Lithia Motors & Driveway (LAD) Reports Highest First Quarter Earnings In Company History; Increases Revenue 55% And EPS 195%

Rhea-AI Summary

Lithia Motors & Driveway (LAD) reported record-breaking first quarter results for 2021, with revenue soaring 55% to $4.3 billion compared to $2.8 billion in Q1 2020. Net income per diluted share rose 195% to $5.81, while adjusted net income increased 193% to $5.89. Total vehicle gross profit per unit experienced an 18.7% increase, reaching $4,392. The company also expanded its footprint through strategic acquisitions, projecting $3.1 billion in annualized steady state revenues. A dividend of $0.35 per share was approved, to be paid on May 21, 2021.

Positive

• Revenue increased 55% to $4.3 billion.
• Net income per diluted share rose 195% to $5.81.
• Adjusted net income per diluted share increased 193% to $5.89.
• Total vehicle gross profit per unit increased 18.7% to $4,392.
• Acquisitions expected to generate $3.1 billion in annualized revenue.
• Record $6.5 billion in expected annualized revenue from acquisitions within the first nine months of the 5-year plan.

Negative

• None.

MEDFORD, Ore., April 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Lithia Motors & Driveway (NYSE: LAD) today reported the highest first quarter revenue and earnings per share in company history.

First quarter 2021 revenue increased 55% to $4.3 billion from $2.8 billion in the first quarter of 2020.

First quarter 2021 net income per diluted share was $5.81, a 195% increase from $1.97 per diluted share reported in the first quarter of 2020. Adjusted first quarter 2021 net income per diluted share was $5.89, an 193% increase compared to adjusted net income of $2.01 per diluted share in the same period of 2020.

First quarter 2021 net income was $156 million, a 238% increase compared to net income of $46 million in the same period of 2020. Adjusted first quarter 2021 net income was $158 million, a 236% increase compared to adjusted net income of $47 million for the same period of 2020.

As shown in the attached non-GAAP reconciliation tables, the 2021 first quarter adjusted results exclude a $0.08 per diluted share net non-core charge related to acquisition expenses, net loss on sale of stores, insurance reserves, and a non-cash unrealized investment loss. The 2020 first quarter adjusted results exclude a $0.04 per diluted share net non-core charge due to insurance reserves and acquisition expenses, partially offset by a net gain on sale of stores.

First Quarter-over-Quarter Operating Highlights:

• Total company revenues increased 54.9%
• New vehicle retail sales increased 59.7%
• Used vehicle retail sales increased 54.6%
• F&I per unit increased 13.2% to $1,757
• Service, body, and parts sales increased 22.5%
• Total vehicle gross profit per unit increased 18.7% to $4,392
• Adjusted SG&A as a percentage of gross profit improved by 1220 basis points from 74.8% to 62.6%

"Entering our 75th year in operation, Lithia & Driveway continued to deliver historic operational results driven by our omni-channel strategy and strength in all four business lines. Same store new, used, and F&I revenues were up nearly 30% and service, body, and parts increased slightly when adjusted for one less service day in 2021," said Bryan DeBoer, President and CEO. "The pandemic impacted our first quarter 2020 results only for the last two weeks in March and our team's performance this quarter demonstrates our ability to be the leader in consolidating this highly fragmented industry. As we build on the broadest nationwide network, we continue to expand the reach of our people, inventory, and locations through our national e-commerce home solution Driveway."

Corporate Development
During the quarter, we announced the opening of a previously awarded Infiniti location in Los Angeles, California and completed the acquisitions of Fields Auto Group in the Greater Orlando, Florida area, Fink Auto Group in Tampa, Florida, and Avondale Nissan in Phoenix, Arizona. In addition, earlier this month we completed one of the largest acquisitions in automotive history with the purchase of The Suburban Collection in the Detroit, Michigan area. These strategic acquisitions added density in key geographic markets and are anticipated to generate $3.1 billion in annualized steady state revenues.

"With a record $6.5 billion of expected annualized revenue acquired in the first nine months of our 5-year plan, we are well ahead of schedule and are only getting started," said DeBoer. "With an acquisition pipeline more active than we have ever seen, we are well positioned to continue to aggressively pursue our goal of achieving $50 billion in revenue and $50 of earnings per share."

Balance Sheet Update
We ended the first quarter with approximately $1.4 billion in cash and availability on our revolving lines of credit. In addition, our unfinanced real estate could provide additional liquidity of approximately $552 million.

Dividend Payment
Our Board of Directors approved a dividend of $0.35 per share related to first quarter 2021 financial results. We expect to pay the dividend on May 21, 2021 to shareholders of record on May 7, 2021.

First Quarter Earnings Conference Call and Updated Presentation
The first quarter 2021 conference call may be accessed at 10:00 a.m. ET today by telephone at 877-407-8029. An updated presentation highlighting the first quarter 2021 results has been added to our investor relations website. To listen live on our website or for replay, visit www.lithiainvestorrelations.com and click on webcasts.

About Lithia Motors & Driveway
Lithia Motors & Driveway is a growth company powered by people and innovation with a 5-year plan to profitably consolidate the largest retail sector in the country. They are a leading provider of personal transportation solutions in the United States and are among the fastest-growing companies in the Fortune 500 (#6 on 10-Year EPS Growth, #4 10-Year TSR in 2020). By providing a wide array of products throughout the entire lifecycle of the consumer's vehicle ownership experience through various consumer channels, they build magnetic brand loyalty. Operational excellence is achieved by focusing the business on convenient and transparent consumer experiences supported by proprietary data science to increase market share, consumer loyalty and team performance. Lithia's omni-channel strategy will continue to pragmatically disrupt the industry by leveraging experienced teams, vast owned inventories, technology, and physical network. By purchasing strong businesses, they further strengthen this network, leveraging their national digital home channel Driveway and building upon the massive regenerating capital engine. Together, these endeavors create a unique and compelling high-growth strategy that provides transportation solutions wherever, whenever, and however consumers desire.

Sites

www.lithia.com
www.lithiainvestorrelations.com
www.lithiacareers.com
www.driveway.com

Lithia Motors on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/LithiaMotors

Lithia Motors on Twitter
http://twitter.com/lithiamotors

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this presentation, and at times made by our officers and representatives, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "Safe Harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Generally, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as "project", "outlook", "target", "may", "will", "would", "should", "seek", "expect", "plan", "intend", "forecast", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict", "potential", "likely", "goal", "strategy", "future", "maintain", and "continue" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terms. Examples of forward-looking statements in this presentation include, among others, statements regarding:

• Future market conditions, including anticipated car sales levels;
• Anticipated impacts of the continued COVID-19 pandemic on the U.S. and local economies in which we operate, our business operations and consumer demand;
• Continuation of our sales and services, including in-store appointments and home deliveries;
• Expected growth from our e-commerce home solutions and digital strategies;
• Expected operating results, such as improved store performance; continued improvement of selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A") as a percentage of gross profit and all projections;
• Anticipated integration, success and growth of acquired stores;
• Anticipated ability to capture additional market share;
• Anticipated ability to find accretive acquisitions;
• Expected revenues from acquired stores;
• Anticipated synergies, ability to monetize our investment in digital innovation;
• Anticipated additions of dealership locations to our portfolio in the future;
• Anticipated financial condition and liquidity, including from our cash, availability on our credit facility and unfinanced real estate;
• Anticipated use of proceeds from our financings;
• Anticipated allocations, uses and levels of capital expenditures in the future;
• Expectations regarding compliance with financial and restrictive covenants in our credit facility and other debt agreements;
• Statements regarding furloughed employees and cost reductions;
• Expectations regarding programs and initiatives for employee recruitment, training, and retention; and
• Our strategies for customer retention, growth, market position, financial results and risk management.

Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and our actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity and development of the industry in which we operate may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements in this presentation. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from estimated or projected results include, without limitation:

• Future economic and financial conditions (both nationally and locally), including as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic;
• Changes in customer demand, our relationship with, and the financial and operational stability of, vehicle manufacturers and other suppliers;
• Risks associated with our indebtedness (including available borrowing capacity, compliance with financial covenants and ability to refinance or repay indebtedness on favorable terms);
• The adequacy of our cash flow and earnings and other conditions which may affect our ability to pay our quarterly dividend at the planned level;
• Disruptions to our technology network including computer systems and software, as well as natural events such as severe weather, fires, floods and earthquakes or man-made or other disruptions of our operating systems, structures, facilities or equipment; and
• Government regulations and legislation, and other risks set forth throughout "Part II, Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and in "Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors" of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and in "Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors" of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and from time to time in our other filings with the SEC.

Any forward-looking statement made by us in this presentation is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This presentation contains non-GAAP financial measures such as adjusted net income and diluted earnings per share, adjusted SG&A as a percentage of revenue and gross profit, adjusted operating margin, adjusted operating profit as a percentage of revenue and gross profit, adjusted pre-tax margin and net profit margin, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, leveraged EBITDA and adjusted total debt. Non-GAAP measures do not have definitions under GAAP and may be defined differently by and not comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. As a result, we review any non-GAAP financial measures in connection with a review of the most directly comparable measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. We caution you not to place undue reliance on such non-GAAP measures, but also to consider them with the most directly comparable GAAP measures. We present cash flows from operations in the attached tables, adjusted to include the change in non-trade floor plan debt to improve the visibility of cash flows related to vehicle financing. As required by SEC rules, we have reconciled these measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures in the attachments to this release. We believe the non-GAAP financial measures we present improve the transparency of our disclosures; provide a meaningful presentation of our results from core business operations, because they exclude items not related to core business operations and other non-cash items; and improve the period-to-period comparability of our results from core business operations. These presentations should not be considered an alternative to GAAP measures.

 

Lithia Motors, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (In millions except per share data)
		Three months ended March 31,								%
										Increase
		2021				2020				(Decrease)
Revenues:
New vehicle retail		$	2,193.2			$	1,373.5			59.7	%
Used vehicle retail		1,352.2				874.4				54.6
Used vehicle wholesale		135.2				66.7				102.7
Finance and insurance		198.4				121.9				62.8
Service, body and parts		404.0				329.9				22.5
Fleet and other		60.0				37.4				60.4
Total revenues		4,343.0				2,803.8				54.9	%
Cost of sales:
New vehicle retail		2,036.5				1,295.3				57.2
Used vehicle retail		1,216.0				784.4				55.0
Used vehicle wholesale		130.6				66.1				97.6
Service, body and parts		185.8				161.8				14.8
Fleet and other		58.6				35.3				66.0
Total cost of sales		3,627.5				2,342.9				54.8
Gross profit		715.5				460.9				55.2	%
SG&A expense		450.4				346.0				30.2
Depreciation and amortization		26.8				22.0				21.8
Income from operations		238.3				92.9				156.5	%
Floor plan interest expense		(6.8)				(14.0)				(51.4)
Other interest expense		(23.5)				(17.0)				38.2
Other income, net		3.4				2.3				NM
Income before income taxes		211.4				64.2				229.3	%
Income tax expense		(55.2)				(18.0)				206.7
Income tax rate		26.1		%		28.0		%
Net income		$	156.2			$	46.2			238.1	%
Diluted net income per share:
Net income per share		$	5.81			$	1.97			194.9	%
Diluted shares outstanding		26.9				23.5				14.5	%
NM - not meaningful

 

Lithia Motors, Inc. Key Performance Metrics (Unaudited)
		Three months ended March 31,								%
										Increase
		2021				2020				(Decrease)
Gross margin
New vehicle retail		7.1		%		5.7		%		140	bps
Used vehicle retail		10.1				10.3				(20)
Finance and insurance		100.0				100.0				—
Service, body and parts		54.0				51.0				300
Gross profit margin		16.5				16.4				10
Unit sales
New vehicle retail		53,864				35,907				50.0	%
Used vehicle retail		59,027				42,631				38.5
Total retail units sold		112,891				78,538				43.7
Average selling price
New vehicle retail		$	40,718			$	38,252			6.4	%
Used vehicle retail		22,907				20,510				11.7
Average gross profit per unit
New vehicle retail		$	2,910			$	2,178			33.6	%
Used vehicle retail		2,307				2,110				9.3
Finance and insurance		1,757				1,552				13.2
Total vehicle(1)		4,392				3,701				18.7
Revenue mix
New vehicle retail		50.5		%		49.0		%
Used vehicle retail		31.1				31.2
Used vehicle wholesale		3.1				2.4
Finance and insurance, net		4.6				4.3
Service, body and parts		9.3				11.8
Fleet and other		1.4				1.3
Gross Profit Mix
New vehicle retail		21.9		%		17.0		%
Used vehicle retail		19.0				19.5
Used vehicle wholesale		0.6				0.1
Finance and insurance, net		27.7				26.4
Service, body and parts		30.6				36.5
Fleet and other		0.2				0.5

 

		Adjusted						As reported
		Three months ended March 31,						Three months ended March 31,
Other metrics		2021			2020			2021			2020
SG&A as a % of revenue		10.3	%		12.3	%		10.4	%		12.3	%
SG&A as a % of gross profit		62.6			74.8			62.9			75.1
Operating profit as a % of revenue		5.6			3.4			5.5			3.3
Operating profit as a % of gross profit		33.7			20.4			33.3			20.1
Pretax margin		4.9			2.3			4.9			2.3
Net profit margin		3.6			1.7			3.6			1.6
(1)  Includes the sales and gross profit related to new, used retail, used wholesale and finance and insurance and unit sales for new and used retail

 

Lithia Motors, Inc. Same Store Operating Highlights (Unaudited)
		Three months ended March 31,								%
										Increase
		2021				2020				(Decrease)
Revenues
New vehicle retail		$	1,735.2			$	1,341.2			29.4	%
Used vehicle retail		1,128.0				854.6				32.0
Finance and insurance		155.0				119.5				29.7
Service, body and parts		317.3				320.5				(1.0)
Total revenues		3,492.3				2,737.4				27.6
Gross profit
New vehicle retail		$	127.5			$	76.8			66.0	%
Used vehicle retail		120.7				88.8				35.9
Finance and insurance		155.0				119.5				29.7
Service, body and parts		169.5				163.3				3.8
Total gross profit		577.3				451.4				27.9
Gross margin
New vehicle retail		7.4		%		5.7		%		170	bps
Used vehicle retail		10.7				10.4				30
Finance and insurance		100.0				100.0				—
Service, body and parts		53.4				51.0				240
Gross profit margin		16.5				16.5				—
Unit sales
New vehicle retail		42,816				35,098				22.0	%
Used vehicle retail		49,764				41,676				19.4
Average selling price
New vehicle retail		$	40,527			$	38,214			6.1	%
Used vehicle retail		22,666				20,505				10.5
Average gross profit per unit
New vehicle retail		$	2,979			$	2,188			36.2	%
Used vehicle retail		2,426				2,131				13.8
Finance and insurance		1,674				1,557				7.5
Total vehicle(1)		4,388				3,724				17.8
(1)  Includes the sales and gross profit related to new, used retail, used wholesale and finance and insurance and unit sales for new and used retail

 

Lithia Motors, Inc. Other Highlights (Unaudited)
	As of
	March 31,		December 31,		March 31,
	2021		2020		2020
Days Supply(1)
New vehicle inventory	41		50		120
Used vehicle inventory	42		65		86
(1) Days supply calculated based on current inventory levels, excluding in-transit vehicles, and a 30-day historical cost of sales level.

 

Financial covenants
	Requirement		As of March 31, 2021
Current ratio	Not less than 1.10 to 1		1.39 to 1
Fixed charge coverage ratio	Not less than 1.20 to 1		4.84 to 1
Leverage ratio	Not more than 5.75 to 1		2.29 to 1

 

Lithia Motors, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (In millions)
		March 31, 2021				December 31, 2020
Cash and cash equivalents		$	170.3			$	160.2
Trade receivables, net		740.7				614.0
Inventories, net		2,329.7				2,492.9
Other current assets		48.2				70.5
Total current assets		$	3,288.9			$	3,337.6
Property and equipment, net		2,221.0				2,197.5
Intangibles		985.5				943.2
Other non-current assets		1,756.2				1,423.8
Total assets		$	8,251.6			$	7,902.1
Floor plan notes payable		1,822.2				1,797.2
Other current liabilities		788.7				682.5
Total current liabilities		$	2,610.9			$	2,479.7
Long-term debt		2,124.0				2,064.7
Other long-term liabilities and deferred revenue		709.1				696.2
Total liabilities		$	5,444.0			$	5,240.6
Stockholder's Equity		2,807.6				2,661.5
Total liabilities & stockholders' equity		$	8,251.6			$	7,902.1

 

Lithia Motors, Inc. Summarized Cash Flow from Operations (Unaudited) (In millions)
		Three months ended March 31,
		2021				2020
Net income		$	156.2			$	46.2
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		26.8				22.0
Stock-based compensation		8.0				5.1
Loss on disposal of assets		0.3				0.1
Loss (gain) on sale of franchises		0.7				(0.1)
Unrealized investment loss		0.3				—
Deferred income taxes		10.4				8.2
Amortization of operating lease right-of-use assets		8.2				6.9
(Increase) decrease:
Trade receivables, net		(126.7)				202.1
Inventories		244.6				(69.8)
Other assets		(62.1)				(8.6)
Increase (decrease):
Floor plan notes payable, net		107.3				(32.7)
Trade payables		47.8				(14.6)
Accrued liabilities		76.7				(47.1)
Other long-term liabilities and deferred revenue		(2.1)				4.0
Net cash provided by operating activities		$	496.4			$	121.7

 

Lithia Motors, Inc. Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Cash Flow from Operations (Unaudited) (In millions)
		Three months ended March 31,
Net cash provided by operating activities		2021				2020
As reported		$	496.4			$	121.7
Floor plan notes payable, non-trade, net		(74.8)				(43.5)
Less: Borrowings on floor plan notes payable, non-trade associated with acquired new vehicle inventory		(69.3)				(14.1)
Adjusted		$	352.3			$	64.1

 

Lithia Motors, Inc. Reconciliation of Certain Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited) (In millions, except for per share data)
		Three Months Ended March 31, 2021
		As reported				Net disposal loss on sale of stores				Investment loss				Insurance reserves				Acquisition expenses				Adjusted
Selling, general and administrative		$	450.4			$	(0.7)			$	—			$	(0.8)			$	(1.3)			$	447.6
Operating income		238.3				0.7				—				0.8				1.3				241.1
Other income (expense), net		3.4				—				0.3				—				—				3.7
Income before income taxes		211.4				0.7				0.3				0.8				1.3				214.5
Income tax (provision) benefit		(55.2)				(0.2)				(0.1)				(0.2)				(0.4)				(56.1)
Net income		$	156.2			$	0.5			$	0.2			$	0.6			$	0.9			$	158.4
Diluted earnings per share		$	5.81			$	0.02			$	0.01			$	0.02			$	0.03			$	5.89
Diluted share count		26.9

 

		Three Months Ended March 31, 2020
		As reported				Net disposal gain on sale of stores				Insurance reserves				Acquisition expenses				Adjusted
Selling, general and administrative		$	346.0			$	0.1			$	(0.8)			$	(0.5)			$	344.8
Operating income		92.9				(0.1)				0.8				0.5				94.1
Income before income taxes		64.2				(0.1)				0.8				0.5				65.4
Income tax (provision) benefit		(18.0)				—				(0.2)				(0.1)				(18.3)
Net income		$	46.2			$	(0.1)			$	0.6			$	0.4			$	47.1
Diluted earnings per share		$	1.97			$	—			$	0.02			$	0.02			$	2.01
Diluted share count		23.5

 

Lithia Motors, Inc. Adjusted EBITDA and Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA (Unaudited) (In millions)
		Three months ended March 31,								%
										Increase
		2021				2020				(Decrease)
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
Net income		$	156.2			$	46.2			238.1	%
Flooring interest expense		6.8				14.0				(51.4)
Other interest expense		23.5				17.0				38.2
Income tax expense		55.2				18.0				206.7
Depreciation and amortization		26.8				22.0				21.8
EBITDA		$	268.5			$	117.2			129.1	%
Other adjustments:
Less: flooring interest expense		$	(6.8)			$	(14.0)			(51.4)
Less: used vehicle line of credit interest		—				(0.2)				(100.0)
Add: acquisition expenses		1.3				0.5				160.0
Less: gain on divestitures		0.7				(0.1)				NM
Less: investment loss		0.3				—				NM
Add: insurance reserves		0.8				0.8				—
Adjusted EBITDA		$	264.8			$	104.2			154.1	%
NM - not meaningful

 

		As of								%
		March 31,								Increase
Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA		2021				2020				(Decrease)
Floor plan notes payable: non-trade		$	1,480.7			$	1,595.9			(7.2)	%
Floor plan notes payable		341.5				389.9				(12.4)
Used and service loaner vehicle inventory financing facility		—				204.0				(100.0)
Revolving lines of credit		100.0				—				NM
Real estate mortgages		604.7				608.9				(0.7)
Finance lease obligations		245.0				30.3				708.6
5.250% Senior notes due 2025		300.0				300.0				—
4.625% Senior notes due 2027		400.0				400.0				—
4.375% Senior notes due 2031		550.0				—				NM
Other debt		2.3				2.8				(17.9)
Unamortized debt issuance costs		(17.7)				(10.4)				70.2
Total debt		$	4,006.5			$	3,521.4			13.8	%
Less: Floor plan related debt		$	(1,822.2)			$	(2,189.8)			(16.8)	%
Less: Cash and cash equivalents		(170.3)				(56.6)				200.9
Less: Availability on used vehicle and service loaner financing facilities		(455.5)				(162.9)				179.6
Net Debt		$	1,558.5			$	1,112.1			40.1	%
TTM Adjusted EBITDA		$	930.6			$	510.3			82.4	%
Net debt to Adjusted EBITDA		1.67		x		2.18		x

 

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SOURCE Lithia Motors, Inc.

FAQ

What were Lithia Motors' revenue results for Q1 2021?

Lithia Motors reported a revenue increase of 55% to $4.3 billion in the first quarter of 2021.

What is the net income per diluted share for LAD in Q1 2021?

The net income per diluted share for Lithia Motors in Q1 2021 was $5.81, a 195% increase from Q1 2020.

What acquisitions did Lithia Motors complete recently?

Lithia Motors completed several acquisitions including Fields Auto Group, Fink Auto Group, and Avondale Nissan, with a notable acquisition being The Suburban Collection.

What is the expected annualized revenue from Lithia's recent acquisitions?

The recent acquisitions are anticipated to generate $3.1 billion in annualized steady state revenues.

When will the dividend for Q1 2021 be paid to shareholders?

The dividend of $0.35 per share will be paid on May 21, 2021, to shareholders of record on May 7, 2021.