SAH vs ABG

For growth investors, Sonic Automotive, Inc.

(SAH) is the stronger pick with 6. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 7% for Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (ABG). Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (ABG) offers the better valuation at 8. 0x trailing P/E (7. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Sonic Automotive, Inc. (SAH) a "Hold" — based on 16 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.

(ABG) is the cheapest at 8. 0x versus Sonic Automotive, Inc. at 23. 5x. On forward P/E, Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 7. 7x.

Over the past 5 years, Sonic Automotive, Inc.

(SAH) delivered a total return of +66. 4%, compared to -4. 1% for Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (ABG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SAH returned +392. 8% versus ABG's +251. 6%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.

(ABG) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 04β versus Sonic Automotive, Inc. 's 1. 05β — meaning SAH is approximately 1% more volatile than ABG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (ABG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 163% versus 4% for Sonic Automotive, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Sonic Automotive, Inc.

(SAH) is pulling ahead at 6. 5% versus 4. 7% for Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (ABG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. grew EPS 16. 9% year-over-year, compared to -44. 7% for Sonic Automotive, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ABG leads at 5. 3% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.

(ABG) is the more profitable company, earning 2. 7% net margin versus 0. 8% for Sonic Automotive, Inc. — meaning it keeps 2. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ABG leads at 5. 6% versus 3. 6% for SAH. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ABG leads at 16. 6%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.

(ABG) trades at 7. 7x forward P/E versus 12. 4x for Sonic Automotive, Inc. — 4. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ABG: 18. 8% to $238. 00.

In this comparison, SAH (1.

8% yield) pays a dividend. ABG does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Sonic Automotive, Inc.

(SAH) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 05), 1. 8% yield, +392. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SAH: +392. 8%, ABG: +251. 6%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Consumer Cyclical sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: SAH is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ABG is a small-cap deep-value stock. SAH pays a dividend while ABG does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.