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AutoNation (AN) Beats on Q3 Earnings, Announces Buyback Plans
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AutoNation Inc. (AN - Free Report) reported third-quarter 2020 adjusted earnings of $2.38 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.63. Higher-than-expected new and used vehicle sales led to the outperformance. Precisely, revenues from new and used vehicles came in at $2,748 million and $1,517 million, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,620 million and $1,430 million, respectively.
The bottom line also increased from the year-ago quarter’s $1.18 per share on the back of operational efficiency. SG&A expenses as a percentage of gross profit were 64.4% for the quarter under review, making an 800-basis point increase from the corresponding period of 2019.
For the reported quarter, AutoNation’s revenues amounted to $5,404.9 million compared with $5,461.2 million recorded in the prior-year period. However, the top line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5,220 million.
For the quarter under review, new-vehicle revenues declined 4.4% year over year to $2,748.4 million. Used-vehicle revenues rose 8.1% from the year-ago figure to $1,516.9 million. Revenues from the parts and service business slid 5.5% from the prior-year quarter to $852.8 million. Net revenues in the finance and insurance business amounted to $281.2 million, up from 266.2 million recorded in the year-ago quarter.
Despite coronavirus woes, the company is not pulling back on store expansion. Importantly, AutoNation intends to build in excess of 100 stand-alone pre-owned vehicle stores, with more than 50 by 2025-end. It plans to open five additional stores by 2021-end. The automotive retailer has sharpened focus on ramping up digital capabilities in response to changing buying behaviors of consumers amid the pandemic.
AutoNation, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Revenues in the Domestic segment were up 0.3% year over year to $1,734.5 million. The segment’s income increased 59.2% year over year to $111.9 million for the quarter under review. The segment comprises stores that sell vehicles manufactured by General Motors, Ford and FCA US.
Revenues in the Import segment were down 5.9% from the prior-year quarter to $1,621.5 million. However, the segment’s income rose 42.1% year over year to $123.5 million for the reported quarter. The segment consists of outlets that sell vehicles manufactured primarily by Toyota, Honda, Subaru, Hyundai and Nissan.
The Premium Luxury segment comprises stores that sell retail vehicles manufactured by Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Lexus, Jaguar Land Rover and Audi. Sales in the segment grew 2.7% from a year ago to $1,870 million. Segmental income also increased 61% year over year to $143.9 million for the reported quarter.
Financials
AutoNation’s cash and cash equivalents were $350.5 million as of Sep 30, 2020. The company’s inventory was valued at $2,482.5 million. At third quarter-end, non-vehicle debt was $2,089.7 million, down from $2,269.9 million in the comparable prior-year period. Capital expenditure for the quarter amounted to $37.3 million. Encouragingly, it increased the share-buyback authorization to $500 million.
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AutoNation (AN) Beats on Q3 Earnings, Announces Buyback Plans
AutoNation Inc. (AN - Free Report) reported third-quarter 2020 adjusted earnings of $2.38 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.63. Higher-than-expected new and used vehicle sales led to the outperformance. Precisely, revenues from new and used vehicles came in at $2,748 million and $1,517 million, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,620 million and $1,430 million, respectively.
The bottom line also increased from the year-ago quarter’s $1.18 per share on the back of operational efficiency. SG&A expenses as a percentage of gross profit were 64.4% for the quarter under review, making an 800-basis point increase from the corresponding period of 2019.
For the reported quarter, AutoNation’s revenues amounted to $5,404.9 million compared with $5,461.2 million recorded in the prior-year period. However, the top line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5,220 million.
For the quarter under review, new-vehicle revenues declined 4.4% year over year to $2,748.4 million. Used-vehicle revenues rose 8.1% from the year-ago figure to $1,516.9 million. Revenues from the parts and service business slid 5.5% from the prior-year quarter to $852.8 million. Net revenues in the finance and insurance business amounted to $281.2 million, up from 266.2 million recorded in the year-ago quarter.
Despite coronavirus woes, the company is not pulling back on store expansion. Importantly, AutoNation intends to build in excess of 100 stand-alone pre-owned vehicle stores, with more than 50 by 2025-end. It plans to open five additional stores by 2021-end. The automotive retailer has sharpened focus on ramping up digital capabilities in response to changing buying behaviors of consumers amid the pandemic.
AutoNation, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
AutoNation, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | AutoNation, Inc. Quote
Segmental Details
Revenues in the Domestic segment were up 0.3% year over year to $1,734.5 million. The segment’s income increased 59.2% year over year to $111.9 million for the quarter under review. The segment comprises stores that sell vehicles manufactured by General Motors, Ford and FCA US.
Revenues in the Import segment were down 5.9% from the prior-year quarter to $1,621.5 million. However, the segment’s income rose 42.1% year over year to $123.5 million for the reported quarter. The segment consists of outlets that sell vehicles manufactured primarily by Toyota, Honda, Subaru, Hyundai and Nissan.
The Premium Luxury segment comprises stores that sell retail vehicles manufactured by Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Lexus, Jaguar Land Rover and Audi. Sales in the segment grew 2.7% from a year ago to $1,870 million. Segmental income also increased 61% year over year to $143.9 million for the reported quarter.
Financials
AutoNation’s cash and cash equivalents were $350.5 million as of Sep 30, 2020. The company’s inventory was valued at $2,482.5 million. At third quarter-end, non-vehicle debt was $2,089.7 million, down from $2,269.9 million in the comparable prior-year period. Capital expenditure for the quarter amounted to $37.3 million. Encouragingly, it increased the share-buyback authorization to $500 million.
Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
AutoNation currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the auto space include Asbury Automotive Group Inc. (ABG - Free Report) , Americas CarMart Inc. (CRMT - Free Report) and Group 1 Automotive Inc. (GPI - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!
It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.
Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2021.
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