Asbury Automotive Completes Sale of Ten Dealerships for Approximately $210 Million
Asbury Automotive announced the completed sale of ten dealerships across Indiana, Missouri and South Carolina as part of capital allocation and portfolio optimization efforts. Asbury received approximately $210 million in net proceeds from the sale of the dealerships. The proceeds are net of mortgage payoffs for the real estate and estimated taxes. The annualized revenue from these ten dealerships was approximately $610 million. In addition, the Company today announced that its board of directors approved an increase in the authorization of the share repurchase plan for the Company of $424 million. Year to date, the Company has spent $100M repurchasing 441,000 shares. As of February 25, 2026, the Company had $76 million of remaining availability to repurchase shares of common stock under its existing stock repurchase program. As a result, with the increase in authorization announced today, the total availability under the authorization is $500 million as of such date.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Analyst Views on ABG
About ABG
About the author

- Significant Earnings Growth: Absa Group reported a 12% increase in headline earnings to nearly $25 billion, reflecting strong financial performance supported by a robust balance sheet, despite pressures on the cost-to-income ratio, thus creating value for shareholders.
- Revenue and Return Improvement: Revenue grew by 5% to $116 billion, with return on equity (ROE) improving to 15%, indicating effective strategies in non-interest income and customer loan growth, particularly with significant contributions from the African region's business.
- Dividend and Asset Value Increase: The dividend per share rose by 12% and net asset value per share increased by 8%, which not only demonstrates the company's commitment to shareholders but also enhances market confidence in its future growth potential, despite an 8% decline in business banking earnings.
- Market Challenges and Opportunities: Although the net interest margin narrowed by 10 basis points and operating expenses rose by 6%, Absa is actively seeking to optimize capital allocation in Africa and CIB to address competitive pressures and drive customer growth, showcasing its adaptability in a complex market environment.
- Index Increase: Cox Automotive reported a 4% year-over-year increase in the used vehicle price index for February 2026, reaching 212.3, which is up 0.8% from January 2023, indicating strong demand and an increase in dealer inventories.
- Sales Conversion Rates Rise: Jeremy Robb, Cox's chief economist, noted that since the beginning of 2026, sales conversion rates at Manheim have been solid, reflecting dealers' strong appetite for purchasing, particularly with prices rising unexpectedly in the latter half of February.
- Tax Refund Impact: Robb suggested that anticipated higher tax returns for American consumers could boost vehicle demand, although risks from the war in Iran may dampen consumer appetite in the short term, especially as gas prices rise.
- Historical Price Comparison: While used vehicle prices remain high compared to historical levels, the average listing price in January was $25,533, down from over $28,000 in 2022, yet still demonstrating market resilience, with expectations for wholesale prices to end 2% higher than December 2025.
- Remittance Solution Innovation: Absa partners with Thunes to launch Absa Global Pay, aimed at simplifying cross-border money transfers through real-time global remittance services, addressing the needs of millions of customers across Africa and enhancing user experience.
- Country Coverage and Payment Methods: The service initially supports six countries (UK, Kenya, India, Malawi, Pakistan, and Zimbabwe), allowing customers to send funds directly via the Absa Banking App, with multiple payout options ensuring transaction transparency and instant notifications.
- Transparent and Competitive Pricing: Leveraging Thunes' global network, Absa Global Pay offers lower fees and competitive FX rates, ensuring that more funds reach families and small businesses reliant on remittances, thereby enhancing their financial security.
- Strategic Partnership Significance: This collaboration not only showcases Absa's commitment to innovation in financial services but also promotes intra-African money movement by combining local market insights with a global network, fostering financial connectivity and development within communities.
- Oversold Signal: Asbury Automotive Group (ABG) shares entered oversold territory on Tuesday with an RSI of 28.4, indicating that the recent heavy selling may be exhausting, prompting bullish investors to seek buying opportunities.
- Price Fluctuation: The lowest trading price for ABG was $203, with the current trading price at $205.31, close to its 52-week low of $201.68 and high of $274.50, reflecting market volatility and shifts in investor sentiment.
- Market Comparison: Compared to the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) RSI of 39.5, ABG's 28.4 RSI indicates a higher level of overselling, potentially attracting investors looking for rebound opportunities in the stock.
- Investor Sentiment: Despite the current bearish market sentiment, ABG's oversold condition may present potential buying opportunities for investors, especially if the market rebounds, which could lead to significant returns.
- Transaction Overview: Asbury Automotive Group sold three dealerships in Greenville, S.C., to RBM of Atlanta on February 23, 2026, including related real estate, marking a significant step in Asbury's portfolio management strategy.
- Strategic Adjustment: Asbury's CEO David Hult stated that the decision to sell these dealerships was challenging but reflects a thoughtful and disciplined approach to optimizing their overall portfolio in the market.
- RBM Expansion: This acquisition marks RBM's first expansion beyond metro-Atlanta, adding Porsche, Land Rover, and Crown Nissan dealerships, which aligns well with their long-term growth strategy and complements existing operations.
- Market Demand: The Presidio Group anticipates strong transaction volume in 2026 due to ongoing demand for luxury dealerships, with Asbury's sale exemplifying this trend and attracting significant interest from qualified buyers.
- Capital Optimization Decision: Asbury Automotive Group has completed the sale of ten dealerships across Indiana, Missouri, and South Carolina, generating approximately $210 million in net proceeds, a strategic move aimed at optimizing capital allocation and enhancing investment returns.
- Annual Revenue Contribution: The annual revenue from these ten dealerships was about $610 million, and the sale will enable Asbury to invest proceeds in reducing its leverage ratio below 3.0, thereby strengthening its financial stability.
- Stock Buyback Plan Expansion: The company's board has approved an increase in the stock repurchase plan authorization to $424 million, with $100 million spent year-to-date on repurchasing 441,000 shares, reflecting a strong commitment to shareholders and confidence in future business prospects.
- Flexible Repurchase Strategy: Under the amended stock repurchase program, Asbury may buy back shares in the open market or through private transactions, with the number and timing of repurchases depending on market conditions and potential impacts on the company's capital structure, ensuring adaptability to market fluctuations.








