Zacks Research Predicts Stronger Earnings for Lithia Motors

Lithia Motors, Inc. (NYSE:LAD) – Investment analysts at Zacks Research raised their Q1 2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Lithia Motors in a report issued on Wednesday, February 26th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now expects that the company will post earnings of $7.98 per share for the quarter, up from their prior forecast of $7.97. The consensus estimate for Lithia Motors’ current full-year earnings is $34.45 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Lithia Motors’ Q3 2025 earnings at $9.44 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $7.31 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $9.18 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $9.03 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $9.92 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $43.24 EPS.

Other research analysts also recently issued reports about the company. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Lithia Motors from $346.00 to $397.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. Benchmark reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $400.00 target price on shares of Lithia Motors in a report on Thursday, February 20th. Guggenheim boosted their price target on shares of Lithia Motors from $380.00 to $418.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. StockNews.com raised shares of Lithia Motors from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Lithia Motors from $400.00 to $420.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Lithia Motors has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $371.36.

Lithia Motors Trading Down 0.3 %

LAD opened at $344.27 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $9.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.65 and a beta of 1.67. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $360.40 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $339.67. The company has a current ratio of 1.19, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22. Lithia Motors has a 1-year low of $243.00 and a 1-year high of $405.67.

Lithia Motors (NYSE:LAD) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The company reported $7.79 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $7.33 by $0.46. Lithia Motors had a return on equity of 12.43% and a net margin of 2.21%.

Lithia Motors Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 21st. Investors of record on Friday, March 7th will be issued a dividend of $0.53 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 7th. This represents a $2.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.62%. Lithia Motors’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 7.14%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Gary M. Glandon sold 325 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $387.86, for a total value of $126,054.50. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 1,665 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $645,786.90. The trade was a 16.33 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, COO Adam Chamberlain sold 403 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $384.28, for a total transaction of $154,864.84. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 2,605 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,001,049.40. This trade represents a 13.40 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 1.79% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Lithia Motors

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in LAD. Forum Financial Management LP bought a new stake in shares of Lithia Motors during the 4th quarter valued at $202,000. Peak Retirement Planning Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Lithia Motors during the fourth quarter valued at about $874,000. Vise Technologies Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Lithia Motors in the fourth quarter worth about $271,000. Castleark Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Lithia Motors by 78.5% in the fourth quarter. Castleark Management LLC now owns 15,300 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,469,000 after acquiring an additional 6,730 shares during the period. Finally, UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC grew its stake in Lithia Motors by 16.5% during the fourth quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 79,763 shares of the company’s stock valued at $28,510,000 after acquiring an additional 11,315 shares in the last quarter.

Lithia Motors Company Profile

Lithia Motors, Inc operates as an automotive retailer worldwide. It operates in two segments, Vehicle Operations and Financing Operations. The company’s Vehicle Operations segment sells new and used vehicles; provides parts, repair, and maintenance services; vehicle finance; and insurance products. Its Financing Operations segment provides financing to customers buying and leasing retail vehicles.