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Lithia Motors (LAD)
NYSE:LAD

Lithia Motors (LAD) AI Stock Analysis

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LAD

Lithia Motors

(NYSE:LAD)

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Outperform 76 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:76Outperform
Price Target:
$368.00
▲(7.01% Upside)
Lithia Motors' strong earnings performance and attractive valuation are the primary drivers of its stock score. The technical indicators support a positive outlook, while corporate events and earnings call insights further enhance confidence in the company's strategic direction. However, challenges in profitability margins and cash flow generation slightly temper the overall score.
Positive Factors
Revenue Growth
Consistent revenue growth indicates strong market demand and effective sales strategies, supporting long-term business expansion.
Strategic Acquisitions
Strategic acquisitions enhance market position and revenue base, strengthening competitive advantage and growth potential.
High-Margin Segments
Focus on high-margin segments like aftersales boosts profitability, ensuring sustainable financial performance.
Negative Factors
Cash Flow Challenges
Declining cash flow may hinder operational flexibility and investment capacity, affecting long-term growth and stability.
Profitability Margins
Low profitability margins can limit reinvestment in business operations and reduce competitive edge over time.
SG&A Efficiency
Inefficiencies in SG&A can erode margins and impact overall profitability, necessitating improved cost management.

Lithia Motors (LAD) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Lithia Motors Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionLithia Motors, Inc. operates as an automotive retailer in the United States. The company operates through three segments: Domestic, Import, and Luxury. It offers new and used vehicles; vehicle financing services; warranties, insurance contracts, and vehicle and theft protection services; and automotive repair and maintenance services, as well as sells vehicle body and parts under the Driveway and GreenCars brand names. As of February 18, 2022, the company operated through 278 stores. It also offers its products online through 300 websites. Lithia Motors, Inc. was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Medford, Oregon.
How the Company Makes MoneyLithia Motors generates revenue through several key streams. The primary source of income comes from the sale of new and used vehicles, which includes a wide range of makes and models from various manufacturers. Additionally, the company earns significant revenue from financing solutions offered to customers at the point of sale, often in partnership with financial institutions. Service and repair revenue is another substantial stream, stemming from their service departments that provide maintenance and repair work on vehicles. Furthermore, Lithia Motors benefits from parts sales, which complement their service offerings. The company also engages in strategic acquisitions of dealerships, which contribute to revenue growth and market expansion. Partnerships with manufacturers and financial companies enhance their service offerings, enabling Lithia to provide competitive financing options and expand their customer base.

Lithia Motors Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Oct 22, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Feb 18, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call presented strong growth in revenue and EPS, driven by used vehicle sales and aftersales. There was also notable progress in F&I revenue and inventory management. However, challenges such as decreased vehicle gross profit per unit, SG&A efficiency, and UK market performance were acknowledged.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Revenue and EPS Growth
Quarterly revenue was $9.7 billion, up 4.9% year over year, with adjusted diluted EPS at $9.50, up 17%. This growth reflects strong performance across all business lines.
Used Vehicle and Aftersales Segments
Used retail revenue increased by 11.8% with a 6.3% increase in unit growth. Aftersales revenue increased by 3.9% while gross profit rose 9.1%, with margins expanding to 58.4%.
F&I Revenue Growth
F&I revenue increased by 5.7%, with F&I per retail unit reaching $1,847, up $20 year over year.
Improved Vehicle Inventory Management
Vehicle inventory and carrying costs improved, with new day supply at 52 days, a decrease of 11 days sequentially.
Driveway Finance Penetration Growth
Driveway Finance achieved a 15% penetration rate milestone earlier than expected, contributing to stable earnings.
Share Buyback and Capital Strategy
Repurchased 5.1% of outstanding shares, focusing on significant long-term accretion and maintaining a strong balance sheet.
Negative Updates
Decreased Vehicle Gross Profit per Unit
Total vehicle GPU was $4,109, down $216 year over year, with new GPU at $2,867, down $348 sequentially.
SG&A Efficiency Challenges
Adjusted SG&A as a percentage of gross profit was 67.9% versus 66% a year ago, indicating challenges in maintaining efficiency.
UK Market Performance
Profitability in the UK was down 2.4% year over year, with challenges due to labor market changes and regulatory costs.
Company Guidance
In the third quarter of 2025, Lithia Motors, Inc. reported strong financial performance, with quarterly revenue reaching $9.7 billion, marking a 4.9% year-over-year increase. The adjusted diluted EPS improved by 17% to $9.50, reflecting robust execution across business lines. Same-store revenues rose by 7.7%, driven by an 11.8% increase in used retail revenue and a 5.5% growth in new retail revenue. The aftersales segment also showed significant strength, with revenue up by 3.9% and gross profit rising by 9.1%, expanding margins to 58.4%. The company focused on cost control, achieving a sequentially flat SG&A in North America at 64.8%. The financial operations income from Driveway Finance Corporation (DFC) increased, contributing to a net interest margin of 4.6% and reaching a 14.5% penetration. The strategic focus on high-margin segments and disciplined capital allocation, including significant share repurchases, underscores Lithia Motors' commitment to sustained growth and shareholder value.

Lithia Motors Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Lithia Motors exhibits strong revenue growth and improved leverage, but faces challenges with profitability margins and cash flow generation. The company needs to enhance operational efficiency and cash flow management to sustain its growth trajectory.
Income Statement
75
Positive
Lithia Motors shows a solid revenue growth trajectory with a 22.4% increase in TTM. Gross profit margin is stable at 15.2%, but net profit margin is relatively low at 3.6%. EBIT and EBITDA margins have decreased, indicating potential cost pressures.
Balance Sheet
70
Positive
The company's debt-to-equity ratio has improved significantly to 0.32 in TTM, indicating reduced leverage. Return on equity is strong at 20.0%, reflecting efficient use of equity. However, the equity ratio is not explicitly provided, which limits full assessment.
Cash Flow
60
Neutral
Free cash flow has declined sharply by 58.1% in TTM, raising concerns about cash generation. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is low at 0.06, suggesting potential cash flow challenges. However, free cash flow to net income ratio is moderate at 0.42.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue37.61B36.19B31.04B28.19B22.83B13.13B
Gross Profit5.67B5.56B5.23B5.15B4.26B2.22B
EBITDA2.25B2.26B2.16B2.19B1.78B875.80M
Net Income898.90M802.00M1.00B1.25B1.06B470.30M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets24.52B23.13B19.63B15.01B11.15B7.90B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments419.50M402.20M941.40M246.70M174.80M162.50M
Total Debt14.72B13.86B11.33B7.99B4.96B4.17B
Total Liabilities17.73B16.45B13.35B9.76B6.48B5.24B
Stockholders Equity6.77B6.66B6.21B5.21B4.63B2.66B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow135.00M73.70M-702.60M-913.20M1.54B578.50M
Operating Cash Flow472.20M425.10M-472.40M-610.10M1.80B746.30M
Investing Cash Flow-513.00M-1.85B-1.27B-1.33B-2.89B-1.61B
Financing Cash Flow114.50M907.60M2.41B2.04B1.11B935.70M

Lithia Motors Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price343.89
Price Trends
50DMA
314.79
Positive
100DMA
316.62
Positive
200DMA
313.46
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
9.97
Negative
RSI
61.81
Neutral
STOCH
52.04
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For LAD, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 343.89 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 330.39, above the 50-day MA of 314.79, and above the 200-day MA of 313.46, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 9.97 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 61.81 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 52.04 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for LAD.

Lithia Motors Risk Analysis

Lithia Motors disclosed 30 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Lithia Motors reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Lithia Motors Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
76
Outperform
$8.34B9.9513.44%0.63%8.56%17.84%
73
Outperform
$5.12B14.2612.27%0.49%19.45%-24.27%
71
Outperform
$10.95B11.7117.30%3.12%2.25%8.92%
70
Neutral
$7.53B12.3027.16%6.06%-1.71%
67
Neutral
$4.61B8.3115.49%8.07%60.95%
61
Neutral
$18.38B12.79-2.54%3.03%1.52%-15.83%
61
Neutral
$5.65B12.727.46%-1.49%2.78%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
LAD
Lithia Motors
343.89
-13.70
-3.83%
ABG
Asbury
236.90
-6.88
-2.82%
AN
AutoNation
209.12
37.92
22.15%
KMX
CarMax
38.47
-45.23
-54.04%
GPI
Group 1 Automotive
405.21
-11.33
-2.72%
PAG
Penske Automotive Group
166.25
15.43
10.23%

Lithia Motors Corporate Events

Dividends
Lithia Motors Announces Cash Dividend of $0.55
Positive
Oct 22, 2025

On October 22, 2025, Lithia Motors, Inc. announced a cash dividend of $0.55 per share, scheduled for payment on November 21, 2025, to shareholders recorded by November 7, 2025. This announcement signifies Lithia Motors’ ongoing commitment to providing value to its shareholders, potentially enhancing investor confidence and impacting its market position positively.

Executive/Board Changes
Lithia Motors Expands Board with Two New Directors
Neutral
Oct 2, 2025

On October 1, 2025, Lithia Motors, Inc. expanded its Board of Directors from seven to nine members, appointing Heidi O’Neill and Richard Bailey as new directors. Both will receive compensation in line with the company’s non-employee director practices, including an annual retainer and restricted stock units. O’Neill brings extensive experience from her leadership roles at Nike, while Bailey has a background in academia and military service. The company has also demonstrated its commitment to Southern Oregon University through significant donations, reflecting a longstanding relationship.

Private Placements and FinancingBusiness Operations and Strategy
Lithia Motors Completes $600M Senior Notes Offering
Positive
Sep 10, 2025

On September 10, 2025, Lithia Motors, Inc. completed a private offering of $600 million in 5.500% Senior Notes due 2030. The proceeds will be used to repay portions of its revolving credit lines and may be reborrowed for general corporate purposes, including acquisitions and working capital. The Senior Notes are unconditionally guaranteed by subsidiaries and rank equally with existing and future senior indebtedness. The issuance aims to strengthen Lithia Motors’ financial flexibility and support its strategic initiatives.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Dec 09, 2025