million against $160.0 million. Source
  • Used retail gross profit per unit rose: Used retail gross profit per unit was $2,002, up 16%, and used retail gross profit was $66.2 million against $62.3 million. Used retail units fell 9% to 33,098, and used retail revenue was $1,094.0 million, down 3%. Source
  • Used-to-new ratio fell to 74.8%: The used-to-new ratio was 74.8% in the second quarter, against 81.5%. Brand mix shifted: luxury made up 32% of new vehicle revenue against 30%, imports 42% against 40%, and domestic 26% against 30%. Source

Parts, service and F&I

  • Parts and service revenue rose 6%: Parts and service revenue was $634.6 million, up 6%, and gross profit was $374.2 million, up 5%. Parts and service gross margin was 59.0%, unchanged from the prior year. Source
  • F&I per vehicle rose 6%: F&I per vehicle retailed (PVR) was $2,216, against $2,084, up 6%. F&I net revenue was $183.8 million, up 1%, and F&I gross profit was $171.4 million, up 2%. Source
  • Gross profit mix shifted toward parts: New vehicles were 18.4% of gross profit, against 21.3%. Parts and service were 49.7%, against 47.2%. Used vehicle retail was 8.8%, against 8.3%. Source

“We are encouraged by the operating improvements in our converted stores, and we continue to execute against our balanced capital allocation approach”

Dan Clara, Asbury’s President and Chief Executive Officer

Same-store performance

  • Same-store revenue down 7%: Same-store revenue was $3,764.8 million, down 7% from $4,032.2 million. Same-store gross profit was $643.2 million, down 7%, and same-store gross margin was 17.1% against 17.2%. Source
  • Same-store new vehicle volume fell: Same-store new vehicle units were 38,908, against 41,597, down 6%. Same-store new vehicle gross profit per unit was $2,896, against $3,543, down 18%. Source
  • Same-store used retail units fell: Same-store used retail units were 28,821, down 14% from 33,363. Same-store used retail gross profit per unit was $1,927, up 10% from $1,745. Source

Costs, SG&A and interest

  • SG&A rose faster than gross profit: Selling, general and administrative expense was $506.4 million, up 7%, and was 67.2% of gross profit against 63.2%. Gross profit was level with the prior year. Dealership rent and related expenses were $41.0 million against $28.6 million. Source
  • Adjusted SG&A rose 4%: Adjusted SG&A was $496.7 million, up 4%, and was 66.0% of gross profit against 63.6%. Adjusted SG&A excludes the Tekion, weather, impairment and DMS items shown in the reconciliation. Source
  • Floor plan and other interest rose: Floor plan interest expense was $21.6 million, up 19%, and other interest expense, net was $46.5 million, up 12%. Income tax expense was $36.7 million, against $51.0 million. Source

Liquidity, leverage and inventory

  • Liquidity fell to $966 million: Liquidity at June 30, 2026 was $966 million, including $154 million of cash, short-term investments and floorplan offset accounts. At March 31, 2026 total liquidity was $1.2 billion. Source
  • Transaction adjusted leverage at 3.4x: The transaction adjusted net leverage ratio was 3.4x at quarter end, against 3.2x in the first quarter release. Transaction adjusted EBITDA was $966.4 million, against $997.9 million. Source
  • Inventory and debt balances declined: Net inventory was $2,108.6 million, against $2,135.8 million at December 31, 2025. Floor plan notes payable fell to $1,839.4 million from $2,027.0 million, and long-term debt to $3,457.6 million from $3,572.0 million. Source
  • Days supply rose from year-end: New vehicle days supply was 54 at June 30, 2026, against 52 at December 31, 2025 and 59 a year earlier. Used vehicle days supply was 39, against 38 and 37. Source

Cash flow and share repurchases

  • Second-quarter buyback of $131 million: The company repurchased about 668,000 shares for $131 million in the second quarter, against $147 million in the first quarter. Year-to-date it repurchased about 1.35 million shares for $278 million. Source
  • Authorization remaining $322 million: About $322 million remained on the share repurchase authorization at June 30, 2026, against $453 million at March 31, 2026. Repurchases depend on factors including stock price and the return on competing uses of capital. Source
  • Operating cash flow lower year-to-date: Adjusted operating cash flow for the six months was $305.2 million, against $334.0 million. Reported cash provided by operating activities was $352.6 million, against $316.4 million. Source

Technology transition and leadership

  • Tekion conversion reached 70%: About 70% of stores had converted to Tekion as of July 28, 2026, against over 50% as of April 28, 2026 in the first quarter release. Source
  • Tekion costs excluded from adjusted results: Tekion implementation expenses were $6.0 million pre-tax in the quarter, and duplicative DMS-related expenses were $1.2 million. Adjusted net income excludes $4 million net of tax for Tekion and $1 million for duplicative DMS costs. Source
  • Dan Clara named CEO in Q2 release: The second quarter release names Dan Clara as President and Chief Executive Officer. The first quarter release named David Hult in that role.

Coming up, as management said on 28 July 2026

  • Tekion rollout to finish this fall: Management said the Tekion rollout across operations remains on schedule to complete this fall. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Comparable sales (same-store total revenue change) Source-7% (second quarter 2026 vs 2025)
Same-store new vehicle units Source38,908 vs 41,597 (-6%)
Average selling price, used vehicle retail (ticket) Source$33,054 vs $31,171 (+6%)
Average selling price, new vehicle Source$52,666 vs $51,846 (+2%)
Gross margin, total company Source17.2% (second quarter 2026)
Days supply, new and used vehicle inventory SourceNew 54 days; used 39 days (June 30, 2026)
Store count and openings or closings Source158 dealerships; openings and closings not stated for second quarter
Dealerships divested, first quarter 202610 dealerships divested; 7 franchises terminated

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Management said the DMS conversion requires substantial planning and resources, which the company identified as a demand on its operations during the rollout. Source
  • External: Weather-related losses were $2.5 million pre-tax in the quarter, of which $2 million after tax was excluded from adjusted net income. Source
  • Financial: Non-cash asset impairments of $4.2 million pre-tax were recorded in the quarter, and $3 million after tax was excluded from adjusted net income. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said the rollout remains on schedule, and the release reports about 70% of stores converted as of July 28, 2026. Source
  • Not stated: The first quarter release expected these investments to drive efficiency gains and improved performance through the year. The second quarter release does not restate that expectation.
  • Not stated: Management said it continues to execute against a balanced capital allocation approach. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.