Here's What Key Metrics Tell Us About Lithia Motors (LAD) Q4 Earnings

For the quarter ended December 2023, Lithia Motors (LAD) reported revenue of $7.67 billion, up 9.8% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $8.24, compared to $9.05 in the year-ago quarter.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.74 billion, representing a surprise of -0.91%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +1.60%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $8.11.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.

Here is how Lithia Motors performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

• Unit Sales - New vehicle - Retail: 80,596 versus the three-analyst average estimate of 80,144.

• Average Selling Price - Used vehicle retail: $28,913 versus the three-analyst average estimate of $28,387.84.

• Unit Sales - Used vehicle - Retail: 78,424 versus the three-analyst average estimate of 82,492.

• Average Selling Price - New vehicle retail: $49,318 compared to the $47,217.07 average estimate based on three analysts.

• Fleet and other: $39.40 million versus the five-analyst average estimate of $176.51 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -68.5%.

• Finance and insurance: $331.50 million compared to the $319.60 million average estimate based on five analysts. The reported number represents a change of +7.5% year over year.

• Used vehicle wholesale: $242.90 million versus $318.58 million estimated by five analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -27.7% change.

• Used vehicle retail: $2.27 billion compared to the $2.35 billion average estimate based on five analysts. The reported number represents a change of +1.7% year over year.

• Service, body and parts: $818.30 million versus $817.59 million estimated by five analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +14.3% change.

• New vehicle: $3.97 billion versus the five-analyst average estimate of $3.76 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +21.4%.

• Revenue by Same Store Operating Metrics- Service, Body and Parts: $723.50 million versus $703.76 million estimated by two analysts on average.

• Revenue by Same Store Operating Metrics- Finance and Insurance: $309 million versus $288.06 million estimated by two analysts on average.

View all Key Company Metrics for Lithia Motors here>>>

Shares of Lithia Motors have returned +3.7% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.7% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report

Lithia Motors, Inc. (LAD) : Free Stock Analysis Report

To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

Zacks Investment Research