Sonic Automotive (NYSE:SAH) Issues Earnings Results, Beats Estimates By $0.05 EPS

Sonic Automotive (NYSE:SAH - Get Free Report) released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday. The company reported $1.51 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.46 by $0.05, Zacks reports. Sonic Automotive had a net margin of 1.41% and a return on equity of 21.27%.

Sonic Automotive Stock Down 0.0 %

SAH stock traded down $0.02 during trading on Friday, hitting $73.55. 174,144 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 159,363. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.87, a current ratio of 1.11 and a quick ratio of 0.35. Sonic Automotive has a 1 year low of $47.82 and a 1 year high of $76.78. The stock has a market cap of $2.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.09 and a beta of 1.68. The firm's 50 day moving average is $68.03 and its two-hundred day moving average is $62.79.

Sonic Automotive Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.35 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 14th. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.90%. Sonic Automotive's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 24.91%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on SAH shares. Seaport Res Ptn raised shares of Sonic Automotive from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Stephens increased their price objective on shares of Sonic Automotive from $83.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on Sonic Automotive from $75.00 to $74.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 17th. StockNews.com raised Sonic Automotive from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Needham & Company LLC lifted their target price on Sonic Automotive from $74.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $78.00.

About Sonic Automotive

Sonic Automotive, Inc operates as an automotive retailer in the United States. It operates in three segments, Franchised Dealerships, EchoPark, and Powersports. The Franchised Dealerships segment is involved in the sale of new and used cars and light trucks, and replacement parts; provision of vehicle maintenance, manufacturer warranty repair, and paint and collision repair services; and arrangement of extended warranties, service contracts, financing, insurance, and other aftermarket products for its guests.