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Sonic Automotive Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 October 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Record revenue and gross profit: Total revenues were $4.0 billion, up 0.4%, and gross profit $617.5 million, up 0.3%. The company described both as all-time quarterly records. Source
  • Net income and EPS declined: Net income was $41.1 million, down 12%, and diluted EPS $1.28, down 4%. Adjusted net income was $41.9 million, down 15%, and adjusted diluted EPS $1.30, down 8%. Source
  • Same-store revenue and gross profit fell: Same store revenue was down 2% and same store gross profit down 1%. Reported segment revenue was $3.3 billion, down 3%, and segment income $47.6 million, down 22%. Source
  • New vehicle units fell 7%: Same store retail new vehicle units were down 7%, while new vehicle gross profit per unit was flat at $3,000. Source
  • Used unit volume rose 22%: EchoPark retail used unit volume was 19,923, up 22%, and segment revenue was $596.0 million, up 14%. Source
  • Gross profit record, per unit down: Segment gross profit of $58.9 million was a third-quarter record, up 8%, while total combined gross profit per unit fell 12% to $2,972. Source
  • Powersports record revenue and gross profit: Powersports revenue was an all-time quarterly record of $113.7 million, up 35%, and gross profit $29.3 million, up 26%. Source
  • SG&A rose faster than gross profit: Total SG&A rose 3% to $466.8 million, while gross profit rose 0.3%. SG&A was 75.6% of gross profit against 73.4%; adjusted SG&A was 75.4% against 72.8%. Source

“Our third quarter results reflect the value of Sonic’s diversified business, as revenue and gross profit growth in our EchoPark and Powersports segments offset declines in our Franchised Dealerships segment, driving all-time record quarterly consolidated revenues and gross profit.”

David Smith, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sonic Automotive

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Dividend SourceQuarterly cash dividend payable January 15, 2027$0.41 per shareKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Management announced a new EchoPark brand campaign and an Orlando market opening, both due in the coming weeks. Source

Consolidated results and profit

  • Record revenue and gross profit: Total revenues were $4.0 billion, up 0.4%, and gross profit $617.5 million, up 0.3%. The company described both as all-time quarterly records. Source
  • Net income and EPS declined: Net income was $41.1 million, down 12%, and diluted EPS $1.28, down 4%. Adjusted net income was $41.9 million, down 15%, and adjusted diluted EPS $1.30, down 8%. Source
  • Nine-month diluted EPS rose: Nine-month diluted EPS was $4.87 against $2.06. Nine-month adjusted diluted EPS was $4.74 against $5.08, and the prior-year period included $173.8 million of impairment charges. Source
  • Pre-tax income fell: Income before taxes was $57.5 million, down 19%, and operating income $112.4 million, down 8%. Tax expense was $16.4 million against $24.4 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell: Consolidated adjusted EBITDA was $134.4 million, against $149.4 million a year earlier. Franchised Dealerships contributed $116.0 million, against $131.1 million. Source

Franchised Dealerships segment

  • Same-store revenue and gross profit fell: Same store revenue was down 2% and same store gross profit down 1%. Reported segment revenue was $3.3 billion, down 3%, and segment income $47.6 million, down 22%. Source
  • New vehicle units fell 7%: Same store retail new vehicle units were down 7%, while new vehicle gross profit per unit was flat at $3,000. Source
  • Used units rose, per-unit gross fell: Same store retail used units rose 3%, but used gross profit per unit fell 3% to $1,506. Source
  • Fixed operations margin rose: Same store fixed operations gross profit rose 1%, with customer pay flat and warranty up 1%. Fixed operations margin rose 20 basis points to 51.4%. Source
  • F&I per retail unit rose: Same store F&I gross profit was flat, while F&I gross profit per retail unit rose 2% to $2,630. Source

“We remain focused on disciplined capital allocation, evaluating growth investments and capital returns against expected returns and liquidity needs.”

Heath Byrd, Chief Financial Officer of Sonic Automotive

EchoPark segment

  • Used unit volume rose 22%: EchoPark retail used unit volume was 19,923, up 22%, and segment revenue was $596.0 million, up 14%. Source
  • Gross profit record, per unit down: Segment gross profit of $58.9 million was a third-quarter record, up 8%, while total combined gross profit per unit fell 12% to $2,972. Source
  • Segment income declined: Reported segment income was $2.0 million, down 23%. Adjusted segment income was $2.6 million, down 4%, and adjusted EBITDA $7.9 million, down 4%. Source
  • SG&A ratio rose: EchoPark SG&A was 82.1% of gross profit against 80.0%. Advertising was 14.9% of gross profit against 13.6%. Source

Powersports segment

  • Powersports record revenue and gross profit: Powersports revenue was an all-time quarterly record of $113.7 million, up 35%, and gross profit $29.3 million, up 26%. Source
  • Acquisitions integrated into segment: Jeff Dyke credited the integration of recent acquisitions into the Sonic Powersports family with record quarterly performance in the segment. Source

Costs and margins

  • SG&A rose faster than gross profit: Total SG&A rose 3% to $466.8 million, while gross profit rose 0.3%. SG&A was 75.6% of gross profit against 73.4%; adjusted SG&A was 75.4% against 72.8%. Source
  • Compensation and advertising grew: Compensation rose 2% to $288.6 million, advertising rose 9% to $28.8 million, and other SG&A rose 6% to $136.3 million. Source
  • Items excluded from adjusted results: Adjustments in the quarter included a $1.2 million loss on exit of leased dealerships, $0.9 million of storm damage charges, and a $1.0 million legal settlement adjustment. Source

Inventory and used-to-new ratio

  • New inventory days' supply: On a trailing quarter cost of sales basis, Franchised Dealerships had 65 days’ supply of new vehicle inventory, including in-transit, and 34 days of used vehicle inventory. Source
  • EchoPark used inventory days: On the same trailing quarter cost of sales basis, EchoPark had 41 days’ supply of used vehicle inventory. Source
  • Used-to-new ratio rose: The same store used-to-new ratio was 0.96, against 0.87 a year earlier, on retail new and used units of 54,289. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Dividends declared rose 8%: Dividends declared were $0.41 per share in the quarter, up from $0.38, and $1.20 for the nine months, up 11%. Source
  • Diluted share count fell 8%: Diluted weighted-average shares were 32.2 million, down 8% from 35.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Floor plan interest rose: Floor plan interest expense was $24.4 million, up 2% from $23.9 million, and other interest expense, net was $30.6 million, up 11%. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Guest experience and long-term investment: Smith said the company continues to focus on a world-class guest experience, which he said supports long-term strategic investments aimed at sustainable earnings growth. Source
  • EchoPark footprint expansion timing: The prior quarter's release said EchoPark footprint expansion would begin in the fourth quarter of 2026. This release names the Orlando market opening as the next step.
  • Diversified segments offset franchised declines: Management said EchoPark and Powersports growth offset declines in the Franchised Dealerships segment, producing record consolidated revenue and gross profit. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 October 2026

  • Orlando market opening: A new EchoPark brand campaign and an Orlando market opening are due in the coming weeks, per the CEO-level remarks by Jeff Dyke, President. Source
  • Dividend payment and record dates: The $0.41 quarterly dividend is payable January 15, 2027 to stockholders of record on December 15, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Comparable sales (same store revenues) Sourcedown 2%
New vehicle inventory days' supply Source65 days, including in-transit
Store count Source174 franchises in 146 locations
Fixed Operations gross profit margin (same store) Source51.4%

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Jeff Dyke said the Franchised Dealerships business is navigating a challenging consumer affordability environment. Source
  • Operational: Heath Byrd said the company is taking action to prioritize expense leverage near term while maintaining certain strategic investments. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The prior release tied EchoPark footprint expansion to the fourth quarter of 2026. This release does not state whether that timing has been met.

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.