Brokerages Set Lithia Motors, Inc. (NYSE:LAD) PT at $382.33

Shares of Lithia Motors, Inc. (NYSE:LAD) have been assigned an average rating of “Hold” from the twelve analysts that are covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12 month price target among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $382.3333.

Several research analysts have recently commented on LAD shares. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Lithia Motors in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on Lithia Motors from $358.00 to $355.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded shares of Lithia Motors from an “overweight” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $335.00 target price for the company. in a report on Friday, February 20th. Bank of America began coverage on shares of Lithia Motors in a research report on Wednesday, March 4th. They set a “neutral” rating for the company. Finally, Zacks Research cut shares of Lithia Motors from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 25th.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Lithia Motors

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. CoreCap Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Lithia Motors during the 3rd quarter worth about $26,000. Eastern Bank purchased a new position in shares of Lithia Motors in the third quarter worth about $31,000. Root Financial Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Lithia Motors during the third quarter worth about $31,000. Clearstead Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Lithia Motors by 111.4% during the fourth quarter. Clearstead Advisors LLC now owns 93 shares of the company’s stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares during the period. Finally, Parkside Financial Bank & Trust boosted its position in Lithia Motors by 75.0% in the third quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 105 shares of the company’s stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 45 shares during the last quarter.

Key Stories Impacting Lithia Motors

Here are the key news stories impacting Lithia Motors this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Some analyst coverage remains constructive — the consensus analyst view cited by an aggregation site still shows an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy,” which could provide support if other brokers stick to buy/hold views. Analyst average recommendation
• Neutral Sentiment: Market commentary and buy/sell screen articles (e.g., Yahoo Finance piece) are discussing whether LAD is a good buy now — such coverage can drive short-term interest but is unlikely to change fundamentals immediately. Is LAD a Good Stock To Buy Now?
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks Research lowered Q2/Q3 and FY2027 EPS estimates and moved its rating to “Strong Sell” (Q2 from $9.40→$9.17, Q3 from $9.53→$8.92, FY to $41.77). That combination of a formal downgrade plus lower near‑term earnings expectations is the main immediate negative catalyst pressuring the stock. Zacks research downgrade
• Negative Sentiment: Recent reported results (Feb 11 quarter) showed an EPS miss versus consensus and very slim year‑over‑year revenue growth; lingering concerns about margin pressure and inventory/used-car dynamics remain relevant for near‑term earnings visibility. Quarterly results and background

Lithia Motors Stock Performance

Shares of LAD stock opened at $250.04 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $5.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.78, a PEG ratio of 0.59 and a beta of 1.20. The company’s 50 day moving average is $292.08 and its 200 day moving average is $311.23. The company has a quick ratio of 0.26, a current ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.46. Lithia Motors has a 52-week low of $239.78 and a 52-week high of $360.55.

Lithia Motors (NYSE:LAD) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The company reported $6.74 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $8.09 by ($1.35). The company had revenue of $9.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $9.19 billion. Lithia Motors had a return on equity of 12.76% and a net margin of 2.18%.The firm’s quarterly revenue was up .3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $7.79 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Lithia Motors will post 34.45 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Lithia Motors Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 20th. Investors of record on Friday, March 6th were given a dividend of $0.55 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 6th. This represents a $2.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.9%. Lithia Motors’s dividend payout ratio is presently 6.85%.

About Lithia Motors

Lithia Motors, Inc is an American automotive retailer headquartered in Medford, Oregon. Founded in 1946 as a small auto body and glass shop, the company has grown through organic expansion and strategic acquisitions to become one of the largest automotive retail networks in North America. Lithia operates dealerships across the United States and Canada, offering a broad portfolio of new and pre-owned vehicles from more than 40 different manufacturers.

The company’s core business activities include vehicle sales, financing, insurance, parts and service.