Sonic Automotive (NYSE:SAH) Issues Earnings Results, Beats Expectations By $0.05 EPS

Sonic Automotive (NYSE:SAH) released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday. The company reported $1.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.46 by $0.05, Zacks reports. Sonic Automotive had a net margin of 1.41% and a return on equity of 21.27%.

Sonic Automotive Stock Performance

Shares of SAH opened at $73.44 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.51 billion, a PE ratio of 13.07 and a beta of 1.68. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $67.90 and its 200 day moving average price is $62.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.87, a current ratio of 1.11 and a quick ratio of 0.35. Sonic Automotive has a 12-month low of $47.82 and a 12-month high of $76.78.

Sonic Automotive Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 14th will be issued a $0.35 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.91%. Sonic Automotive’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 24.91%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

SAH has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Stephens lifted their target price on Sonic Automotive from $83.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on Sonic Automotive from $75.00 to $74.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 17th. Needham & Company LLC upped their target price on Sonic Automotive from $74.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday. Seaport Res Ptn raised shares of Sonic Automotive from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Sonic Automotive from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Sonic Automotive currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $78.00.

About Sonic Automotive

Sonic Automotive, Inc operates as an automotive retailer in the United States. It operates in three segments, Franchised Dealerships, EchoPark, and Powersports. 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.