Announces Dividend of $0.50 per Share for Fourth Quarter
MEDFORD, Ore., Feb. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Lithia & Driveway (NYSE:LAD) today reported the highest fourth quarter revenue in company history.
Fourth quarter 2023 revenue increased 10% to $7.7 billion from $6.9 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022.
Fourth quarter 2023 net income attributable to LAD per diluted share was $7.74, a 14% decrease from $9.00 per diluted share reported in the fourth quarter of 2022. Adjusted fourth quarter 2023 net income attributable to LAD per diluted share was $8.24, a 9% decrease compared to $9.05 per diluted share in the same period of 2022. Unrealized foreign currency gains positively impacted earnings per share by $0.21.
Fourth quarter 2023 net income was $216 million, a 13% decrease compared to net income of $250 million in the same period of 2022. Adjusted fourth quarter 2023 net income was $230 million, a 8% decrease compared to adjusted net income of $251 million for the same period of 2022.
As shown in the attached non-GAAP reconciliation tables, the 2023 fourth quarter adjusted results exclude a $0.50 per diluted share impact resulting from non-core items, specifically acquisition expenses, investment loss, and net loss on sale of stores, partially offset by changes in insurance reserves. The 2022 fourth quarter adjusted results exclude a $0.05 per diluted share net non-core charge related to a net gain on the sale of stores, partially offset by investment loss, acquisition expenses and insurances reserves.
Fourth Quarter-Over-Quarter Comparisons and Fourth Quarter 2023 Performance Highlights:
Total revenues increased 10%
New vehicle same store units grew by 9.6 %
Total vehicle gross profit per unit of $4,973, down $717
Driveway averaged nearly 2.8 million monthly unique visitors (MUVs) in the quarter
Driveway Finance Corporation (DFC) originated over $428 million in loans in Q4
Service, body, and parts revenues increased 14%
SG&A as a percentage of gross profit was 66.4%, and 65.2% adjusted for non-core items
“2023 completes another successful year of tremendous growth and building strategic diversification. My team and I are excited to turn our efforts to even higher levels of execution in 2024, as we now have all the key components of our long-term growth strategy in place,” said Bryan DeBoer, President and CEO. “Our financial position, combined with the diversity and reach of our network and complementary adjacencies, positions us to continue to positively drive results and return capital to our shareholders, providing a distinctive growth strategy.”
Full year 2023 revenue increased 10% to a record $31.0 billion from $28.2 billion in 2022.
Full year 2023 net income attributable to LAD per diluted share decreased 18% to $36.29 from $44.17 for 2022. Adjusted net income attributable to LAD per diluted share decreased 17% to $36.86 from $44.42 for 2022. Unrealized foreign currency gains positively impacted earnings per share by $0.14. Full year 2023 net income attributable to LAD decreased 20% to $1.0 billion from $1.3 billion for 2022. Adjusted net income attributable to LAD decreased 19% to $1.0 billion for 2023 from $1.3 billion for 2022.
As shown in the attached non-GAAP reconciliation tables, the 2023 adjusted results exclude a $0.57 per diluted share net non-core charge related to an investment loss, acquisition expenses, and insurance reserves, partially offset by a net gain on sale of stores. The 2022 adjusted results exclude a $0.25 per diluted share impact resulting from non-core items, specifically acquisition expenses, one-time contract buyouts, insurance reserves, and investment loss, partially offset by a net gain on the sale of stores.
Full Year-over-Year and 2023 Operating Highlights:
Record full year revenues of $31.0 billion
Used vehicle retail sales increased 1.5%
F&I per unit decreased 5.1% to $2,090
Total vehicle gross profit per unit decreased 14.8% to $5,367
GreenCars MUVs increased by 102% to nearly 900,000
Driveway Finance Corporation scaled portfolio to over $3 billion
Corporate Development
During the fourth quarter, LAD did not acquire any stores. Year-to-date, we have acquired over $3.8 billion in annualized revenues. Since announcing our plan back in July 2020, we have acquired over $17.7 billion in annualized revenues.
Balance Sheet Update
LAD ended the fourth quarter with approximately $1.7 billion in cash and availability on our revolving lines of credit. In addition, unfinanced real estate could provide additional liquidity of approximately $0.4 billion.
Dividend Payment and Share Repurchases
The Board of Directors approved a dividend of $0.50 per share related to fourth quarter 2023 financial results. The dividend is expected to be paid on March 22, 2024 to shareholders of record on March 9, 2024.
During the fourth quarter and for 2023, we repurchased over 142,700 shares at a weighted average price of $240.81. Under the current share repurchase authorization approximately $467.0 million remains available.
Fourth Quarter Earnings Conference Call and Updated Presentation
The fourth quarter 2023 conference call may be accessed at 10:00 a.m. ET today by telephone at 877-407-8029. An updated presentation highlighting the fourth quarter 2023 results has been added to our investor relations website. To listen live on our website or for replay, visit investors.lithiadriveway.com and click on quarterly earnings.
About Lithia & Driveway (LAD)
Lithia & Driveway (NYSE:LAD) is one of the largest global automotive retailers providing a wide array of products and services throughout the vehicle ownership lifecycle. We offer convenient and hassle-free experiences through our comprehensive network of physical locations, e-commerce platforms, captive finance solutions and other synergistic adjacencies. We deliver consistent, profitable growth in a massive and unconsolidated industry. Our highly diversified and competitively differentiated design provides us the flexibility and scale to pursue our vision to modernize personal transportation solutions wherever, whenever and however consumers desire.
Sites
www.lithia.com
investors.lithiadriveway.com
www.lithiacareers.com
www.driveway.com
www.greencars.com
www.drivewayfinancecorp.com
Lithia & Driveway on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/LithiaMotors
https://www.facebook.com/DrivewayHQ
Lithia & Driveway on Twitter
https://twitter.com/lithiamotors
https://twitter.com/DrivewayHQ
https://twitter.com/GreenCarsHQ
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 and other sales levels and the supply of inventory
Our business strategy and plans, including our achieving our 2025 Plan and related targets
The growth, expansion, make-up and success of our network, including our finding accretive acquisitions and acquiring additional stores
Annualized revenues from acquired stores
The growth and performance of our Driveway e-commerce home solution and Driveway Finance Corporation (DFC), their synergies and other impacts on our business and our ability to meet Driveway and DFC-related targets
The impact of sustainable vehicles and other market and regulatory changes on our business
Our capital allocations and uses and levels of capital expenditures in the future
Expected operating results, such as improved store performance, continued improvement of selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of gross profit and any projections
Our anticipated financial condition and liquidity, including from our cash and the future availability of our credit facilities, unfinanced real estate and other financing sources
Our continuing to purchase shares under our share repurchase program
Our compliance with financial and restrictive covenants in our credit facilities and other debt agreements
Our programs and initiatives for employee recruitment, training, and retention
Our strategies and targets for customer retention, growth, market position, operations, 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 national and local economic and financial conditions, including as a result of regional or global public health issues, inflation and governmental programs, and spending
The market for dealerships, including the availability of stores to us for an acceptable price
Changes in customer demand, our relationship with, and the financial and operational stability of, OEMs and other suppliers
Changes in the competitive landscape, including through technology and our ability to deliver new products, services and customer experiences and a portfolio of in-demand and available vehicles
Risks associated with our indebtedness, including available borrowing capacity, interest rates, compliance with financial covenants and ability to refinance or repay indebtedness on favorable terms
The adequacy of our cash flows and other conditions which may affect our ability to fund capital expenditures, obtain favorable financing and pay our quarterly dividend at planned levels
Disruptions to our technology network including computer systems, as well as natural events such as severe weather or man-made or other disruptions of our operating systems, facilities or equipment
Government regulations and legislation
The 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.
LAD
Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
(In millions except per share data)
Three months ended
December 31,
%
Twelve months ended
December 31,
%
Increase
Increase
2023
2022
(Decrease)
2023
2022
(Decrease)
Revenues:
New vehicle retail
$ 3,974.8
$ 3,275.1
21.4 %
$ 15,154.2
$ 12,894.5
17.5 %
Used vehicle retail
2,267.5
2,228.1
1.8
9,570.2
9,425.0
1.5
Used vehicle wholesale
242.9
293.7
(17.3)
1,325.3
1,425.2
(7.0)
Finance and insurance
331.5
308.4
7.5
1,337.0
1,285.4
4.0
Service, body and parts
818.3
716.2
14.3
3,197.1
2,738.8
16.7
Fleet and other
39.4
125.0
(68.5)
458.5
418.9
9.5
Total revenues
7,674.4
6,946.5
10.5 %
31,042.3
28,187.8
10.1 %
Cost of sales:
New vehicle retail
3,660.5
2,910.9
25.8
13,760.1
11,314.8
21.6
Used vehicle retail
2,113.4
2,066.0
2.3
8,848.8
8,599.6
2.9
Used vehicle wholesale
251.8
309.1
(18.5)
1,343.7
1,440.6
(6.7)
Service, body and parts
368.0
329.9
11.5
1,445.7
1,275.8
13.3
Fleet and other
19.9
121.4
(83.6)
415.1
404.6
2.6
Total cost of sales
6,413.6
5,737.3
11.8
25,813.4
23,035.4
12.1
Gross profit
1,260.8
1,209.2
4.3 %
5,228.9
5,152.4
1.5 %
Financing operations loss
(2.1)
(7.7)
(72.7) %
(45.9)
(4.0)
1,047.5 %
SG&A expense
836.8
753.4
11.1
3,294.8
3,044.1
8.2
Depreciation and amortization
49.4
48.2
2.5
195.8
163.2
20.0
Income from operations
372.5
399.9
(6.9) %
1,692.4
1,941.1
(12.8) %
Floor plan interest expense
(48.3)
(19.3)
150.3
(150.9)
(38.8)
288.9
Other interest expense
(59.7)
(38.3)
55.9
(201.2)
(129.1)
55.8
Other income (expense), net
15.2
(6.1)
NM
22.0
(43.2)
NM
Income before income taxes
279.7
336.2
(16.8) %
1,362.3
1,730.0
(21.3) %
Income tax expense
(63.5)
(86.3)
(26.4)
(350.6)
(468.4)
(25.1)
Income tax rate
22.7 %
25.7 %
25.7 %
27.1 %
Net income
$ 216.2
$ 249.9
(13.5) %
$ 1,011.7
$ 1,261.6
(19.8) %
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests
(1.9)
(0.9)
111.1 %
(6.5)
(4.8)
35.4 %
Net income attributable to redeemable non-controlling interest
(0.8)
(1.3)
(38.5) %
(4.4)
(5.8)
(24.1) %
Net income attributable to LAD
$ 213.5
$ 247.7
(13.8) %
$ 1,000.8
$ 1,251.0
(20.0) %
Diluted earnings per share attributable to LAD:
Net income per share
$ 7.74
$ 9.00
(14.0) %
$ 36.29
$ 44.17
(17.8) %
Diluted shares outstanding
27.6
27.5
0.4 %
27.6
28.3
(2.5) %
NM – not meaningful
LAD
Key Performance Metrics (Unaudited)
Three months ended
December 31,
%
Twelve months ended
December 31,
%
Increase
Increase
2023
2022
(Decrease)
2023
2022
(Decrease)
Gross margin
New vehicle retail
7.9 %
11.1 %
(320) bps
9.2 %
12.3 %
(310) bps
Used vehicle retail
6.8
7.3
(50)
7.5
8.8
(130)
Finance and insurance
100.0
100.0
—
100.0
100.0
—
Service, body and parts
55.0
53.9
110
54.8
53.4
140
Gross profit margin
16.4
17.4
(100)
16.8
18.3
(150)
Unit sales
New vehicle retail
80,596
68,159
18.2 %
314,116
271,596
15.7 %
Used vehicle retail
78,424
75,834
3.4
325,764
311,764
4.5
Average selling price
New vehicle retail
$ 49,318
$ 48,051
2.6 %
$ 48,244
$ 47,477
1.6 %
Used vehicle retail
28,913
29,381
(1.6)
29,378
30,231
(2.8)
Average gross profit per unit
New vehicle retail
$ 3,899
$ 5,344
(27.0) %
$ 4,438
$ 5,816
(23.7) %
Used vehicle retail
1,965
2,137
(8.0)
2,215
2,648
(16.4)
Finance and insurance
2,084
2,142
(2.7)
2,090
2,203
(5.1)
Total vehicle(1)
4,973
5,691
(12.6)
5,367
6,300
(14.8)
Revenue mix
New vehicle retail
51.8 %
47.1 %
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