Lithia Motors, Inc. (NYSE: LAD) today reported, as previously announced, 2009 adjusted fourth quarter earnings of $0.01 per diluted share. This compares to a 2008 adjusted fourth quarter net loss of $(0.16) per diluted share. As shown in the attached reconciliation table, the 2009 results exclude non-cash charges on asset impairments and expenses related to reserves of $0.09 per share. The 2008 results exclude a one-time gain of $0.11 related to debt extinguishment, net of certain asset impairment charges. Unadjusted, net loss from continuing operations was $(2.1) million, or $(0.08) per diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2009.

Fourth quarter 2009 revenue totaled $419 million, compared to $399 million in the year-ago period, an increase of 4.9%, driven primarily by higher used vehicle sales. Same store new vehicle sales increased 1.2% while used vehicle retail sales increased 17.9% when compared to the prior year. Service, body and parts same store sales declined 2.7% compared to the prior year.

Sid DeBoer, Lithia's Chairman and CEO, commented, "Our fourth quarter results were impacted by weak new vehicle sales at our Chrysler stores. This was caused by the delay in the release of new products, like the 2010 Ram heavy duty pickup, and lower advertising and incentive spending by Chrysler which slowed floor traffic. In response, we focused on increasing used vehicle sales at the affected locations. We also improved new vehicle sales of our other brands. Excluding Chrysler, we had approximately 18.5% new vehicle same store sales growth over the fourth quarter of 2008. On an adjusted basis, we were profitable in the fourth quarter, despite significant headwinds."

For the full year 2009, total sales declined 15.2% to $1.7 billion as compared to $2.1 billion in 2008. Same store new vehicle sales decreased 23.6%, retail used vehicle sales increased 3.1% and service, body and parts sales decreased 3.3%.

Adjusted net income from continuing operations for the full year 2009 was $0.50 per share, compared to $0.01 per share for 2008, as shown in the attached reconciliation table. Full year 2009 GAAP net income from continuing operations was $6.1 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, compared to a net loss from continuing operations of $(226.5) million, or $(11.22) per share in 2008.

Liquidity Update Lithia ended the year with $74.2 million in immediately available funds, including $12.8 million in cash, $25.7 million in availability on its revolving credit facility, and $35.7 million in unfloored new vehicle inventory. At December 31, 2009, Lithia was in compliance with all debt covenants, and has no mortgage maturities until 2011.

Outlook for 2010 Lithia reaffirms its 2010 earnings guidance as provided on February 3, 2010. First quarter earnings guidance is projected within a range of $0.04 to $0.06 per diluted share. Full year 2010 earnings guidance is projected within a range of $0.55 to $0.63 per diluted share. This guidance includes approximately 18% additional dilution related to the equity offering completed in October 2009. Specific reference is made to the February 3, 2010 release for assumptions upon which this guidance was given.

Fourth Quarter Earnings Conference Call The fourth quarter conference call may be accessed at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time today by telephone at (800) 254-5933 Conference ID: 47221792 or via the internet (audio webcast) at www.lithia.com by clicking on "Investor Relations." A playback of the conference call will be available after 5 p.m. Pacific Time February 24, 2010 through March 10, 2010 by calling (800) 642-1687 access code: 47221792 and via the internet at www.lithia.com.

An updated investor presentation containing fourth quarter and full year results can be accessed at www.lithia.com by clicking on "Investor Relations."

About Lithia Lithia Motors, Inc. is a Fortune 800 Company, selling 26 brands of new and all brands of used vehicles at 85 stores, which are located in 12 states. Lithia also sells used vehicles; arranges finance, warranty, and credit insurance contracts; and provides vehicle parts, maintenance, and repair services at all of its locations.

For additional information on Lithia Motors, contact the Investor Relations Department at (541) 776-6591 or visit www.lithia.com and click on "Investor Relations."

Sites www.lithia.com www.lithiacares.com www.lithiajobs.com

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Forward Looking Statements This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "Safe-Harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which management believes are a benefit to shareholders. Forward-looking statements in this press release include our guidance regarding first quarter and full year 2010 results. Forward looking statements include statements regarding our goals, plans, projections and guidance regarding our financial position, results of operations, market position, pending and potential future acquisitions and business strategy, and often contain words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks" or "will." These statements are necessarily subject to risk and uncertainty and actual results could differ materially due to certain risk factors, including without limitation, future economic conditions and others set forth from time to time in the company's filings with the SEC. We urge you to carefully consider this information. We undertake no duty to update our forward-looking statements, including our earnings outlook.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures The attached financial tables contain certain non-GAAP financial measures as defined under SEC rules, such as net income and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations, cash flow from operations adjusted to include the change in non-trade floorplan debt, adjusted to exclude certain items disclosed in the attached financial tables. As required by SEC rules, the Company has provided reconciliations of these measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures, which are set forth in the attachments to this release. The Company believes that each of the foregoing non-GAAP financial measures improves the transparency of the Company's disclosure, provides a meaningful presentation of the Company's results from its core business operations excluding adjustments for items not related to the Company's ongoing core business operations or other non-cash adjustments, and improves the period-to-period comparability of the Company's results from its core business operations.

LITHIA MOTORS, INC.
(In thousands except per share data)
Unaudited                        Three Months Ended
                                    December 31,
                                --------------------
                                  2009       2008     Variance  % Variance
                                ---------  ---------  ---------  --------
New vehicle sales               $ 209,707  $ 206,207  $   3,500       1.7 %
Used vehicle sales                127,994    107,404     20,590      19.2
Finance and insurance              12,220     13,716     (1,496)    (10.9)
Service, body and parts            68,221     70,133     (1,912)     (2.7)
Fleet and other revenues              528      1,664     (1,136)    (68.3)
                                ---------  ---------  ---------  --------
Total revenues                    418,670    399,124     19,546       4.9

                                ---------  ---------  ---------  --------
Cost of sales                     343,265    323,127     20,138       6.2
                                ---------  ---------  ---------  --------
Gross profit                       75,405     75,997       (592)     (0.8)
Asset impairment charges              177      1,147       (970)    (84.6)
SG&A expense                       66,083     67,437     (1,354)     (2.0)
Depreciation and amortization       6,331      3,980      2,351      59.1
                                ---------  ---------  ---------  --------
Income from operations              2,814      3,433       (619)    (18.0)

Floorplan interest expense         (2,380)    (5,511)     3,131      56.8
Other interest expense             (3,474)    (4,215)       741      17.6
Other income, net                      47      3,619     (3,572)    (98.7)
                                ---------  ---------  ---------  --------
Loss from continuing operations
 before income taxes               (2,993)    (2,674)      (319)    (11.9)

Income tax benefit                    923      1,667       (744)    (44.6)
Income tax rate                      30.8%      62.3%
                                ---------  ---------  ---------  --------
Loss from continuing operations    (2,070)    (1,007)    (1,063)   (105.6)%

Income (loss) from discontinued
 operations, net of income tax        516     (3,271)     3,787        NM
                                ---------  ---------  ---------  --------
Net loss                        $  (1,554) $  (4,278)     2,724      63.7 %
                                =========  =========  =========  ========

Diluted net income (loss) per
 share:
Continuing operations           $   (0.08) $   (0.05) $   (0.03)    (60.0)%
Discontinued operations              0.02      (0.16)      0.18        NM
                                ---------  ---------  ---------  --------
Net loss per share              $   (0.06) $   (0.21) $    0.15      71.4
                                =========  =========  =========  ========

Diluted shares outstanding         25,113     20,519      4,594      22.4 %

NM - not meaningful




LITHIA MOTORS, INC.
(Continuing operations)          Three Months Ended
 Unaudited                          December 31,
                                -------------------
                                  2009       2008     Variance % Variance
                                --------   --------   ---------  --------
Unit sales:
New vehicle                        6,516      6,808        (292)     (4.3)%
Used  - retail vehicle             6,420      5,880         540       9.2
Used  - wholesale                  3,139      2,860         279       9.8
Total units sold                  16,075     15,548         527       3.4

Average selling price:
New vehicle                     $ 32,183   $ 30,289   $   1,894       6.3 %
Used  - retail vehicle            17,109     15,808       1,301       8.2
Used  - wholesale                  5,784      5,053         731      14.5

Gross margin/profit data
New vehicle retail                   7.8 %      8.7 %   (90)bps
Used vehicle retail                 13.8 %     11.8 %    200bps
Used vehicle wholesale              (0.2)%     (4.9)%    470bps
Service, body & parts               46.0 %     48.1 %  (210)bps
Finance & insurance                100.0 %    100.0 %         -
Gross profit margin                 18.0 %     19.0 %  (100)bps
New retail gross profit/unit    $  2,524   $  2,629   $    (105)
Used retail gross profit/unit      2,353      1,865         488
Used wholesale gross
 profit/unit                         (13)      (247)        234
Finance & insurance/retail unit      945      1,081        (136)

Revenue mix:
New vehicles                        50.1 %     51.7 %
Used retail vehicles                26.2 %     23.3 %
Used wholesale vehicles              4.4 %      3.6 %
Finance and insurance, net           2.9 %      3.4 %
Service and parts                   16.3 %     17.6 %
Fleet and other                      0.1 %      0.4 %




LITHIA MOTORS, INC.
(Continuing operations)
Unaudited                            Three Months Ended
                                         December 31,
                                      -----------------
                                       2009       2008
                                      -----       -----
New vehicle unit sales brand mix:
Chrysler Brands                        23.7%      35.9%
General Motors                         17.4%      14.5%
Toyota                                 16.5%      15.3%
Honda                                   9.5%       7.5%
Ford                                    5.8%       4.6%
BMW                                     6.2%       5.3%
Hyundai                                 3.8%       4.1%
Nissan                                  3.7%       2.8%
Volkswagen, Audi                        3.3%       3.2%
Subaru                                  7.4%       4.6%
Mercedes                                1.3%       1.3%
Other                                   1.4%       0.9%



(Selected Same Store Data)
Unaudited                           Three Months Ended
                                        December 31,
                                      ---------------
                                      2009       2008
                                       vs.        vs.
                                      2008       2007
                                      ----       ----
Same store revenue:
New vehicle retail sales               1.2 %    (38.8)%
  Chrysler Brands                    (29.9)%    (41.4)%
  General Motors                      24.1 %    (42.3)%
  Toyota                               5.8 %    (33.0)%
  All other brands                    20.9 %    (36.5)%
Used vehicle retail sales             17.9 %    (17.7)%
Used wholesale sales                  30.4 %    (50.5)%
Total vehicle sales (excluding
 fleet)                                7.4 %    (34.6)%
Finance & insurance sales            (10.2)%    (33.1)%
Service, body and parts sales         (2.7)%     (0.7)%
Total sales (excluding fleet)          5.1 %    (30.3)%
Total  gross profit (excluding
 fleet)                                2.5 %    (19.4)%



LITHIA MOTORS, INC.
(In thousands except per share data)
Unaudited                 Twelve Months Ended
                              December 31,
                        ------------------------
                            2009         2008       Variance   % Variance
                        -----------  -----------  -----------  ----------
New vehicle sales       $   874,701  $ 1,147,418  $  (272,717)      (23.8)%
Used vehicle sales          539,352      547,706       (8,354)       (1.5)
Finance and insurance        56,010       76,679      (20,669)      (27.0)
Service, body and parts     276,690      286,326       (9,636)       (3.4)
Fleet and other
 revenues                     2,562        4,871       (2,309)      (47.4)
                        -----------  -----------  -----------  ----------
Total revenues            1,749,315    2,063,000     (313,685)      (15.2)

                        -----------  -----------  -----------  ----------
Cost of sales             1,419,696    1,706,525     (286,829)      (16.8)
                        -----------  -----------  -----------  ----------
Gross profit                329,619      356,475      (26,856)       (7.5)
Asset impairment
 charges                      6,976      335,672     (328,696)      (97.9)
SG&A expense                270,245      307,316      (37,071)      (12.1)
Depreciation and
 amortization                18,248       16,943        1,305         7.7
                        -----------  -----------  -----------  ----------
Income (loss) from
 operations                  34,150     (303,456)     337,606          NM

Floorplan interest
 expense                    (10,878)     (20,517)       9,639        47.0
Other interest expense      (14,063)     (17,878)       3,815        21.3
Other income, net             1,494        6,624       (5,130)      (77.4)
                        -----------  -----------  -----------  ----------
Income (loss) from
 continuing operations
 before income taxes         10,703     (335,227)     345,930          NM

Income tax expense
 (benefit)                    4,639     (108,720)     113,359          NM
Income tax rate                43.3%        32.4%
                        -----------  -----------  -----------  ----------
Income (loss) from
 continuing operations        6,064     (226,507)     232,571          NM %

Income (loss) from
 discontinued
 operations, net of
 income tax                   3,087      (26,079)      29,166          NM
                        -----------  -----------  -----------  ----------

Net income (loss)       $     9,151  $  (252,586) $   261,737          NM %
                        ===========  ===========  ===========  ==========

Diluted net income
 (loss) per share:
Continuing operations   $      0.27  $    (11.22) $     11.49          NM %
Discontinued operations        0.14        (1.29)        1.43          NM
                        -----------  -----------  -----------  ----------
Net income (loss) per
 share                  $      0.41  $    (12.51) $     12.92          NM
                        ===========  ===========  ===========  ==========

Diluted shares
 outstanding                 22,176       20,195        1,981         9.8 %

NM - not meaningful





LITHIA MOTORS, INC.
(Continuing Operations)         Twelve Months Ended
Unaudited                          December 31,
                                -------------------
                                   2009     2008      Variance  % Variance
                                ---------  --------   ---------    ------
Unit sales:
New vehicle                        29,109    39,091      (9,982)    (25.5)%
Used  - retail vehicle             28,750    27,305       1,445       5.3
Used  - wholesale                  13,413    15,840      (2,427)    (15.3)
Total units sold                   71,272    82,236     (10,964)    (13.3)

Average selling price:
New vehicle                     $  30,049  $ 29,352   $     697       2.4 %
Used  - retail vehicle             16,266    16,638        (372)     (2.2)
Used  - wholesale                   5,345     5,897        (552)     (9.4)

Gross margin/profit data
New vehicle retail                    8.4%      7.9 %     50bps
Used vehicle retail                  14.1%     11.5 %    260bps
Used vehicle wholesale                0.3%     (3.2)%    350bps
Service, body & parts                47.9%     48.2 %   (30)bps
Finance & insurance                 100.0%    100.0 %         -
Gross profit margin                  18.8%     17.3 %    150bps
New retail gross profit/unit    $   2,533  $  2,325   $     208
Used retail gross profit/unit       2,290     1,919         371
Used wholesale gross
 profit/unit                           18      (191)        209
Finance & insurance/retail unit       968     1,155        (187)

Revenue mix:
New vehicles                         50.0%     55.6 %
Used retail vehicles                 26.7%     22.0 %
Used wholesale vehicles               4.2%      4.6 %
Finance and insurance, net            3.2%      3.7 %
Service and parts                    15.8%     13.9 %
Fleet and other                       0.1%      0.2 %




LITHIA MOTORS, INC.
(Continuing operations)
Unaudited                            Twelve Months Ended
                                         December 31,
                                       ---------------
                                       2009       2008
                                       ----       ----
New vehicle unit sales brand mix:
Chrysler Brands                        30.2%      33.9%
General Motors                         15.6%      17.0%
Toyota                                 15.2%      15.5%
Honda                                   8.8%       8.3%
Ford                                    5.0%       4.2%
BMW                                     5.1%       4.9%
Hyundai                                 5.0%       4.1%
Nissan                                  3.9%       4.1%
Volkswagen, Audi                        3.2%       2.6%
Subaru                                  5.7%       3.4%
Mercedes                                1.1%       0.9%
Other                                   1.2%       1.1%


(Selected same store data)
Unaudited
                                    Twelve Months Ended
                                        December 31,
                                      ---------------
                                      2009       2008
                                       vs.        vs.
                                      2008       2007
                                      ----       ----
Same store revenue:
New vehicle retail sales             (23.6)%    (25.4)%
  Chrysler Brands                    (32.1)%    (33.5)%
  General Motors                     (26.9)%    (15.0)%
  Toyota                             (27.0)%    (14.3)%
  All other brands                   (11.8)%    (24.9)%
  Used vehicle retail sales            3.1 %    (17.0)%
Used wholesale sales                 (23.1)%    (30.2)%
Total vehicle sales (excluding
 fleet)                              (16.4)%    (23.6)%
Finance & insurance sales            (26.2)%    (22.5)%
Service, body and parts sales         (3.3)%      0.1 %
Total sales (excluding fleet)        (14.9)%    (20.9)%
Total  gross profit (excluding
 fleet)                               (6.3)%    (19.2)%





LITHIA MOTORS, INC.
Condensed balance sheet (dollars in thousands)
Unaudited

                                               December 31,  December 31,
                                                   2009          2008
                                               ------------- -------------
Cash & cash equivalents                        $      12,776 $      10,874
Trade receivables*                                    52,097        69,615
Inventory                                            328,726       422,812
Assets held for sale                                  11,693       161,423
Other current assets                                  12,771        31,828
                                               ------------- -------------
Total current assets                                 418,063       696,552

Real estate, net                                     326,625       284,088
Equipment & other, net                                59,429        62,188
Other assets                                          90,983        90,631
                                               ------------- -------------
Total assets                                   $     895,100 $   1,133,459
                                               ============= =============

Flooring notes payable                         $     210,488 $     337,700
Liabilities related to assets held for sale            5,050       108,172
Current maturities of senior subordinated
 convertible notes                                         -        42,500
Current maturities of LOC                             24,000             -
Other current liabilities                             81,639       108,656
                                               ------------- -------------
Total current liabilities                            321,177       597,028

Real estate debt                                     230,265       163,708
Other long-term debt                                   2,800       101,476
Other liabilities                                     33,820        22,904
                                               ------------- -------------
Total liabilities                              $     588,062 $     885,116
                                               ------------- -------------

Shareholders' equity                                 307,038       248,343

                                               ------------- -------------
Total liabilities & shareholders' equity       $     895,100 $   1,133,459
                                               ============= =============

*Note:  Includes contracts-in-transit of $21,940 and $27,799 for 2009 and
        2008, respectively

Other information
Lt debt/total cap (excludes real estate)                   1%           29%
Book value per basic share                            $13.93        $12.30



Debt covenant ratios                                      As of December
                                   Requirement               31, 2009
                             --------------------------   --------------
Minimum tangible net worth   Not less than $200 million   $263.4 million
Vehicle equity               Not less than  $45 million   $138.7 million
Fixed charge coverage ratio     Not less than 1.05 to 1        1.35 to 1
Liabilities to tangible net
 worth ratio                    Not more than 4.00 to 1        2.23 to 1


The following table reconciles reported GAAP income (loss) per the income
 statement to non-GAAP income (loss):

Unaudited                               Three Months Ended December 31,
                                       Net Income /      Diluted earnings
                                          (Loss)            per share
                                    ------------------  ------------------
Continuing Operations                 2009      2008      2009      2008
                                    --------  --------  --------  --------
As reported                         $ (2,070) $ (1,007) $  (0.08) $  (0.05)
  Asset impairments                    1,057       178      0.04      0.01
  Reserve adjustments                  1,145         -      0.05         -
  Gain on extinguishment of debt           -    (2,366)        -     (0.12)
                                    --------  --------  --------  --------
Adjusted                            $    132  $ (3,195) $   0.01  $  (0.16)

Discontinued Operations
As reported                         $    516  $ (3,271) $   0.02  $  (0.16)
  Impairments and disposal (gain)
   loss                               (1,491)    1,444     (0.06)     0.07
                                    --------  --------  --------  --------
Adjusted                            $   (975) $ (1,827) $  (0.04) $  (0.09)

Consolidated Operations
As reported                         $ (1,554) $ (4,278) $  (0.06) $  (0.21)
Adjusted                            $   (843) $ (5,022) $  (0.03) $  (0.25)



                                   Twelve Months Ended December 31,
                                                       Diluted earnings
                              Net Income / (Loss)         per share
                            ----------------------  ----------------------
Continuing Operations          2009        2008        2009        2008
                            ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
As reported                 $    6,064  $ (226,507) $     0.27  $   (11.22)
  Asset impairments              4,618     230,241        0.22       11.40
  Reserve adjustments            1,145           -        0.05           -
  Gain on extinguishment of
   debt                           (791)     (3,479)      (0.04)      (0.17)
                            ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Adjusted                    $   11,036  $      255  $     0.50  $     0.01

Discontinued Operations
As reported                 $    3,087  $  (26,079) $     0.14  $    (1.29)
  Impairments and disposal
   (gain) loss                  (6,378)     18,962       (0.29)       0.94
                            ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Adjusted                    $   (3,291) $   (7,117) $    (0.15) $    (0.35)

Consolidated Operations
As reported                 $    9,151  $ (252,586) $     0.41  $   (12.51)
Adjusted                    $    7,745  $   (6,862) $     0.35  $    (0.34)



The following table reconciles GAAP cash flows from operations per the
statement of cash flows to non-GAAP cash flows from operations:


Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
Unaudited

                                    Twelve Months Ended
                                       December 31,
                                     2009        2008
                                  ----------  ----------
As reported
  Cash flows from operations      $    9,934  $   85,165
  Flooring notes payable:
   non-trade                          31,417     (16,803)
                                  ----------  ----------
Adjusted                          $   41,351  $   68,362


                                      2009        2008
                                  ----------  ----------
As reported
  Cash flows from financing       $  (29,122) $ (100,242)
  Flooring notes payable:
   non-trade                         (31,417)     16,803
                                  ==========  ==========
Adjusted                          $  (60,539) $  (80,439)

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