SAH
Sonic Automotive, Inc.
Auto - Dealerships
Market Cap$2.73B
5Y Perf.+205.2%
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Stock Comparison
SAH vs GPI
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
GPI
Group 1 Automotive, Inc.
Auto - Dealerships
Market Cap$4.16B
5Y Perf.+456.3%
SAH vs GPI — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | SAH | GPI |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Auto - Dealerships | Auto - Dealerships |
| Market Cap | $2.73B | $4.16B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $15.15B | $22.47B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $119M | $326M |
| Gross Margin | 14.6% | 15.5% |
| Operating Margin | 3.6% | 4.3% |
| Forward P/E | 12.4x | 8.4x |
| Total Debt | $4.23B | $5.87B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $6M | $33M |
SAH vs GPI — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
SAH
GPI
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonic Automotive, I… (SAH) | 100 | 305.2 | +205.2% |
| Group 1 Automotive,… (GPI) | 100 | 556.3 | +456.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: SAH vs GPI
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: GPI leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Sonic Automotive, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for dividend income and shareholder returns and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
SAH
Sonic Automotive, Inc.
The Income Pick
SAH is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and defensive.
- Dividend streak 10 yrs, beta 1.05, yield 1.8%
- Beta 1.05, yield 1.8%, current ratio 1.09x
- 1.8% yield, 10-year raise streak, vs GPI's 0.6%
Best for: income & stability and defensive
GPI
Group 1 Automotive, Inc.
The Growth Play
GPI carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 13.2%, EPS growth -31.6%, 3Y rev CAGR 11.6%
- 476.1% 10Y total return vs SAH's 392.8%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.77, current ratio 1.08x
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | GPI | 13.2% revenue growth vs SAH's 6.5% |
| Value | GPI | Lower P/E (8.4x vs 12.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | GPI | 1.5% margin vs SAH's 0.8% |
| Stability / Safety | GPI | Beta 0.77 vs SAH's 1.05, lower leverage |
| Dividends | SAH | 1.8% yield, 10-year raise streak, vs GPI's 0.6% |
| Momentum (1Y) | SAH | +29.4% vs GPI's -14.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | GPI | 3.9% ROA vs SAH's 2.0%, ROIC 8.5% vs 7.8% |
SAH vs GPI — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
SAH vs GPI — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLSAHLAGGINGGPI
GPIGroup 1 Automotive, I…
2leads
SAHSonic Automotive, Inc.
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs GPIMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
GPI4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
GPI4/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
Tied
—
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
SAH4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
SAH2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
GPI leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
GPI and SAH operate at a comparable scale, with $22.5B and $15.2B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 1.5% (GPI) to 0.8% (SAH).
| Metric | SAHSonic Automotive,… | GPIGroup 1 Automotiv… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $15.2B | $22.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $705M | $1.1B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $119M | $326M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $425M | $288M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +14.6% | +15.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +3.6% | +4.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +0.8% | +1.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +2.8% | +1.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -0.6% | -1.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -18.6% | +11.4% |
GPI leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
GPI leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 13.9x trailing earnings, GPI trades at a 41% valuation discount to SAH's 23.5x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, GPI's 9.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than SAH's 9.9x.
| Metric | SAHSonic Automotive,… | GPIGroup 1 Automotiv… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.7B | $4.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $6.9B | $10.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 23.45x | 13.94x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 12.38x | 8.41x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.38x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 9.86x | 9.34x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.18x | 0.18x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.61x | 1.60x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 6.53x | 9.79x |
GPI leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
Evenly matched — SAH and GPI each lead in 4 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SAH delivers a 11.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $11 in annual profit, vs $11 for GPI. GPI carries lower financial leverage with a 2.10x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to SAH's 3.96x.
| Metric | SAHSonic Automotive,… | GPIGroup 1 Automotiv… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +11.2% | +11.0% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.0% | +3.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +7.8% | +8.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +16.3% | +14.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 3.96x | 2.10x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $4.2B | $5.8B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $6M | $33M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $4.2B | $5.9B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.89x | 3.15x |
Evenly matched — SAH and GPI each lead in 4 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
SAH leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in GPI five years ago would be worth $21,173 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $16,642 for SAH. Over the past 12 months, SAH leads with a +29.4% total return vs GPI's -14.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SAH at 27.9% vs GPI's 17.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SAHSonic Automotive,… | GPIGroup 1 Automotiv… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +30.7% | -10.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +29.4% | -14.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +109.3% | +61.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +66.4% | +111.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +392.8% | +476.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +27.9% | +17.3% |
SAH leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — SAH and GPI each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
GPI is the less volatile stock with a 0.77 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SAH's 1.05 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. SAH currently trades 89.5% from its 52-week high vs GPI's 71.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | SAHSonic Automotive,… | GPIGroup 1 Automotiv… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.05x | 0.77x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $89.62 | $488.39 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $54.11 | $292.44 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +89.5% | +71.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 70.5 | 53.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 306K | 152K |
Evenly matched — SAH and GPI each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
SAH leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates SAH as "Hold" and GPI as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 36.1% upside for GPI (target: $477) vs -16.0% for SAH (target: $67). For income investors, SAH offers the higher dividend yield at 1.75% vs GPI's 0.57%.
| Metric | SAHSonic Automotive,… | GPIGroup 1 Automotiv… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $67.33 | $476.67 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 16 | 24 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.8% | +0.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 10 | 5 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.41 | $2.01 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +3.0% | +13.3% |
SAH leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
GPI leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). SAH leads in 2 (Total Returns, Analyst Outlook). 2 tied.
Best OverallSonic Automotive, Inc. (SAH)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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SAH vs GPI: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SAH or GPI a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Group 1 Automotive, Inc.
(GPI) is the stronger pick with 13. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 6. 5% for Sonic Automotive, Inc. (SAH). Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (GPI) offers the better valuation at 13. 9x trailing P/E (8. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (GPI) a "Buy" — based on 24 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.
02Which has the better valuation — SAH or GPI?
On trailing P/E, Group 1 Automotive, Inc.
(GPI) is the cheapest at 13. 9x versus Sonic Automotive, Inc. at 23. 5x. On forward P/E, Group 1 Automotive, Inc. is actually cheaper at 8. 4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SAH or GPI?
Over the past 5 years, Group 1 Automotive, Inc.
(GPI) delivered a total return of +111. 7%, compared to +66. 4% for Sonic Automotive, Inc. (SAH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GPI returned +476. 1% versus SAH's +392. 8%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — SAH or GPI?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Group 1 Automotive, Inc.
(GPI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 77β versus Sonic Automotive, Inc. 's 1. 05β — meaning SAH is approximately 36% more volatile than GPI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (GPI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 4% for Sonic Automotive, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — SAH or GPI?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Group 1 Automotive, Inc.
(GPI) is pulling ahead at 13. 2% versus 6. 5% for Sonic Automotive, Inc. (SAH). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Group 1 Automotive, Inc. grew EPS -31. 6% year-over-year, compared to -44. 7% for Sonic Automotive, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, GPI leads at 11. 6% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — SAH or GPI?
Group 1 Automotive, Inc.
(GPI) is the more profitable company, earning 1. 4% net margin versus 0. 8% for Sonic Automotive, Inc. — meaning it keeps 1. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GPI leads at 4. 2% versus 3. 6% for SAH. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GPI leads at 15. 5%, 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.
07Is SAH or GPI more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Group 1 Automotive, Inc.
(GPI) trades at 8. 4x forward P/E versus 12. 4x for Sonic Automotive, Inc. — 4. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for GPI: 36. 1% to $476. 67.
08Which pays a better dividend — SAH or GPI?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Sonic Automotive, Inc. (SAH) offers the highest yield at 1. 8%, versus 0. 6% for Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (GPI).
09Is SAH or GPI better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Group 1 Automotive, Inc.
(GPI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 77), 0. 6% yield, +476. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (GPI: +476. 1%, SAH: +392. 8%), 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.
10What are the main differences between SAH and GPI?
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; GPI is a small-cap deep-value stock. 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.
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