second quarter of 2026
Filed Jul 30, 2026Group 1 Automotive Reports Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results
Revenue, gross profit, unit volumes, continuing-operations earnings and diluted EPS all declined from the prior-year quarter, while reported and adjusted SG&A as a percentage of gross profit increased. The company highlighted completed expense reductions, Atlanta acquisitions and the pending Hennessy transaction as strategic offsets.
Key metrics
as reported| Metric | Value | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total revenuesGAAP | $5.4 billion | – | – |
| Net income from continuing operationsGAAP | $103.0 million | – | – |
| Adjusted net income from continuing operationsnon-GAAP | $114.9 million | – | – |
| Diluted earnings per common share from continuing operationsGAAP | $8.62 | – | – |
| Adjusted diluted earnings per common share from continuing operationsnon-GAAP | $9.61 | – | – |
| Reported total revenuesother | $5.4B | – | (5.6)% |
| Same Store total revenuesnon-GAAP | $5.2B | – | (3.3)% |
| Reported total gross profitother | $860.6M | – | (8.0)% |
| Same Store total gross profitnon-GAAP | $835.9M | – | (6.1)% |
| Reported new vehicle units soldother | 53,335 | – | (4.4)% |
| Same Store new vehicle units soldnon-GAAP | 51,840 | – | (2.8)% |
| Reported new vehicle gross profit per retail unitother | $3,254 | – | (8.5)% |
| Same Store new vehicle gross profit per retail unitnon-GAAP | $3,233 | – | (9.0)% |
| Reported used vehicle retail units soldother | 53,469 | – | (11.2)% |
| Same Store used vehicle retail units soldnon-GAAP | 51,907 | – | (9.8)% |
| Reported used vehicle retail gross profit per retail unitother | $1,532 | – | (4.3)% |
| Same Store used vehicle retail gross profit per retail unitnon-GAAP | $1,534 | – | (5.3)% |
| Reported parts and service gross profitother | $389.0M | – | (3.4)% |
| Same Store parts and service gross profitnon-GAAP | $377.2M | – | (0.2)% |
| Reported parts and service gross marginother | 56.2% | – | +0.1% |
| Same Store parts and service gross marginnon-GAAP | 56.0% | – | (1.3)% |
| Reported finance and insurance revenuesother | $216.8M | – | (8.8)% |
| Same Store finance and insurance revenuesnon-GAAP | $211.7M | – | (7.5)% |
| Reported finance and insurance gross profit per retail unitother | $2,030 | – | (1.0)% |
| Same Store finance and insurance gross profit per retail unitnon-GAAP | $2,041 | – | (1.2)% |
| Reported selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of gross profitother | 72.4% | – | +341 bps |
| Same Store selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of gross profitnon-GAAP | 71.0% | – | +310 bps |
| Reported adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of gross profitnon-GAAP | 70.8% | – | +214 bps |
| Same Store adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of gross profitnon-GAAP | 70.1% | – | +253 bps |
| U.S. adjusted SG&A as a percentage of gross profitnon-GAAP | 66.4% | improved sequentially 400+ basis points | – |
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, representing approximately 1.7% of shares outstanding as of January 1, 2026, at an average price of $353.08 per share, for a total cost of $72.4 million, excluding excise taxes of $0.5 million.
- $306.3 million remaining under its Board authorized share repurchase program.
What drove it
- The Company completed its previously announced $50 million annualized expense reduction initiative during the quarter, exceeding its targets.
- The Company acquired four dealerships in the U.S. during the current quarter, retaining Stone Mountain Toyota and Stone Mountain Honda in the Atlanta market.
- The two retained Atlanta dealerships are expected to generate approximately $205 million in annual revenues.
- Year to date, the Company acquired and successfully integrated dealership operations with total expected annual revenues of approximately $340 million.
- The Company signed a definitive agreement to acquire the 10 dealerships of Hennessy Automobile Companies in the Atlanta market.
- The Hennessy transaction is expected to generate approximately $1.7 billion in annual revenues.
- The Company advanced its corporate rebranding to more than 60% completion and expanded its virtual F&I platform to more than 40% of its stores.
Concerns
- Management said second-quarter results softened due to consumer affordability issues.
- Reported total revenues declined (5.6)% and reported total gross profit declined (8.0)% on a year-over-year comparable-period basis.
- Used vehicle retail units sold declined (11.2)% on a reported basis and (9.8)% on a same-store basis.
- Reported SG&A expenses as a percentage of gross profit increased +341 bps and adjusted SG&A expenses as a percentage of gross profit increased +214 bps.
- The Hennessy transaction remains subject to regulatory and OEM approvals, as well as other customary closing conditions.
What to watch
- Closing of the Hennessy Automobile Companies acquisition by year-end 2026.
- Integration of the Hennessy dealerships and the two retained Stone Mountain dealerships into the Atlanta cluster.
- Whether U.S. adjusted SG&A as a percentage of gross profit sustains the reported sequential improvement of 400+ basis points.
- New-vehicle and used-vehicle unit volumes, gross profit per retail unit, and consumer affordability.
- The remaining two Geely locations expected to open later in the year.
Balance sheet and cash flow
- As of June 30, 2026, the Company had 11,925,913 shares of common stock and unvested restricted stock awards outstanding in the aggregate.
Analysis
Group 1 reported a weaker second quarter versus the prior-year quarter. Total revenues were $5.4 billion versus $5.7 billion, while net income from continuing operations was $103.0 million versus $139.8 million. Adjusted net income from continuing operations was $114.9 million versus $149.6 million. Diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations were $8.62, and adjusted diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations were $9.61, compared with $10.77 and $11.52, respectively, in the prior-year quarter.
Management, verbatim
While our second quarter results softened due to consumer affordability issues, we continued to execute against the strategic initiatives that will strengthen Group 1 over the long term,
Daryl Kenningham, President and Chief Executive Officer
To that end, earlier today we announced our intent to acquire Hennessy Automobile Companies which, along with two additional dealership acquisitions, will boost our presence to 15 dealerships in Atlanta.
Daryl Kenningham, President and Chief Executive Officer
Not in the filing
stated, not guessed- Total consolidated gross margin
- Operating income
- Adjusted operating income
- Total net income including discontinued operations
- Operating cash flow
- Free cash flow
- Cash and cash equivalents
- Debt and leverage metrics
- Dividend declaration or payment information
- Income tax rate
- Detailed revenue by operating segment or geography
- Prior-quarter financial results for the reported metrics
- Formal forward financial guidance for revenue, gross margin, operating expenses, tax rate, earnings, or cash flow
- Previous-release outlook for comparison
AlphaAI 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.