Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sonic Automotive, Inc. Reports Record Gross Profit

Retailed Record Number of New and Pre-Owned Units

First Quarter 2015 Results

 

    Record Q1 new retail units of 31,334, up 4.3%, over the prior year quarter

 

    Record Q1 pre-owned units and gross profit of 28,135 and $40.8 million, respectively

 

    Record Q1 fixed operations gross profit of $156.4 million, up 2.8% over the prior year quarter

 

    Record Q1 total gross profit of $335.0 million, up 1.8% over the prior year quarter

 

    EchoPark® stores retail 660 units

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – April 21, 2015Sonic Automotive, Inc. (NYSE: SAH), one of the nation’s largest automotive retailers, today reported adjusted net income from continuing operations for the first quarter of 2015 of $18.8 million, or $0.37 per diluted share. Included in these adjusted amounts are pre-tax expenses of $4.9 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, related to the Company’s EchoPark® initiative and $3.8 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, related to its One Sonic-One Experience initiative.

Net income from continuing operations for the first quarter of 2014 was $20.0 million, or $0.38 per diluted share. Included in these amounts are pre-tax expenses of $1.7 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, related to the Company’s EchoPark® initiative and $2.1 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, related to its One Sonic-One Experience initiative.

On a GAAP basis, net income from continuing operations and related diluted earnings per share for the first quarter 2015 were $14.4 million and $0.28 per share, respectively. There were no adjustments in the first quarter of 2014. See the accompanying tables for details of quarterly adjustments.

Jeff Dyke, Sonic’s EVP of Operations, stated, “We had another solid record setting quarter! Our One Sonic-One Experience stores are making great progress. Our first store that adopted the process, Town & Country Toyota, has gained more than 600 basis points of market share in each of the last two months year-over-year, is tracking to do the same again in April, and has experienced steady growth in profitability. More exciting is the remaining Charlotte stores are following in the same path giving us great confidence that we are on the right track. While the change has been significant, the results from a share and guest satisfaction perspective are adding to our resolve that the decisions we have made to enhance our guest experience are right on target. We are also equally excited about EchoPark®! We sold 660 units for the quarter, just under 300 units in the month of March, and have grown the business rapidly. These results are a direct reflection of our business plan, our team’s depth of experience, our unmatched guest experience and a response from our customer base that confirms what we were trying to accomplish. As these two strategies come to life, we look for the Sonic Brand to become a household name in the retail world beyond automotive driven by an unmatched customer experience. None of this would be possible without the extraordinary effort of our remarkable team – many thanks to them! We look forward to continued success in the coming years.”


B. Scott Smith, Sonic’s President, remarked, “We have made a lot of progress in the first quarter of the year. Our Charlotte stores have migrated to our One Sonic-One Experience platform and we now have three EchoPark® retail operating locations in Denver, with progress made to open an additional location by the end of 2015. We are very pleased with how our associates and customers are embracing the technologies and improved transaction processes. Although there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure the long-term sustainability of these initiatives, the cornerstones have been set and we look forward to building upon these in the future.”

First Quarter Earnings Conference Call

Senior management will host a conference call today at 11:00 A.M. (Eastern) to discuss the quarter’s results. To access the live broadcast of the call over the Internet go to: www.sonicautomotive.com, then click on “Our Company,” then “Investor Relations,” then “Webcasts & Presentations.”

Presentation materials for the conference call can be accessed on the Company’s website at www.sonicautomotive.com by clicking on the “Investor Relations” tab under “Our Company” and choosing “Webcasts & Presentations.”

The conference call will also be available live by dialing in 10 minutes prior to the start of the call at:

Domestic: 1.877.450.3867

International: 1.706.643.0958

Conference ID: 20767539

A conference call replay will be available one hour following the call for seven days and can be accessed by calling:

Domestic: 1.855.859.2056

International: 1.404.537.3406

Conference ID: 20767539

About Sonic Automotive

Sonic Automotive, Inc., a Fortune 500 company based in Charlotte, N.C., is one of the nation’s largest automotive retailers. Sonic can be reached on the web at www.sonicautomotive.com.

Included herein are forward-looking statements, including statements with respect to anticipated future success and impacts from the implementation of our planned customer experience and stand-alone pre-owned store initiatives. There are many factors that affect management’s views about future events and trends of the Company’s business. These factors involve risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results or trends to differ materially from management’s view, including without limitation, economic conditions in the markets in which we operate, new and used vehicle industry sales volume, the success of our operational strategies, the rate and timing of overall economic recovery or decline, and the risk factors described in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2014. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking information.


###

 

Contact: Heath Byrd, Chief Financial Officer (704) 566-2400

C.G. Saffer, Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (704) 566-2439


Sonic Automotive, Inc.

Results of Operations (Unaudited)

 

This release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures as defined under SEC rules, such as, but not limited to, adjusted income from continuing operations and related earnings per share data. The Company has reconciled these measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures in the release. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures improve the transparency of the Company’s disclosure by providing period-to-period comparability of the Company’s results from operations.

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2015     2014  
     (In thousands, except per share and unit data)  

Revenues:

    

New retail vehicles

   $ 1,190,215      $ 1,112,291   

Fleet vehicles

     12,108        34,329   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total new vehicles

  1,202,323      1,146,620   

Used vehicles

  593,742      559,816   

Wholesale vehicles

  41,656      41,598   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total vehicles

  1,837,721      1,748,034   

Parts, service and collision repair

  323,194      318,771   

Finance, insurance and other, net

  74,600      69,581   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

  2,235,515      2,136,386   

Gross profit

  334,959      329,000   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

  (270,862   (263,973

Impairment charges

  (6,192   (3

Depreciation and amortization

  (16,409   (14,381
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

  41,496      50,643   

Other income (expense):

Interest expense, floor plan

  (4,778   (4,689

Interest expense, other, net

  (13,219   (13,818

Other income (expense), net

  90      97   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other income (expense)

  (17,907   (18,410
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes

  23,589      32,233   

Provision for income taxes - benefit (expense)

  (9,200   (12,249
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations

  14,389      19,984   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) from discontinued operations

  (422   (598
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

$ 13,967    $ 19,386   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:

Earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations

$ 0.28    $ 0.38   

Earnings (loss) per share from discontinued operations

  (0.01   (0.02
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) per common share

$ 0.27    $ 0.36   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding

  51,403      52,946   

Gross Margin Data (Continuing Operations):

New retail vehicles

  5.3   5.9

Fleet vehicles

  (0.6 %)    2.6

Total new vehicles

  5.3   5.8

Used vehicles

  6.9   7.3

Wholesale vehicles

  (0.5 %)    (0.2 %) 

Parts, service and collision repair

  48.4   47.7

Finance, insurance and other

  100.0   100.0

Overall gross margin

  15.0   15.4

SG&A Expenses (Continuing Operations):

Compensation

$ 161,858    $ 157,154   

Advertising

  15,332      14,119   

Rent

  18,254      18,535   

Other

  75,418      74,165   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total SG&A expenses

$ 270,862    $ 263,973   

SG&A expenses as % of gross profit

  80.9   80.2

Operating Margin %

  1.9   2.4

Unit Data (Continuing Operations):

New retail units

  31,334      30,029   

Fleet units

  355      1,102   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total new units

  31,689      31,131   

Used units

  28,135      27,657   

Wholesale units

  7,777      7,380   


Sonic Automotive, Inc.

Results of Operations (Unaudited)

 

Per Share Data

 

     Three Months Ended March 31, 2015  
            Income (Loss)
From Continuing
Operations
     Income (Loss)
From Discontinued
Average
    Net Income (Loss)  
     Weighted
Average
Shares
     Amount     Per
Share
Amount
     Amount     Per
Share
Amount
    Amount     Per
Share
Amount
 
     (In thousands, except per share amounts)  

Reported:

                

Earnings (loss) and shares

     50,854       $ 14,389         $ (422     $ 13,967     

Effect of participating securities:

                

Non-vested restricted stock and stock units

        (5        —            (5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic earnings (loss) and shares

  50,854    $ 14,384    $ 0.28    $ (422 $ (0.01 $ 13,962    $ 0.27   

Effect of dilutive securities:

Stock compensation plans

  549   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted earnings (loss) and shares

  51,403    $ 14,384    $ 0.28    $ (422 $ (0.01 $ 13,962    $ 0.27   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjustments (net of tax):

Impairment charges

$ 3,777    $ 0.07      —      $ —      $ 3,777    $ 0.07   

Other

  634      0.02      —        —        634      0.02   
     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total adjustments

$ 4,411    $ 0.09    $ —      $ —      $ 4,411    $ 0.09   

Adjusted:

Earnings (loss) and

       

 

 

      

 

 

     

 

 

 

Diluted earnings (loss) per share (1)

$ 18,800    $ 0.37    $ (422 $ (0.01 $ 18,378    $ 0.36   
       

 

 

      

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

(1) Expenses attributable to the EchoPark® initiative were $0.06 per fully diluted share in the three months ended March 31, 2015.

 

     Three Months Ended March 31, 2014  
            Income (Loss)
From Continuing
Operations
     Income (Loss)
From Discontinued
Operations
    Net Income (Loss)  
     Weighted
Average
Shares
     Amount     Per
Share
Amount
     Amount     Per
Share
Amount
    Amount     Per
Share
Amount
 
     (In thousands, except per share amounts)  

Reported:

                

Earnings (loss) and shares

     52,418       $ 19,984         $ (598     $ 19,386     

Effect of participating securities:

                

Non-vested restricted stock and stock units

        (63        —            (63  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic earnings (loss) and shares

  52,418    $ 19,921    $ 0.38    $ (598 $ (0.01 $ 19,323    $ 0.37   

Effect of dilutive securities:

Stock compensation plans

  528   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted earnings (loss) and shares (2)

  52,946    $ 19,921    $ 0.38    $ (598 $ (0.02 $ 19,323    $ 0.36   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(2) Expenses attributable to the EchoPark® initiative were $0.02 per fully diluted share in the three months ended March 31, 2014.

 


Sonic Automotive, Inc.

Results of Operations (Unaudited)

 

New Vehicles

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,     Better / (Worse)  
     2015     2014     Change     % Change  
     (In thousands, except units and per unit data)  

Reported:

        

Revenue

   $ 1,202,323      $ 1,146,620      $ 55,703        4.9

Gross profit

   $ 63,350      $ 66,673      $ (3,323     (5.0 %) 

Unit sales

     31,689        31,131        558        1.8

Revenue per unit

   $ 37,941      $ 36,832      $ 1,109        3.0

Gross profit per unit

   $ 1,999      $ 2,142      $ (143     (6.7 %) 

Gross profit as a % of revenue

     5.3     5.8     (50 )  bps   
     Three Months Ended March 31,     Better / (Worse)  
     2015     2014     Change     % Change  
     (In thousands, except units and per unit data)  

Same Store:

        

Revenue

   $ 1,190,252      $ 1,110,066      $ 80,186        7.2

Gross profit

   $ 62,438      $ 64,632      $ (2,194     (3.4 %) 

Unit sales

     31,336        30,082        1,254        4.2

Revenue per unit

   $ 37,984      $ 36,901      $ 1,083        2.9

Gross profit per unit

   $ 1,993      $ 2,149      $ (156     (7.3 %) 

Gross profit as a % of revenue

     5.2     5.8     (60 )  bps   


Sonic Automotive, Inc.

Results of Operations (Unaudited)

 

Used Vehicles

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,     Better / (Worse)  
     2015     2014     Change     % Change  
     (In thousands, except units and per unit data)  

Reported:

        

Revenue

   $ 593,742      $ 559,816      $ 33,926        6.1

Gross profit

   $ 40,844      $ 40,693      $ 151        0.4

Unit sales

     28,135        27,657        478        1.7

Revenue per unit

   $ 21,103      $ 20,241      $ 862        4.3

Gross profit per unit

   $ 1,452      $ 1,471      $ (19     (1.3 %) 

Gross profit as a % of revenue

     6.9     7.3     (40 )  bps   
     Three Months Ended March 31,     Better / (Worse)  
     2015     2014     Change     % Change  
     (In thousands, except units and per unit data)  

Same Store:

        

Revenue

   $ 572,759      $ 537,639      $ 35,120        6.5

Gross profit

   $ 40,013      $ 39,286      $ 727        1.9

Unit sales

     27,079        26,601        478        1.8

Revenue per unit

   $ 21,151      $ 20,211      $ 940        4.7

Gross profit per unit

   $ 1,478      $ 1,477      $ 1        0.1

Gross profit as a % of revenue

     7.0     7.3     (30 )  bps   


Sonic Automotive, Inc.

Results of Operations (Unaudited)

 

Wholesale Vehicles

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,     Better / (Worse)  
     2015     2014     Change     % Change  
     (In thousands, except units and per unit data)  

Reported:

        

Revenue

   $ 41,656      $ 41,598      $ 58        0.1

Gross profit (loss)

   $ (210   $ (93   $ (117     (125.8 %) 

Unit sales

     7,777        7,380        397        5.4

Revenue per unit

   $ 5,356      $ 5,637      $ (281     (5.0 %) 

Gross profit (loss) per unit

   $ (27   $ (13   $ (14     (107.7 %) 

Gross profit (loss) as a % of revenue

     (0.5 %)      (0.2 %)      (30 )  bps   
     Three Months Ended March 31,     Better / (Worse)  
     2015     2014     Change     % Change  
     (In thousands, except units and per unit data)  

Same Store:

        

Revenue

   $ 40,773      $ 40,246      $ 527        1.3

Gross profit (loss)

   $ (186   $ (23   $ (163     (708.7 %) 

Unit sales

     7,523        7,145        378        5.3

Revenue per unit

   $ 5,420      $ 5,633      $ (213     (3.8 %) 

Gross profit (loss) per unit

   $ (25   $ (3   $ (22     (733.3 %) 

Gross profit (loss) as a % of revenue

     (0.5 %)      (0.1 %)      (40 )  bps   


Sonic Automotive, Inc.

Results of Operations (Unaudited)

 

Parts, Service and Collision Repair (“Fixed Operations”)

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,     Better / (Worse)  
     2015     2014     Change     % Change  
     (In thousands)  

Reported:

  

Revenue

        

Customer pay

   $ 137,623      $ 141,121      $ (3,498     (2.5 %) 

Warranty

     53,498        46,591        6,907        14.8

Wholesale parts

     45,012        47,944        (2,932     (6.1 %) 

Internal, sublet and other

     87,061        83,115        3,946        4.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

$ 323,194    $ 318,771    $ 4,423      1.4
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

Customer pay

$ 75,678    $ 77,999    $ (2,321   (3.0 %) 

Warranty

  29,760      25,238      4,522      17.9

Wholesale parts

  8,138      8,161      (23   (0.3 %) 

Internal, sublet and other

  42,799      40,748      2,051      5.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

$ 156,375    $ 152,146    $ 4,229      2.8
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit as a % of revenue

Customer pay

  55.0   55.3   (30 )  bps 

Warranty

  55.6   54.2   140    bps 

Wholesale parts

  18.1   17.0   110    bps 

Internal, sublet and other

  49.2   49.0   20    bps 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total

  48.4   47.7   70    bps 


Sonic Automotive, Inc.

Results of Operations (Unaudited)

 

Parts, Service and Collision Repair (“Fixed Operations”)

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,     Better / (Worse)  
     2015     2014     Change     % Change  
     (In thousands)  

Same Store:

  

Revenue

        

Customer pay

   $ 135,768      $ 136,486      $ (718     (0.5 %) 

Warranty

     52,971        44,774        8,197        18.3

Wholesale parts

     44,580        46,667        (2,087     (4.5 %) 

Internal, sublet and other

     84,956        80,559        4,397        5.5
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

$ 318,275    $ 308,486    $ 9,789      3.2
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

Customer pay

$ 74,689    $ 75,558    $ (869   (1.2 %) 

Warranty

  29,457      24,269      5,188      21.4

Wholesale parts

  8,052      7,907      145      1.8

Internal, sublet and other

  41,809      39,145      2,664      6.8
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

$ 154,007    $ 146,879    $ 7,128      4.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit as a % of revenue

Customer pay

  55.0   55.4   (40 )  bps 

Warranty

  55.6   54.2   140    bps 

Wholesale parts

  18.1   16.9   120    bps 

Internal, sublet and other

  49.2   48.6   60    bps 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total

  48.4   47.6   80    bps 


Sonic Automotive, Inc.

Results of Operations (Unaudited)

 

Finance, Insurance and Other, Net (“F&I”)

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,      Better / (Worse)  
     2015      2014      Change      % Change  
     (In thousands, except per unit data)  

Reported:

           

Revenue

   $ 74,600       $ 69,581       $ 5,019         7.2

Gross profit per retail unit (excludes fleet)

   $ 1,254       $ 1,206       $ 48         4.0
     Three Months Ended March 31,      Better / (Worse)  
     2015      2014      Change      % Change  
     (In thousands, except per unit data)  

Same Store:

           

Revenue

   $ 73,129       $ 67,182       $ 5,947         8.9

Gross profit per retail unit (excludes fleet)

   $ 1,260       $ 1,209       $ 51         4.2


Sonic Automotive, Inc.

Results of Operations (Unaudited)

 

Selling, General and Administrative (“SG&A”) Expenses

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,     Better / (Worse)  
     2015     2014     Change     % Change  
     (In thousands)  

Reported:

        

Compensation

   $ 161,858      $ 157,154      $ (4,704     (3.0 %) 

Advertising

     15,332        14,119        (1,213     (8.6 %) 

Rent

     18,254        18,535        281        1.5

Other

     75,418        74,165        (1,253     (1.7 %) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

$ 270,862    $ 263,973    $ (6,889   (2.6 %) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

SG&A expenses as a % of gross profit

Compensation

  48.3   47.8   (50 )  bps 

Advertising

  4.6   4.3   (30 )  bps 

Rent

  5.4   5.6   20    bps 

Other

  22.6   22.5   (10 )  bps 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total

  80.9   80.2   (70 )  bps