hD

Cash Flow Summary

Sonic Automotive (SAH) trailing twelve month cash flow statement covering six trailing twelve month periods to December 31, 2025, as reported to the SEC.

  • Sonic Automotive generated $567.4M in cash from operations in the twelve months ended December 31, 2025, up 419.6% from $109.2M a year earlier.
  • That is 4.8 times its reported net income of $118.7M.
  • After spending $149.9M on total capital expenditures, free cash flow was $417.5M.
  • Investing activities used $499M and financing activities used $106.1M. Overall, cash went down $37.7M.
  • Sonic Automotive spent $82.4M buying back its own shares and paid $48.8M 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)

118,700

130,400

157,800

244,600

216,000

196,100

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Net income (loss)

118,700

130,400

157,800

244,600

216,000

196,100

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

141,300

139,200

136,400

133,300

130,400

128,400

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment

141,300

139,200

136,400

133,300

130,400

128,400

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

6,600

6,500

6,100

5,800

5,800

5,800

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Debt issuance cost amortization

6,600

6,500

6,100

5,800

5,800

5,800

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

23,100

22,800

22,500

22,800

23,500

24,000

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Stock-based compensation expense

23,100

22,800

22,500

22,800

23,500

24,000

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

-25,800

-77,200

-77,100

-29,000

-29,100

-18,800

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Deferred income taxes

-25,800

-77,200

-77,100

-29,000

-29,100

-18,800

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

173,800

-167,500

-167,500

1,500

3,900

14,300

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Asset impairment charges

173,800

-167,500

-167,500

1,500

3,900

14,300

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Other

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Other

-

-

-

-

-

-

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

6,400

6,400

3,600

300

600

300

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

LossGainOnDisposalOfFranchisesAndPropertyAndEquipment

6,400

6,400

3,600

300

600

300

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

31,400

83,700

34,000

168,200

42,600

-108,400

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Receivables

31,400

83,700

34,000

168,200

42,600

-108,400

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Inventories

104,600

-767,700

-708,700

-561,600

-358,300

-258,600

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Inventories

104,600

-767,700

-708,700

-561,600

-358,300

-258,600

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Other assets

13,600

-29,200

47,300

49,600

47,000

66,300

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Other assets

13,600

-29,200

47,300

49,600

47,000

66,300

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Notes payable - floor plan - trade

19,000

-3,400

-4,000

10,200

11,500

38,700

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Notes payable - floor plan - trade

19,000

-3,400

-4,000

10,200

11,500

38,700

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Trade accounts payable and other liabilities

-46,800

16,600

1,500

40,800

19,000

62,200

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Trade accounts payable and other liabilities

-46,800

16,600

1,500

40,800

19,000

62,200

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Total adjustments

448,700

457,800

350,300

-9,700

-106,800

-294,500

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Total adjustments

448,700

457,800

350,300

-9,700

-106,800

-294,500

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

567,400

588,200

508,100

234,900

109,200

-98,400

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

567,400

588,200

508,100

234,900

109,200

-98,400

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

-149,900

-220,600

-200,800

-186,100

-187,300

-211,300

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Total capital expenditures

-149,900

-220,600

-200,800

-186,100

-187,300

-211,300

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Proceeds from sales of property and equipment

81,600

53,900

45,300

60,700

55,600

53,400

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Proceeds from sales of property and equipment

81,600

53,900

45,300

60,700

55,600

53,400

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

-499,000

-585,600

-538,400

-174,400

-178,300

-134,300

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Net cash used in investing activities

-499,000

-585,600

-538,400

-174,400

-178,300

-134,300

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

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

14,400

586,900

743,900

208,300

258,100

388,800

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

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

14,400

586,900

743,900

208,300

258,100

388,800

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Borrowings on revolving credit facilities

107,600

93,100

25,400

72,100

77,500

138,900

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Borrowings on revolving credit facilities

107,600

93,100

25,400

72,100

77,500

138,900

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Repayments on revolving credit facilities

-107,600

93,100

25,400

72,100

77,500

16,100

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Repayments on revolving credit facilities

-107,600

93,100

25,400

72,100

77,500

16,100

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

-1,500

-1,200

-1,900

-2,500

-8,200

-5,800

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Debt issuance costs

-1,500

-1,200

-1,900

-2,500

-8,200

-5,800

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

-126,800

-121,300

-139,500

-168,400

-164,800

-93,500

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Principal payments of long-term debt

-126,800

-121,300

-139,500

-168,400

-164,800

-93,500

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

-82,400

-17,400

-17,400

-26,100

-34,400

-328,000

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Purchases of treasury stock

-82,400

-17,400

-17,400

-26,100

-34,400

-328,000

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Finance Lease, Principal Payments

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Finance Lease, Principal Payments

-

-

-

-

-

-

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

500

1,400

2,100

5,200

5,700

5,900

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Issuance of shares under stock compensation plans

500

1,400

2,100

5,200

5,700

5,900

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Dividends paid

-48,800

-35,600

-37,400

-39,100

-40,800

-39,600

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Dividends paid

-48,800

-35,600

-37,400

-39,100

-40,800

-39,600

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

-106,100

69,300

73,600

-10,900

84,300

215,700

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

-106,100

69,300

73,600

-10,900

84,300

215,700

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

-37,700

71,800

43,200

49,500

15,100

-17,000

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

-37,700

71,800

43,200

49,500

15,100

-17,000

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

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Interest, including amount capitalized

-

-

-

-

-

-

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Income taxes

100,800

73,900

3,600

36,600

35,700

64,100

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

Income taxes

100,800

73,900

3,600

36,600

35,700

64,100

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx