Group 1 Automotive (GPI) Tops Q2 EPS by 31c, Revenues Beat

Group 1 Automotive (NYSE: GPI) reported Q2 EPS of $2.45, $0.31 better than the analyst estimate of $2.14. Revenue for the quarter came in at $2.94 billion versus the consensus estimate of $2.92 billion.

"We delivered a solid quarter, reflecting a relatively strong U.S. vehicle market in June, favorable overall performance in the U.K., a corporate-wide focus on our used vehicle business, and a major cost reduction initiative in both the U.S. and the U.K. early this year that began to pay dividends this quarter," said Earl J. Hesterberg, Group 1's president and chief executive officer. "These results demonstrate our ability to grow earnings in a flat retail sales environment. In addition, during the quarter, the Company has launched a renewed focus on capital deployment, with an emphasis on actions, such as disposal of underperforming assets, more stringent control of capital expenditures, and enhanced share repurchases, targeted at delivering improved shareholder value. Actions taken this quarter include the disposal of a large underperforming dealership and a stepped-up pace of share repurchases."

Consolidated Results for Second Quarter 2018 (year-over-year comparable basis)For ease of comparison, we have included constant currency metrics (a non-GAAP measure) both below (shown in parenthesis) and in the financial tables that follow:

• Total revenue grew 10.2 percent (9.2 percent) to $2.9 billion.
• Total gross profit grew 8.2 percent (7.5 percent), to $438.2 million.
• New vehicle revenues increased 7.4 percent (6.6 percent) on 6.3 percent higher unit sales. New vehicle gross profit improved 2.2 percent (1.8 percent), to $76.6 million.
• Retail used vehicle revenues increased 19.8 percent (18.4 percent) on 18.8 percent higher unit sales. Retail used vehicle gross profit increased 14.0 percent (12.7 percent), to $51.2 million. Total used vehicle gross profit was up 15.3 percent (14.1 percent), to $51.5 million. In the U.S., the Val-u-Line initiative the Company launched last quarter has continued to build momentum, with Same Store used retail unit sales increasing 11 percent, and Val-u-Line units growing to 10 percent of the mix.
• Parts and service gross profit increased 9.1 percent (8.3 percent) on revenue growth of 8.0 percent (7.4 percent). Same Store parts and service gross profit increased 3.2 percent (2.7 percent) on Same Store parts and service revenue growth of 2.4 percent (2.0 percent).
• Finance and Insurance (F&I) gross profit per retail unit (PRU) decreased 3.4 percent (decreased 3.9 percent), to $1,412 and total F&I gross profit increased $8.6 million, or 8.1 percent (7.5 percent).
• Selling, General and Administrative (SG&A) expenses as a percent of gross profit improved 340 basis points, to 70.3 percent. Adjusted Same Store SG&A as a percent of gross profit improved 110 basis points, to 72.3 percent, reflecting strong improvements in all three of our markets.
• Provision for income taxes declined 17.0 percent, to $18.7 million, or to approximately 24.9 percent of income before income taxes, primarily reflecting the impact of the U.S. Tax Reform Bill that reduced the U.S. corporate income tax rate.

For earnings history and earnings-related data on Group 1 Automotive (GPI) click here.

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