Needham Keeps Buy Rating on Sonic Automotive, Reduces Price Target to $90

Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst

Source: Benzinga

Updated: Oct 24 2025

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SAH+3.41%

Should l Buy SAH?

Source: Benzinga

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Analyst Views on SAH

Wall Street analysts forecast SAH stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for SAH is 77.67 USD with a low forecast of 68.00 USD and a high forecast of 90.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.

6 Analyst Rating

3 Buy

2 Hold

1 Sell

Moderate Buy

Current: 60.400

Low

68.00

Averages

77.67

High

90.00

Current: 60.400

Low

68.00

Averages

77.67

High

90.00

Barclays

John Babcock

Equal Weight

downgrade

$71 -> $69

2026-01-21

Reason

Barclays

John Babcock

Price Target

$71 -> $69

AI Analysis

2026-01-21

downgrade

Equal Weight

Reason

Barclays analyst John Babcock lowered the firm's price target on Sonic Automotive to $69 from $71 and keeps an Equal Weight rating on the shares. The firm adjusted targets in the auto retail group as part of its Q4 outlook. It broadly lowered estimates across the sector on "soft" auto sales unit pressures. However, trade checks suggest the used vehicle market has good momentum, the analyst tells investors in a research note.

JPMorgan

Underweight

downgrade

$70 -> $67

2026-01-16

Reason

JPMorgan

Price Target

$70 -> $67

2026-01-16

downgrade

Underweight

Reason

JPMorgan lowered the firm's price target on Sonic Automotive to $67 from $70 and keeps an Underweight rating on the shares. The firm adjusted ratings and targets in the franchise auto dealers and marketplaces group as part of a Q4 earnings preview. The group's setup is "neutral to modestly attractive" in the near-term on "resilient" consumer demand and a "reasonable" 2026 earnings bar, the analyst tells investors in a research note.

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About SAH

Sonic Automotive, Inc. is an automotive and powersports retailer in America. The Company's segments include Franchised Dealerships Segment, EchoPark Segment and Powersports Segment. The Franchised Dealerships Segment provides comprehensive sales and services, including sales of both new and used cars and light trucks; sales of replacement parts and performance of vehicle maintenance, manufacturer warranty repairs and paint and collision repair services, and arrangement of third-party financing, extended warranties, service contracts, insurance and other aftermarket products (collectively, F&I) for its guests. The EchoPark Segment sells used cars and light trucks and arranges third-party F&I product sales for its guests in pre-owned vehicle specialty retail locations, and does not offer customer-facing Fixed Operations services. The Powersports Segment offers guests sales of both new and used powersports vehicles; Fixed Operations activities, and third-party F&I services.

About the author

Emily J. Thompson

Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.

Sonic Automotive Announces Q4 2025 Earnings Release Date and Conference Call Details

Jan 21 2026Businesswire

Earnings Release Schedule: Sonic Automotive will release its fiscal 2025 fourth quarter and full year financial results on February 18, 2026, at 7:00 A.M., reflecting the company's commitment to transparency and investor communication.
Conference Call Timing: Senior management will hold a conference call at 11:00 A.M. the same day, allowing investors to dial in at 877-407-8289 (domestic) or +1-201-689-8341 (international) to receive timely financial updates.
Webcast Access: Investors can access the live webcast of the conference call via the company’s website, enhancing interaction with investors and improving information dissemination efficiency.
Focus on Investor Relations: Sonic Automotive emphasizes its goal to become the most valuable diversified automotive retail and service brand in America, continuously investing in technology and teams to enhance customer experiences and drive business growth.

U.S. Retail Sales Rise 0.6% Month-over-Month in November

Jan 14 2026seekingalpha

Retail Sales Growth: According to the U.S. Census Bureau, retail sales rose 0.6% month-over-month in November and were up 3.3% year-over-year, exceeding economists' expectations of 0.4%, indicating consumer spending resilience that could positively impact GDP.
Strong Clothing Sales: Clothing stores saw a 7.5% year-over-year increase, providing positive signals for mall retailers like Gap and Urban Outfitters, suggesting enhanced consumer potential during the holiday season.
Outstanding Nonstore Retail Performance: The nonstore retail category outperformed with a 7.2% year-over-year increase in November, crucial for e-commerce players like Amazon and Wayfair, reflecting strong demand during the holiday shopping season.
Underperformance in Auto Dealers: The auto dealer group experienced a 1.1% year-over-year decline in November, indicating challenges for the sector that may affect the performance of related companies.

Upcoming Ex-Dividend Dates for Sonic Automotive, Macy's, and UGI

Dec 11 2025NASDAQ.COM

Upcoming Ex-Dividend Dates: On 12/15/25, Sonic Automotive, Macy's, and UGI Corp. will trade ex-dividend, with respective dividends of $0.38, $0.1824, and $0.375 scheduled for payment in January 2026.
Expected Stock Price Adjustments: Following the ex-dividend date, shares of Sonic Automotive are expected to drop by 0.57%, Macy's by 0.78%, and UGI by 1.00%, based on their recent stock prices.
Dividend Yield Estimates: The estimated annualized yields for the upcoming dividends are 2.28% for Sonic Automotive, 3.14% for Macy's, and 3.99% for UGI Corp., reflecting their historical dividend stability.
Current Trading Performance: As of Thursday trading, Sonic Automotive shares are up 2%, Macy's shares are up 3.1%, while UGI Corp. shares have decreased by 0.5%.

Barclays Begins Coverage of Sonic Automotive with Equal-Weight Rating and Sets Price Target at $71

Nov 12 2025Benzinga

Real-time Intelligence: Benzinga Pro offers the fastest news alerts to help traders stay informed and make timely decisions in the stock market.
Exclusive Content: The platform provides exclusive stories and insights generated by Benzinga reporters, enhancing the trading experience for its users.
Community Engagement: Over 10,000 serious traders are part of the Benzinga Pro community, indicating a robust network for sharing market intelligence.
Market Success: Traders utilize Benzinga Pro's resources to gain a competitive edge and improve their chances of winning in the markets daily.

Expedia Group Analyst Changes Stance; Check Out the Top 5 Upgrades for Friday

Nov 07 2025Benzinga

Analyst Upgrades: Several top Wall Street analysts have upgraded their ratings on various companies, indicating a positive shift in outlook for these stocks.
Expedia Group Upgrade: Piper Sandler upgraded Expedia Group, Inc. from Underweight to Neutral, raising the price target from $190 to $250, with shares closing at $219.70.
Globus Medical Upgrade: B of A Securities upgraded Globus Medical, Inc. from Neutral to Buy, increasing the price target from $65 to $91, while shares closed at $61.71.
Other Notable Upgrades: Host Hotels & Resorts, Unity Software, and Sonic Automotive also received upgrades from analysts, with respective price target increases reflecting a bullish sentiment.