hD

Cash Flow Summary

Sonic Automotive (SAH) quarterly cash flow statement covering the six quarters from September 2024 to December 2025, as reported to the SEC.

  • Sonic Automotive generated $66.9M in cash from operations in the quarter ended December 31, 2025, down 23.7% from $87.7M a year earlier.
  • That is 1.4 times its reported net income of $46.9M.
  • After spending $262.5M on total capital expenditures, free cash flow was -$195.6M.
  • Investing activities used $4.7M and financing activities used $145.3M. Overall, cash went down $83.1M.
  • Sonic Automotive spent $126.5M buying back its own shares and paid $84.6M in dividends.

A cash flow statement shows the cash that actually came in and went out, split between running the business, investing and financing.

Figures in USD thousands
Dec'25Sep'25Jun'25Mar'25Dec'24Sep'24
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income (loss)

46,900

46,800

-45,600

70,600

58,600

74,200

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Net income (loss)

46,900

46,800

-45,600

70,600

58,600

74,200

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment

36,300

35,600

35,000

34,400

34,200

32,800

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment

36,300

35,600

35,000

34,400

34,200

32,800

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Provision for bad debt expense

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Provision for bad debt expense

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Other amortization

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Other amortization

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Debt issuance cost amortization

1,700

1,700

1,600

1,600

1,600

1,300

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Debt issuance cost amortization

1,700

1,700

1,600

1,600

1,600

1,300

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Debt discount amortization, net of premium amortization

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Debt discount amortization, net of premium amortization

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Stock-based compensation expense

5,800

5,800

5,600

5,900

5,500

5,500

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Stock-based compensation expense

5,800

5,800

5,600

5,900

5,500

5,500

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Amortization of restricted stock, net of forfeitures

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Amortization of restricted stock, net of forfeitures

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Deferred income taxes

33,000

-3,600

-51,600

-3,600

-18,400

-3,500

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Deferred income taxes

33,000

-3,600

-51,600

-3,600

-18,400

-3,500

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Net distributions from equity investee

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Net distributions from equity investee

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Equity interest in earnings of investee

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Equity interest in earnings of investee

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Asset impairment charges

347,600

-

-172,400

-1,400

6,300

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Asset impairment charges

347,600

-

-172,400

-1,400

6,300

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Other

-

100

500

100

-

300

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Other

-

100

500

100

-

300

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Loss (gain) on exit of leased dealerships

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Loss (gain) on exit of leased dealerships

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

LossGainOnDisposalOfFranchisesAndPropertyAndEquipment

-

2,600

2,600

1,200

-

-200

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

LossGainOnDisposalOfFranchisesAndPropertyAndEquipment

-

2,600

2,600

1,200

-

-200

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Non-cash adjustments - cash flow swaps

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Non-cash adjustments - cash flow swaps

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Changes in assets and liabilities that relate to operations:
Receivables

90,900

45,700

-123,500

18,300

143,200

-4,000

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Receivables

90,900

45,700

-123,500

18,300

143,200

-4,000

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Inventories

166,700

-88,600

107,600

-81,100

-705,600

-29,600

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Inventories

166,700

-88,600

107,600

-81,100

-705,600

-29,600

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Other assets

20,300

400

-3,600

-3,500

-22,500

76,900

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Other assets

20,300

400

-3,600

-3,500

-22,500

76,900

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Notes payable - floor plan - trade

26,100

-3,800

5,700

-9,000

3,700

-4,400

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Notes payable - floor plan - trade

26,100

-3,800

5,700

-9,000

3,700

-4,400

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Trade accounts payable and other liabilities

-105,000

40,200

-8,900

26,900

-41,600

25,100

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Trade accounts payable and other liabilities

-105,000

40,200

-8,900

26,900

-41,600

25,100

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Total adjustments

20,000

121,100

182,400

125,200

29,100

13,600

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Total adjustments

20,000

121,100

182,400

125,200

29,100

13,600

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

66,900

167,900

136,800

195,800

87,700

87,800

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

66,900

167,900

136,800

195,800

87,700

87,800

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchase of businesses, net of cash acquired

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Purchase of businesses, net of cash acquired

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Total capital expenditures

-262,500

33,500

34,100

45,000

-333,200

53,300

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Total capital expenditures

-262,500

33,500

34,100

45,000

-333,200

53,300

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Proceeds from sales of property and equipment

32,600

31,900

7,600

9,500

4,900

23,300

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Proceeds from sales of property and equipment

32,600

31,900

7,600

9,500

4,900

23,300

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Proceeds from sales of dealerships

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Proceeds from sales of dealerships

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Distributions from equity investee

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Distributions from equity investee

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Net cash used in investing activities

-4,700

-72,400

-386,400

-35,500

-91,300

-25,200

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Net cash used in investing activities

-4,700

-72,400

-386,400

-35,500

-91,300

-25,200

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net borrowings on notes payable - floor plan - non-trade

-214,800

-70,300

370,400

-70,900

357,700

86,700

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Net borrowings on notes payable - floor plan - non-trade

-214,800

-70,300

370,400

-70,900

357,700

86,700

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Borrowings on revolving credit facilities

14,500

82,900

-

10,200

-

15,200

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Borrowings on revolving credit facilities

14,500

82,900

-

10,200

-

15,200

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Repayments on revolving credit facilities

-200,700

82,900

-

10,200

-

15,200

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Repayments on revolving credit facilities

-200,700

82,900

-

10,200

-

15,200

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Debt issuance costs

-2,800

400

100

800

-2,500

-300

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Debt issuance costs

-2,800

400

100

800

-2,500

-300

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Principal payments of long-term debt

-228,200

31,500

51,500

18,400

-222,700

13,300

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Principal payments of long-term debt

-228,200

31,500

51,500

18,400

-222,700

13,300

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Repurchase of debt securities

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Repurchase of debt securities

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Principal payments on long-term debt

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Principal payments on long-term debt

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Purchases of treasury stock

-126,500

-

8,800

35,300

-61,500

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Purchases of treasury stock

-126,500

-

8,800

35,300

-61,500

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Finance Lease, Principal Payments

-

2,700

2,700

2,500

-

2,800

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Finance Lease, Principal Payments

-

2,700

2,700

2,500

-

2,800

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Income tax benefit (expense) associated with stock compensation plans

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Income tax benefit (expense) associated with stock compensation plans

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Issuance of shares under stock compensation plans

-

400

-

100

900

1,100

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Issuance of shares under stock compensation plans

-

400

-

100

900

1,100

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Dividends paid

-84,600

12,000

11,900

11,900

-71,400

10,200

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Dividends paid

-84,600

12,000

11,900

11,900

-71,400

10,200

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

-145,300

-116,500

295,400

-139,700

30,100

-112,200

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

-145,300

-116,500

295,400

-139,700

30,100

-112,200

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Cash, Cash Equivalent, Restricted Cash, and Restricted Cash Equivalent, Period Increase (Decrease), Including Exchange Rate Effect and Discontinued Operation

-83,100

-21,000

45,800

20,600

26,400

-49,600

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Cash, Cash Equivalent, Restricted Cash, and Restricted Cash Equivalent, Period Increase (Decrease), Including Exchange Rate Effect and Discontinued Operation

-83,100

-21,000

45,800

20,600

26,400

-49,600

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF NON-CASH FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Change in fair value of interest rate swap and rate cap agreements (net of tax expense of $460, $2,351 and $2,178 in the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively)

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Change in fair value of interest rate swap and rate cap agreements (net of tax expense of $460, $2,351 and $2,178 in the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively)

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF NON-CASH FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Cash paid (received) during the period for:
Interest, including amount capitalized

-

34,200

59,100

33,900

-

41,000

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Interest, including amount capitalized

-

34,200

59,100

33,900

-

41,000

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Income taxes

11,400

81,300

7,400

700

-15,500

11,000

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Income taxes

11,400

81,300

7,400

700

-15,500

11,000

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx