greeksoup/ stock research

Sonic Automotive Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue up 8%, record gross profit: Total revenues were $3.9 billion, up 8% year-over-year. Gross profit was $616.2 million, up 2%, which management described as a second-quarter record. Source
  • Adjusted net income down 23%: Adjusted net income was $58.3 million, down 23%, and adjusted diluted EPS was $1.82, down 17%, as reconciled in the release's non-GAAP schedules. Source
  • Same-store revenue up, gross profit down: Franchised same-store revenues rose 2% and same-store gross profit fell 3%. Franchised segment income was $70.7 million, down 23% from $91.6 million, excluding prior-year impairments. Source
  • EchoPark segment income fell 38%: Reported segment income was $7.2 million against $11.7 million a year earlier. Adjusted EBITDA was $13.9 million, down 15% from $16.4 million. Source
  • Lower gross profit per unit at EchoPark: Management said EchoPark gross profit per unit fell despite the volume and revenue growth. It is focusing on inventory sourcing mix and F&I performance. Source
  • SG&A rose faster than gross profit: Reported SG&A was $444.6 million, up 8%, equal to 72.2% of gross profit against 68.5% a year earlier. Adjusted SG&A was 72.0% of gross profit against 69.2%. Source
  • Affordability backdrop and tough comparisons: Management said the quarter included difficult year-over-year comparisons and a challenging consumer affordability backdrop, and that teams executed well in it. Source
  • Liquidity of about $676 million: The company ended the quarter with about $294 million of cash and floor plan deposits and about $676 million of total available liquidity. Source
  • Harley-Davidson acquisition adds Powersports revenue: The previously announced acquisition of five Harley-Davidson dealerships in April 2026 is expected to add about $100 million of annualized revenue to Powersports. Source

“Our second quarter performance reflects the strength of Sonic’s diversified business model and the commitment of our teammates across the organization.”

David Smith, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sonic Automotive

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Powersports revenue from acquisition Sourceannualizedapproximately $100 millionKept
Quarterly cash dividend Sourcepayable October 15, 2026$0.41 per shareKept
EchoPark footprint expansion Sourcebeginning fourth quarter 2026beginning in the fourth quarter of 2026Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: The company declared a $0.41 dividend payable October 15, 2026. The first-quarter release had announced a $0.41 dividend payable July 15, 2026. Source
  • Guidance kept: The Harley-Davidson acquisition estimate of about $100 million in annualized Powersports revenue was repeated without change from the first-quarter release. Source
  • Guidance kept: EchoPark expansion timing was described as beginning in the fourth quarter of 2026, compared with late 2026 in the first-quarter release. Source

Consolidated results and profit

  • Revenue up 8%, record gross profit: Total revenues were $3.9 billion, up 8% year-over-year. Gross profit was $616.2 million, up 2%, which management described as a second-quarter record. Source
  • Reported net income rose on prior-year charges: Reported net income was $57.4 million, up 226%, or $1.79 per diluted share. The prior-year quarter included $172.4 million of impairment charges. Source
  • Adjusted net income down 23%: Adjusted net income was $58.3 million, down 23%, and adjusted diluted EPS was $1.82, down 17%, as reconciled in the release's non-GAAP schedules. Source

Franchised Dealerships segment

  • Same-store revenue up, gross profit down: Franchised same-store revenues rose 2% and same-store gross profit fell 3%. Franchised segment income was $70.7 million, down 23% from $91.6 million, excluding prior-year impairments. Source
  • New vehicle gross profit per unit fell: Same-store retail new unit volume was flat. Retail new gross profit per unit fell 16% to $2,872 on that flat volume. Source
  • Used units up, used gross per unit down: Same-store retail used unit volume rose 7%, while used gross profit per unit fell 13% to $1,401. Source
  • Fixed operations margin slipped: Same-store fixed operations gross profit rose 2%, with customer pay up 1% and warranty up 3%. The fixed operations margin was 51.0%. Source

“Our teams executed well in a quarter that included difficult year-over-year comparisons and a challenging consumer affordability backdrop.”

Jeff Dyke, President of Sonic Automotive

EchoPark segment

  • Used retail units up 17%: EchoPark retail used unit volume rose 17% to 19,601. Segment revenues rose 15% to $582.9 million, and gross profit rose 4% to $64.3 million. Source
  • EchoPark segment income fell 38%: Reported segment income was $7.2 million against $11.7 million a year earlier. Adjusted EBITDA was $13.9 million, down 15% from $16.4 million. Source
  • Lower gross profit per unit at EchoPark: Management said EchoPark gross profit per unit fell despite the volume and revenue growth. It is focusing on inventory sourcing mix and F&I performance. Source

Powersports segment

  • Powersports revenue and profit records: Powersports revenue reached a second-quarter record of $73.5 million, up 53%, and gross profit was $19.7 million, up 58%. Segment income was $2.3 million against breakeven. Source
  • Powersports adjusted EBITDA up 145%: Powersports adjusted EBITDA was $4.9 million, a 145% improvement from $2.0 million in the prior-year period. Source
  • Same-store Powersports revenue up 13%: Same-store Powersports revenues were $54.5 million, up 13% from $48.1 million, with same-store used vehicle revenue up 40%. Source

“We will continue to apply a disciplined approach to capital allocation, balancing strategic acquisitions, organic investment and share repurchases as opportunities arise and market conditions evolve.”

Heath Byrd, Chief Financial Officer of Sonic Automotive

Costs, SG&A and operating income

  • SG&A rose faster than gross profit: Reported SG&A was $444.6 million, up 8%, equal to 72.2% of gross profit against 68.5% a year earlier. Adjusted SG&A was 72.0% of gross profit against 69.2%. Source
  • Advertising and other SG&A increased: Advertising expense rose to $28.5 million from $24.4 million. Other SG&A reached 20.5% of gross profit against 18.8% a year earlier. Source
  • Operating income reversed to a profit: Operating income was $131.6 million, against a $23.3 million loss a year earlier that included impairment charges. Source

Demand, affordability and inventory

  • Affordability backdrop and tough comparisons: Management said the quarter included difficult year-over-year comparisons and a challenging consumer affordability backdrop, and that teams executed well in it. Source
  • Retail new and used units up 3%: Same-store retail new and used units were 53,505, up 3%. The used-to-new ratio rose to 0.94 from 0.88. Source
  • Days' supply of inventory reported: On a trailing cost-of-sales basis, Franchised had 56 days' supply of new vehicles including in-transit and 35 days of used. EchoPark had 47 days of used. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Liquidity of about $676 million: The company ended the quarter with about $294 million of cash and floor plan deposits and about $676 million of total available liquidity. Source
  • Dividend declared per share up 17%: Dividends declared per common share were $0.41 in the quarter against $0.35 a year earlier, and $0.79 for the six months against $0.70. Source
  • Balanced capital allocation stated: Management said capital will be allocated among strategic acquisitions, organic investment and share repurchases as opportunities arise and conditions evolve. Source

Strategy and growth investment

  • Harley-Davidson acquisition adds Powersports revenue: The previously announced acquisition of five Harley-Davidson dealerships in April 2026 is expected to add about $100 million of annualized revenue to Powersports. Source
  • EchoPark expansion set for Q4: Management said the focus is on inventory sourcing mix, F&I performance and disciplined footprint expansion beginning in the fourth quarter of 2026. Source

Coming up, as management said on 30 July 2026

  • Quarterly dividend payment: The $0.41 per share dividend is payable October 15, 2026, to holders of record on September 15, 2026. Source
  • EchoPark expansion begins Q4 2026: Management said EchoPark footprint expansion begins in the fourth quarter of 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Same store revenue change, Franchised Dealerships Sourceup 2%
Same store gross profit change, Franchised Dealerships Sourcedown 3%
Same store retail new vehicle unit volume, Franchised Sourceflat
Same store retail used vehicle unit volume, Franchised Sourceup 7%
Same store retail used gross profit per unit, Franchised Source$1,401, down 13%
New vehicle days' supply, Franchised including in-transit Source56 days
Used vehicle days' supply, Franchised Source35 days
Used vehicle days' supply, EchoPark Source47 days
EchoPark retail used vehicle unit volume Source19,601, up 17%
Same store Fixed Operations gross profit margin, Franchised Source51.0%, down 30 basis points
Same store F&I gross profit per retail unit, Franchised Source$2,619, down 4%

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management cited a challenging consumer affordability backdrop and difficult year-over-year comparisons as factors in the quarter. Source
  • Operational: EchoPark total gross profit per unit was lower despite volume growth. Management is focusing on inventory sourcing mix and F&I performance. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The acquisition was described as previously announced and expected to add about $100 million of annualized Powersports revenue. Management did not state its progress. 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.