third quarter 2026
Filed Oct 28, 2026Group 1 Automotive Reports Third Quarter 2026 Financial Results
Reported total revenues, gross profit and adjusted diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations declined year over year, while GAAP earnings rebounded sharply from a prior-year period affected by asset impairments and accelerated depreciation. Same-store parts and service performance and U.K. same-store growth were constructive, but vehicle volume, F&I revenue and adjusted margins remained lower.
Key metrics
shortened, hover for the filing’s print| Metric | Value | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2026 Total revenuesGAAP | $5.40B | – | (6.7)% |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2026 New vehicle retail salesGAAP | $2.67B | – | (5.1)% |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2026 Used vehicle retail salesGAAP | $1.69B | – | (8.7)% |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2026 Used vehicle wholesale salesGAAP | $124M | – | (16.5)% |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2026 Parts and service salesGAAP | $700.7M | – | (4.5)% |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2026 Finance, insurance and other, netGAAP | $215.8M | – | (10.4)% |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2026 Gross profitGAAP | $854.8M | – | (7.1)% |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2026 Total gross marginGAAP | 15.8% | – | (0.1)% |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2026 Parts and service gross marginGAAP | 55.9% | – | 0.4% |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2026 Selling, general and administrative expensesGAAP | $618.2M | – | (5.6)% |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2026 Adjusted SG&A expensesnon-GAAP | $610.5M | – | (5.4)% |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2026 SG&A as % gross profitGAAP | 72.3% | – | 1.1% |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2026 Adjusted SG&A as % gross profitnon-GAAP | 71.4% | – | 1.3% |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2026 Income from operationsGAAP | $200.7M | – | 86.1% |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2026 Adjusted income from operationsnon-GAAP | $215.4M | – | – |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2026 Operating marginGAAP | 3.7% | – | 1.8% |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2026 Adjusted operating marginnon-GAAP | 3.9% | – | (0.3)% |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2026 Income before income taxesGAAP | $131.5M | – | 263.4% |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2026 Net income from continuing operationsGAAP | $102.9M | – | 682.8% |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2026 Adjusted net income from continuing operationsnon-GAAP | $112.1M | – | – |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2026 Net incomeGAAP | $102.9M | – | 693.7% |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2026 Diluted earnings per share from continuing operationsGAAP | $8.59 | – | 745.1% |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2026 Adjusted diluted earnings per common share from continuing operationsnon-GAAP | $9.36 | – | – |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2026 Diluted earnings per shareGAAP | $8.59 | – | 756.9% |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2026 Effective tax rate on continuing operationsGAAP | 21.8% | – | (41.9)% |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2026 Total revenuesGAAP | $16.19B | – | (4.7)% |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2026 Gross profitGAAP | $2.59B | – | (5.6)% |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2026 Income from operationsGAAP | $646.3M | – | 8.7% |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2026 Net income from continuing operationsGAAP | $335.7M | – | 19.6% |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2026 Diluted earnings per share from continuing operationsGAAP | $28.03 | – | 30.3% |
Segments
| Segment | Revenue | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. operationsSame-store U.S. parts and service sales were $527.5 million, a 0.7% increase; same-store customer pay revenues were $297.4 million, a 3.2% increase; same-store new and used retail vehicle units sold declined (4.6)% and (10.0)%, respectively. | $3.99B | – | (6.7)% |
| U.K. operationsSame-store U.K. total revenues were $1,367.5 million, up 1.7%, driven by 9.1% growth in new vehicle retail sales and 6.4% growth in parts and service sales, partly offset by a (4.9)% decline in used vehicle retail sales. | $1.41B | – | (6.6)% |
Amounts quoted below without a unit are in millions, as in the filing’s tables. Per-share figures are as printed.
Subsequent to the current quarter / December 2026 outlook
- NoteThe Company has executed agreements to dispose of four dealerships in the U.S., which generated approximately $235 million of annualized revenues, for expected proceeds of approximately $125 million.
- NoteThe third planned Geely location in the U.K. is expected by December 2026.
- NoteAn Omoda & Jaecoo location in the U.K. is also expected by December 2026.
Capital returns
- The Company did not repurchase any shares of its common stock during the current quarter.
- During the current year, the Company repurchased 205,190 shares of common stock at an average price of $353.08 per share, for a total cost of $72.4 million, excluding excise taxes of $0.5 million.
- The repurchased shares represented approximately 1.7% of shares outstanding as of January 1, 2026.
- As of September 30, 2026, $306.3 million remained under the Board authorized share repurchase program.
What drove it
- Consolidated same-store parts and service sales increased 2.0% to $687.2 million, while same-store parts and service gross profit increased 0.1% to $383.1 million.
- U.S. same-store customer pay revenue increased 3.2% to $297.4 million and management reported same-store repair-order growth of 4% year over year.
- U.K. same-store new vehicle retail units sold increased 8.1% and U.K. same-store used vehicle retail gross profit per unit increased 13.9% to $1,428.
- The Hennessy Acquisition closed on October 19th, 2026, adding total expected annual revenues of approximately $1.7 billion.
- The Company reported lower reported U.S. SG&A expenses of $452.1 million, down 6.0%, and lower adjusted U.S. SG&A expenses of $445.2 million, down 5.4%.
Concerns
- Reported total revenues declined (6.7)%, including declines in new vehicle retail sales, used vehicle retail sales, used vehicle wholesale sales, parts and service sales, and finance, insurance and other, net.
- Consolidated retail new vehicle and retail used vehicle units sold declined (3.5)% and (10.5)%, respectively.
- Same-store total gross profit declined (4.1)% and same-store adjusted operating margin declined to 4.0% from 4.5%.
- Consolidated adjusted SG&A as a percentage of gross profit increased to 71.4% from 70.1%.
- Total debt increased to $3,886.2 million as of September 30, 2026 from $3,699.5 million as of December 31, 2025.
What to watch
- Integration and operating contribution of the Hennessy Acquisition, which has total expected annual revenues of approximately $1.7 billion.
- Completion of the four U.S. dealership dispositions under definitive agreement for expected proceeds of approximately $125 million.
- Progress toward reducing leverage using approximately $235 million in proceeds from completed post-quarter U.S. dispositions and expected proceeds from pending dispositions.
- Whether same-store U.S. customer pay revenue and repair-order growth can offset continued declines in vehicle unit sales and F&I revenue.
- The planned December 2026 openings of the third Geely location and an Omoda & Jaecoo location in the U.K.
Balance sheet and cash flow
- Cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2026 were $881.5 million, compared to $32.5 million as of December 31, 2025.
- Inventories, net as of September 30, 2026 were $2,573.5 million, compared to $2,741.3 million as of December 31, 2025.
- Floorplan notes payable, net as of September 30, 2026 were $2,123.8 million, compared to $1,915.8 million as of December 31, 2025.
- Total debt as of September 30, 2026 was $3,886.2 million, compared to $3,699.5 million as of December 31, 2025.
- Total equity as of September 30, 2026 was $3,065.4 million, compared to $2,789.1 million as of December 31, 2025.
- Operating cash flow and free cash flow were not reported in the filing.
Analysis
Group 1 reported a lower-volume third quarter. Total revenues were $5,396.7 million, down (6.7)%, and gross profit was $854.8 million, down (7.1)%. The decline extended across new vehicle retail, used vehicle retail, wholesale used vehicles, parts and service, and F&I. Reported retail new vehicle units sold declined (3.5)% and retail used vehicle units sold declined (10.5)%. On a same-store basis, total revenues fell (2.8)% and gross profit fell (4.1)%, showing that the reported decline was not solely a portfolio effect.
After-sales operations provided relative support. Consolidated same-store parts and service sales increased 2.0% and same-store parts and service gross profit increased 0.1%. In the U.S., same-store customer pay revenue rose 3.2% to $297.4 million, while management reported 4% growth in repair orders. U.K. same-store revenue increased 1.7%, supported by 9.1% growth in new vehicle retail sales and 6.4% growth in parts and service sales. U.K. same-store used vehicle retail gross profit per unit rose 13.9% to $1,428.
GAAP profitability rose sharply because the prior-year quarter included $123.9 million of asset impairments and accelerated depreciation adjustments reflected in the non-GAAP reconciliation. Income from operations was $200.7 million versus $107.8 million, and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations was $8.59 versus $1.02. The underlying comparison was weaker: adjusted income from operations was $215.4 million versus $244.7 million, adjusted operating margin was 3.9% versus 4.2%, and adjusted diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations was $9.36 versus $10.45. SG&A fell in dollars, but adjusted SG&A as a percentage of gross profit increased to 71.4% from 70.1%.
Capital allocation and portfolio reshaping were central to the release. The Company closed the Hennessy Acquisition on October 19th, 2026, with total expected annual revenues of approximately $1.7 billion, while pursuing dealership dispositions to reduce leverage. Completed post-quarter U.S. dispositions generated approximately $235 million in proceeds and pending agreements are expected to generate approximately $125 million. Total debt was $3,886.2 million at September 30, 2026, compared with $3,699.5 million at December 31, 2025. The Company made no quarterly share repurchases, although it repurchased 205,190 shares during the current year for a total cost of $72.4 million, excluding excise taxes of $0.5 million.
The filing did not provide formal financial guidance for revenue, margins, expenses, tax rate, earnings, or cash flow. The disclosed forward items relate to dealership dispositions and planned U.K. openings. The key reported issues are the pace of integration of Hennessy, execution of planned dispositions and leverage reduction, and whether growth in customer pay service and the U.K. can counter lower vehicle volume, lower F&I revenue and lower adjusted margins.
Management, verbatim
Our focus on operating execution was evident in the third quarter. Year-over-year growth rates improved across key same store operating metrics compared to the second quarter, despite challenging market conditions.
Daryl Kenningham, President and Chief Executive Officer
Importantly, in the U.S. we grew same-store customer pay revenue and repair orders 3% and 4% year-over-year, respectively, and continued to benefit from the cost-cutting actions we took earlier this year.
Daryl Kenningham, President and Chief Executive Officer
Not in the filing
stated, not guessed- Formal financial guidance for revenue, gross margin, operating expenses, tax rate, earnings, or cash flow was not provided.
- Previous-release outlook was not provided.
- Operating cash flow was not reported.
- Free cash flow was not reported.
- Dividend declaration or payment information was not reported.
- CFO commentary was not provided.
- Prior-quarter comparisons for the reported financial metrics were not provided.
AlphAI analysis generated from the company’s SEC earnings filing (Form 8-K Item 2.02, or Form 6-K for a foreign private issuer). Every figure was cross-checked against the filing text; consensus estimates, price targets and share-price reactions are not shown because they are not in the filing. AI-generated research, not investment advice.