Zacks Investment Research·1 day ago
Sonic Automotive (SAH) is a Top-Ranked Value Stock: Should You Buy?Wondering how to pick strong, market-beating stocks for your investment portfolio? Look no further than the Zacks Style Scores.
Sonic Automotive, Inc.(SAH)Earnings, Financials & Key Ratios
SAH•NYSE
$87.26
25.5× P/E·Price updated Jul 7, 2026
AboutSonic Automotive, Inc. operates as an automotive retailer in the United States. It operates in two segments, Franchised Dealerships and EchoPark. The Franchised Dealerships segment is involved in the sale of new and used cars and light trucks, and replacement parts; provision of vehicle maintenance, manufacturer warranty repair, and paint and collision repair services; and arrangement of extended warranties, service contracts, financing, insurance, and other aftermarket products for its guests. The EchoPark segment sells used cars and light trucks; and arranges finance and insurance product sales for its guests in pre-owned vehicle specialty retail locations. As of December 31, 2021, the company operated 140 new vehicle franchises representing 28 brands of cars and light trucks; 17 collision repair centers in 17 states; and 46 EchoPark stores in 16 states, including 11 Northwest Motorsport pre-owned vehicle stores. Sonic Automotive, Inc. was incorporated in 1997 and is based in Charlotte, North Carolina.Show more
- Revenue$15.15B+6.5%
- EBITDA$705M+14.4%
- Net Income$119M-45.0%
- EPS (Diluted)3.42-44.7%
- Gross Margin15.72%+2.0%
- EBITDA Margin4.65%+7.4%
- Operating Margin3.57%+9.2%
- Net Margin0.78%-48.4%
- ROE11.14%-49.6%
SAH Price & Volume
Sonic Automotive, Inc. (SAH) stock price & volume — 10-year historical chart
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Stagnant Revenue Growth Masks High Leverage Risks
Investment Thesis • Updated 2026Q1
VerdictNegative
Growth:Mixed
Profitability:Strained
Financial:Strained
Cash Flow:Mixed
Primary Risk:High floorplan interest sensitivity
Key Thesis Takeaways
- Sonic Automotive faces a challenging outlook characterized by stagnant top-line growth, which hovered near 1.0% in 2026Q1, and persistent margin compression that saw net margins fall to 1.6%.
- The company's aggressive capital allocation strategy, including significant acquisitions and share repurchases, has resulted in a precarious balance sheet with a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.51.
- Investors should remain cautious as the firm's reliance on inventory financing and thin liquidity buffers, evidenced by a nominal $5.7 million cash position, may limit operational flexibility in a volatile retail environment.
Verdict Logic
the company's high leverage, reflected in a 4.51 debt-to-equity ratio, combined with inconsistent free cash flow and a minimal $5.7 million cash buffer, presents an unfavorable risk-reward profile.
SAH Growth Metrics
Sonic Automotive, Inc. (SAH) revenue, earnings & EPS growth — 3, 5 & 10-year CAGR
Revenue CAGR
10 Years4.64%
5 Years9.18%
3 Years2.67%
TTM4.82%
Profit CAGR
10 Years3.24%
5 Years-
3 Years10.28%
TTM-55.48%
EPS CAGR
10 Years7.24%
5 Years-
3 Years15.32%
TTM-54.84%
Return on Capital
10 Years14.22%
5 Years17.84%
3 Years15.75%
Last Year16.33%
SAH Recent Earnings
Sonic Automotive, Inc. (SAH) EPS & revenue vs analyst estimates — last 4 quarters
●Beat EPS 8/12 qtrs (67%)●Beat Revenue 6/12 qtrs (50%)
Q2 2026Latest
Apr 30, 2026Metric
Actual
Est
EPS
$1.62+11.0%
$1.46
Rev
$3.7B-1.1%
$3.7B
Q1 2026
Feb 18, 2026Metric
Actual
Est
EPS
$1.52-0.7%
$1.53
Rev
$3.9B-1.7%
$3.9B
Q4 2025
Oct 23, 2025Metric
Actual
Est
EPS
$1.41-22.5%
$1.82
Rev
$4.0B+0.8%
$3.9B
Q3 2025
Jul 24, 2025Metric
Actual
Est
EPS
$2.19+34.4%
$1.63
Rev
$3.7B+2.2%
$3.6B
| Quarter | Date | EPS (Act vs Est) | Revenue (Act vs Est) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q2 2026Latest | Apr 30, 2026 | $1.62vs $1.46+11.0% | $3.7Bvs $3.7B-1.1% |
| Q1 2026 | Feb 18, 2026 | $1.52vs $1.53-0.7% | $3.9Bvs $3.9B-1.7% |
| Q4 2025 | Oct 23, 2025 | $1.41vs $1.82-22.5% | $4.0Bvs $3.9B+0.8% |
| Q3 2025 | Jul 24, 2025 | $2.19vs $1.63+34.4% | $3.7Bvs $3.6B+2.2% |
Based on last 12 quarters of dataView full earnings history →
Latest SAH News
Recent stock market news and headlines for Sonic Automotive, Inc. (SAH)
Zacks Investment Research·Jun 26, 2026
Zacks Industry Outlook Lithia Motors, and SonicLithia Motors, and Sonic have been highlighted in this Industry Outlook article.
Zacks Investment Research·Jun 25, 2026
2 Auto Retailers Worth Watching Despite Purchasing Power ErosionU.S. auto retail faces volume pressure and eroding purchasing power. Yet LAD and SAH stand out with smart acquisitions, digital push and shareholder returns.
The Motley Fool·Jun 23, 2026
What Does Sonic Automotive's CFO Selling Over 5,000 Company Shares Mean for Investors?CFO Heath Byrd sold 5,061 shares in an open-market transaction on June 2, 2026, generating proceeds of approximately $430,000. This sale represented 3.35% of Byrd's total reported holdings at the time.
Zacks Investment Research·Jun 19, 2026
Here's Why Sonic Automotive (SAH) is a Strong Value StockThe Zacks Style Scores offers investors a way to easily find top-rated stocks based on their investing style. Here's why you should take advantage.
Peers Comparison
Key metrics vs top competitors for Sonic Automotive, Inc. (SAH)
| Company | Price | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | Rev Growth (1Y) | Net Margin | ROE | Div Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $87.26 | $2.96B | 25.51 | 6.53% | 0.78% | 11.14% | 1.61% | |
| $191.68 | $6.58B | 11.25 | 3.24% | 2.47% | 28.44% | — | |
| $184.97 | $12.16B | 13.09 | -0.18% | 2.89% | 16.37% | — | |
| $311.69 | $7.11B | 9.64 | 4% | 1.88% | 10.59% | — | |
| $208.74 | $4.03B | 8.31 | 4.71% | 2.27% | 14.14% | — | |
| $296.47 | $3.52B | 11.80 | 13.23% | 1.45% | 11.04% | — |
Compare SAH vs Peers
Sonic Automotive, Inc. (SAH) vs competitors — business, growth, and fundamentals comparison against the closest industry rivals.
SAH SEC Filings & Documents
Sonic Automotive, Inc. (SAH) SEC filings — annual & quarterly reports (10-K, 10-Q)
8-K Announcements
6Material company update
May 8, 2026·SEC
Material company update
May 1, 2026·SEC
Material company update
Apr 2, 2026·SEC
10-K Annual Reports
410-Q Quarterly Reports
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SAH Frequently Asked Questions
Sonic Automotive, Inc. (SAH) stock FAQ — growth, dividends, profitability & financials explained
Growth & Financials
What is Sonic Automotive, Inc.'s revenue?
Sonic Automotive, Inc. (SAH) reported $15.19B in revenue for fiscal year 2025. This represents a 3930% increase from $376.9M in 1996.
How fast is Sonic Automotive, Inc. growing?
Sonic Automotive, Inc. (SAH) grew revenue by 6.5% over the past year. This is steady growth.
Is SAH profitable?
Yes, Sonic Automotive, Inc. (SAH) is profitable, generating $108.9M in net income for fiscal year 2025 (0.8% net margin).
Dividend & Returns
Does SAH pay dividends?
Yes, Sonic Automotive, Inc. (SAH) pays a dividend with a yield of 1.61%. This makes it attractive for income-focused investors.
What is SAH's return on equity?
Sonic Automotive, Inc. (SAH) has a return on equity (ROE) of 11.1%. This is reasonable for most industries.
What is Sonic Automotive, Inc.'s free cash flow?
Sonic Automotive, Inc. (SAH) generated $263.3M in free cash flow for fiscal year 2025. Positive FCF indicates the company can fund dividends, buybacks, or reinvestment.