AutoNation Reports Third Quarter 2024 Results

• Q3 2024 EPS $4.61, adjusted EPS $4.02
• Strong Same Store New Vehicle unit sales growth of 2%
• Record After-Sales gross profit of $558 million
• AN Finance growth continues with $700 million in YTD originations

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Oct. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN), today reported third quarter 2024 revenue of $6.6 billion, EPS of $4.61, and adjusted EPS of $4.02. Third quarter 2024 results were adversely impacted by the residual effects of the CDK outage in July, which reduced earnings per share by an estimated $0.21 per share. Adjusted EPS excludes $0.59 of net favorable items, primarily related to gains on business and property dispositions, partially offset by other items. Reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures are included in the attached financial tables.

"We are pleased to deliver solid operating results for the third quarter driven primarily by new vehicle unit sales growth, continued After-Sales momentum, and disciplined cost controls. We were able to navigate through a challenging environment, which included the lingering effects of the CDK outage, which we are relieved to now have behind us, weather challenges, and OEM stop-sale orders. Looking ahead, we remain focused on shareholder returns, are encouraged by the moderating interest rates and OEM support actions, and are committed to delivering a strong close to the year," said Mike Manley, AutoNation's Chief Executive Officer. 

Operational Summary

Third quarter 2024 compared to the year-ago period:

• Revenue - totaled $6.6 billion, down $307 million compared to the year-ago period, reflecting primarily lower average selling prices of vehicles and used vehicle unit sales, offset partially by increased new vehicle unit sales, and After-Sales growth.
  • New Vehicle Revenue – decreased $16 million or 1%, to $3.2 billion.
  • Used Vehicle Revenue – decreased $271 million or 12%, to $1.9 billion.
  • After-Sales Revenue – increased $14 million or 1%, to $1.2 billion.
  • Customer Financial Services Revenue – decreased $34 million or 9%, to $335 million.
• Gross Profit - totaled $1.2 billion, down $112 million from $1.3 billion a year ago.
  • New Vehicle Gross Profit - decreased $74 million reflecting gross profit per vehicle retailed of $2,804 compared to $4,025 a year ago, and a 1% increase in unit sales.
  • Used Vehicle Gross Profit - decreased $17 million reflecting a gross profit per vehicle retailed of $1,589 compared to $1,746 a year ago and a 8% decrease in unit sales.
  • After-Sales Gross Profit - increased $12 million, or 2% from a year ago to $558 million reflecting higher revenue and a 50-basis point increase in margin.
  • Customer Financial Services Gross Profit - decreased $34 million from a year ago reflecting gross profit per vehicle retailed of $2,588, compared to $2,741 a year ago and a 4% decrease in total units sold.
• SG&A as a Percentage of Gross Profit - was 68.6%, or 67.4% on an adjusted basis, and remained well below pre-pandemic levels despite impacts early in the quarter from the CDK outage.

Segment Results

Segment results⁽¹⁾ for the third quarter of 2024 were as follows:

• Domestic Segment Income – was $62 million compared to the year-ago segment income of $107 million. Revenues of $1.8 billion decreased 11%.
• Import Segment Income – was $119 million compared to the year-ago segment income of $165 million. Revenues of $2.0 billion decreased 1%.
• Premium Luxury Segment Income – was $155 million compared to the year-ago segment income of $193 million. Revenues of $2.4 billion decreased 4%.

Year-to-date 2024 compared to the year-ago period:

• Revenue - totaled $19.6 billion, down $629 million compared to the year-ago period, reflecting primarily lower average selling prices of vehicles and used vehicle unit sales, offset partially by increased new vehicle unit sales and After-Sales growth.
  • New Vehicle Revenue – decreased $128 million or 1%, to $9.3 billion.
  • Used Vehicle Revenue – decreased $484 million or 8%, to $5.8 billion.
  • After-Sales Revenue – increased $68 million or 2%, to $3.5 billion.
  • Customer Financial Services Revenue – decreased $77 million or 7%, to $994 million.
• Gross Profit - totaled $3.5 billion, down $373 million from $3.9 billion a year ago.
  • New Vehicle Gross Profit - decreased $262 million reflecting gross profit per vehicle retailed of $3,074 compared to $4,590 a year ago, offset partially by a 2% increase in unit sales.
  • Used Vehicle Gross Profit - decreased $82 million reflecting a gross profit per vehicle retailed of $1,565 compared to $1,907 a year ago and a 4% decrease in unit sales.
  • After-Sales Gross Profit - increased $51 million, or 3% from a year ago to $1.7 billion as revenue growth and higher margins largely offset lower sales resulting from the CDK outage incident.
  • Customer Financial Services Gross Profit - decreased $77 million from a year ago to $994 million reflecting gross profit per vehicle retailed of $2,586, compared to $2,757 a year ago, and a 1% decrease in total units sold.
• SG&A as a Percentage of Gross Profit - was 68.6%, or 66.7% on an adjusted basis, and remained well below pre-pandemic levels despite the impacts of the CDK outage.

Segment Results

Segment results⁽¹⁾ for the first nine months of 2024 were as follows:

• Domestic Segment Income – was $188 million compared to the year-ago segment income of $342 million. Revenues of $5.3 billion decreased 9%.
• Import Segment Income – was $356 million compared to the year-ago segment income of $498 million. Revenues of $6.0 billion increased 3%.
• Premium Luxury Segment Income – was $468 million compared to the year-ago segment income of $641 million. Revenues of $7.2 billion decreased 5%.

Capital Allocation, Liquidity, Leverage and Portfolio Actions

During the quarter, AutoNation repurchased 36 thousand shares of common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $6 million. Year-to-date through October 23, 2024, AutoNation repurchased 2.2 million shares for an aggregate purchase price of $356 million. AutoNation has approximately $965 million remaining under its current share repurchase program. During the third quarter of 2024, the Company made capital expenditures of $81 million.

As of September 30, 2024, AutoNation had $1.6 billion of liquidity, including $60 million in cash and $1.5 billion of availability under its revolving credit facility, net of commercial paper borrowings. The Company's covenant leverage ratio was 2.53x at quarter end and the Company had $3.9 billion of non-vehicle debt outstanding.

During the quarter, AutoNation divested seven Domestic stores and one Import store, which represented a total of 11 franchises. As a result of these divestitures, the Company received net proceeds of $156 million and recognized a pre-tax gain of $53.9 million.

The third quarter conference call will begin at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time and may be accessed by telephone at 833-470-1428 (Conference ID:356177) or on AutoNation's investor relations website at investors.autonation.com.

The webcast will also be available on AutoNation's website following the call under "Events & Presentations." A playback of the conference call will be available after 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on October 25, 2024, through 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, November 15, 2024, or by calling 866-813-9403 (Conference ID: 747579). Additional information regarding AutoNation's results can be found in the Investor Presentation available at investors.autonation.com.

About AutoNation, Inc.

AutoNation, one of the largest automotive retailers in the United States, offers innovative products, exceptional services, and comprehensive solutions, and empowers its customers to make the best decisions for their needs. With a nationwide network of dealerships strengthened by a recognized brand, we offer a wide variety of new and used vehicles, customer financing, parts, and expert maintenance and repair services. Through DRV PNK, we have raised over $40 million for cancer-related causes, demonstrating our commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of our Associates, Customers, and the communities we serve.

Please visit www.autonation.com, investors.autonation.com, and www.x.com/autonation, where AutoNation discloses additional information about the Company, its business, and its results of operations. Please also visit www.autonationdrive.com, AutoNation's automotive blog, for information regarding the AutoNation community, the automotive industry, and current automotive news and trends.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This news release and the attached financial tables contain certain non-GAAP financial measures as defined under SEC rules, which exclude certain items disclosed in the attached financial tables. As required by SEC rules, the Company provides reconciliations of these measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures improve the transparency of the Company's disclosure, provide a meaningful presentation of the Company's results excluding the impact of items not related to the Company's ongoing core business operations, and improve the period-to-period comparability of the Company's results from its core business operations. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Words such as "anticipates," "expects," "estimates," "intends," "goals," "targets," "projects," "plans," "believes," "continues," "may," "will," "could," and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Statements regarding our strategic initiatives, partnerships, and investments, including AutoNation USA, AutoNation Finance, and AutoNation Mobile Service, statements regarding our expectations for the future performance of our business and the automotive retail industry, including during the remainder of 2024, and other statements that describe our objectives, goals, or plans, are forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements reflect our current expectations concerning future results and events, and they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that are difficult to predict and may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, and achievements expressed or implied by these statements. These risks, uncertainties, and other factors include, among others: our ability to implement successfully our strategic acquisitions, initiatives, partnerships, and investments, including our investments in digital and online capabilities and mobility solutions; our ability to maintain or improve gross profit margins; our ability to maintain or gain market share; legal, reputational, and financial risks resulting from cyber incidents and the potential impact on our operating results; the receipt of any insurance or other recoveries in connection with any cyber incidents; our ability to successfully implement and maintain expense controls; our ability to maintain and enhance our retail brands and reputation and to attract consumers to our own digital channels; economic conditions, including changes in unemployment, interest, and/or inflation rates, consumer demand, fuel prices, and tariffs; our ability to acquire and integrate successfully new acquisitions; restrictions imposed by vehicle manufacturers and our ability to obtain manufacturer approval for franchise acquisitions;  the success and financial viability and the incentive and marketing programs of vehicle manufacturers and distributors with which we hold franchises; natural disasters and other adverse weather events; the resolution of legal and administrative proceedings; regulatory factors affecting our business, including fuel economy requirements; the announcement of safety recalls; factors affecting our goodwill and other intangible asset impairment testing; and other factors described in our news releases and filings made under the securities laws, including, among others, our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and our Current Reports on Form 8-K. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release speak only as of the date of this news release, and we undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.