Yahoo Finance report covering Lithia Motors Inc. (LAD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Why LAD Stock advanced +0.90% Today — RQD Quant Desk Flash
Lithia Motors Inc. (LAD) carries a Roarable Rating of D (Sell) with 45/100 RQD Confidence due to weak cash-flow efficiency and sensitivity to current interest rates. Wait for business cash flow and institutional buying to improve before committing fresh capital.
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Is LAD stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell right now according to Roarable's RQD model?
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As of 2026-11-02, Lithia Motors Inc. (NYSE: LAD) is rated D (Sell / SELL) by Roarable's 5-pillar RQD engine with a composite confidence score of 45/100 at a spot price of $299.72 (+0.90% 1D, market cap $6.42B). Pillar breakdown: Fundamental Cash Engine 8/20, Institutional 13F & Options Flow 8/20, Executive Insider Alignment 12/20, FRED Macro Regime Fit 5/20, and SEC Balance-Sheet Forensics 12/20. Across 1011 tracked Consumer Discretionary issuers, LAD ranks #660 in composite RQD confidence.
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How does LAD compare to RUSHB and AN in the Consumer Discretionary sector?
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Within the Consumer Discretionary sector (Retail-Auto Dealers and Gas Stations), LAD carries a Roarable D (45/100 RQD), trailing P/E of 7.8x, gross margin of 15.2%, and ROIC of 11.1%. By comparison, RUSHB (Rush Enterprises Inc. (Class B)) holds a B- grade (71/100 RQD, P/E 24.9x, ROIC 13.7%, cap $6.63B) and AN (AutoNation Inc.) posts a D- grade (40/100 RQD, P/E 8.6x, ROIC 18.9%, cap $5.60B). Among the 5-stock peer group, LAD leads on earnings multiple (7.8x) while AN leads on capital efficiency (18.9% ROIC).
🤖 Gideon Ashmere • AI SEC 10-K Forensics (Click for Instant Brief)
What are the biggest fundamental strengths and SEC risk factors for LAD?
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Per LAD's SEC EDGAR XBRL 10-K filing (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31, CIK 0001023128), Lithia Motors Inc. generated $37.63B in revenue (+4.0% YoY), $819.6M in net income, and $5.8M in free cash flow against $25.11B in total assets and $8.32B in total debt. Key quantitative strengths: Established market leader in Consumer Discretionary with deep daily trading liquidity.. Primary risk factors monitored: Sensitive to high interest rates and tighter Federal Reserve market liquidity.. Institutional options positioning shows a 50% call / 50% put premium split.
Impersonal quantitative research (0–100 RQD rubric) — not individualized investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Full Disclaimer
Altman Z-Score 2.34 (WATCH ZONE (1.8–3.0)) • Piotroski F-Score 5/9
SEC Form 4 / 13F Thermometer: 60% Net Buy • Disciplined Float (-0.04% YoY Shares)
Macro rate sensitivity & RSI-14 (48.4) create a -15 pt regime headwind
⚔️ Adversarial Opposing Case: What Could Spark a LAD Turnaround Squeeze
While LAD currently carries a cautious 45/100 (D) rating due to Macro Regime Fit (5/20), shorts face asymmetric squeeze risk if free cash flow inflects or management executes accretive buybacks.
Established market leader in Consumer Discretionary with deep daily trading liquidity.
Options & Short-Covering Gamma: Reclaiming the 50-day SMA ($319.49) and Max Pain ($314.71) forces dealer call-delta covering toward $461.46.
Forensic Repair Trigger: Halting share dilution (Disciplined Float (-0.04% YoY Shares)) or retiring high-cost debt immediately upgrades the SEC 10-K Forensic pillar.
Why LAD Stock advanced +0.90% Today — RQD Quant Desk Flash
Lithia Motors Inc. (LAD) advanced +0.90% to $299.72, trading at 30% of its 52-week range ($239.78 – $439.49). Stretched risk/reward at 8x P/E (11% return on capital) under elevated 10-year interest-rate pressure.
- ▸Technical Tape: Trading at 30% of its 52-week range ($239.78 – $439.49) with RSI-14 at 48.4 (NEUTRAL RANGE).
- ▸Volatility Profile: Historical 20-day realized swing band of ±9.6% around $299.72 (no active unusual options sweep snapshot on file).
- ▸Fundamental Anchor: Roarable D (Sell) backed by 15.2% gross margin and $5.8M annual free cash flow.
Benzinga report covering Lithia Motors Inc. (LAD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Yahoo Finance report covering Lithia Motors Inc. (LAD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Seeking Alpha report covering Lithia Motors Inc. (LAD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
MarketBeat report covering Lithia Motors Inc. (LAD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
GuruFocus report covering Lithia Motors Inc. (LAD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Yahoo Finance report covering Lithia Motors Inc. (LAD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
MarketBeat report covering Lithia Motors Inc. (LAD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Get a weekly dividend summary for Champions, Contenders, and Challengers.
Key TakeawaysAutoNation shares jumped 6% after its board approved another $1 billion for buybacks along with its third-quarter results. Adjusted net income fell 11%, but the diluted share count dropped 13%, so adjusted E
Red-Light Warning Desk: Spotting SEC Cash-Flow & Dilution Risks Before Downgrades (Featuring LAD)
- ✓Walkthrough of LAD's RQD Radar, SEC cash-conversion gap & downside invalidation levels
- ✓3 asymmetric Bear/Hedge frameworks when 10-year Treasury yields stay elevated
- ✓Includes nightly RQD rating-change & forensic signal email alerts on your tracked stocks
LAD Dilution Monitor, Expectations Hurdle, Butterfly Connections & Policy Exposure
Multi-year comparable XBRL diluted share count not disclosed (ETF or recent listing).
vs. +4.0% actual YoY revenue growth (assuming 9.25% cost of equity & 16.5x terminal multiple).
No active Ellis Vennor swing setup published on LAD today. View full Setup Ledger →
No direct multi-tier Butterfly edges indexed yet for LAD. Explore sector supply chains on /butterfly.
📊 Quantitative Sector Peer Comparison, SEC Filing Delta & Investment FAQ (LAD)
1. Head-to-Head Consumer Discretionary Peer Comparison (LAD vs. RUSHB, AN, KMX, RUSHA)
Industry: Retail-Auto Dealers and Gas Stations (20 Tracked Issuers)Across 1011 tracked Consumer Discretionary securities in the Roarable RQD universe, Lithia Motors Inc. (LAD) ranks #660 by composite RQD confidence (45/100, grade D) and #230 by equity capitalization ($6.42B). Within this direct 5-issuer industry benchmark cohort, LAD leads on earnings valuation at 7.8x trailing P/E, while AN leads on capital efficiency and profitability with 18.9% ROIC and 17.9% gross margin. RUSHB currently holds the highest overall quantitative score in the immediate peer group at 71/100 (B-) compared with LAD at 45/100 (D).
| Ticker / Company | Roarable Grade | RQD Score | Trailing P/E | Gross Margin | ROIC | 1D Change | Market Cap | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAD
ACTIVE
Lithia Motors Inc. | D | 45/100 | 7.8x | 15.2% | 11.1% | +0.90% | $6.42B | Benchmark Subject |
| RUSHB Rush Enterprises Inc. (Class B) | B- | 71/100 | 24.9x | 20.7% | 13.7% | -0.09% | $6.63B | /rushb-vs-lad → |
| AN AutoNation Inc. | D- | 40/100 | 8.6x | 17.9% | 18.9% | +6.08% | $5.60B | /an-vs-lad → |
| KMX CarMax Inc | D+ | 57/100 | 32.3x | 10.8% | 1.7% | -1.05% | $7.97B | /kmx-vs-lad → |
| RUSHA Rush Enterprises Inc. Cl A | C | 63/100 | 19.1x | 20.7% | 13.7% | -1.29% | $5.08B | /rusha-vs-lad → |
2. Multi-Year SEC XBRL Revenue, Cash Flow & Balance-Sheet Trajectory (FY2023–FY2025)
SEC EDGAR 10-K • FILED 2025-12-31 • CIK 0001023128In its most recent audited fiscal period (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31), Lithia Motors Inc. (LAD) reported GAAP revenue of $37.63B (+4.0% vs. FY2024 revenue of $36.19B , and +21.2% cumulative change since FY2023) , GAAP net income of $819.6M, operating cash flow of $356.7M, and free cash flow of $5.8M (-92.1% YoY). On the balance sheet, LAD closed FY2025 with $25.11B in total assets against $8.32B in total debt (Altman Z-Score: 2.34, Piotroski F-Score: 5/9).
| Fiscal Period | Filing Date | Revenue | Net Income | Operating Cash Flow | Free Cash Flow | Total Assets | Total Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 (FY) | 2025-12-31 | $37.63B | $819.6M | $356.7M | $5.8M | $25.11B | $8.32B |
| FY2024 (FY) | 2024-12-31 | $36.19B | $796.7M | $425.1M | $73.7M | $23.12B | $7.40B |
| FY2023 (FY) | 2023-12-31 | $31.04B | $1.00B | -$472.4M | -$1.87B | $37.25B | $8.72B |
3. LAD Data-Verified Investor FAQ (RQD Rating, Sector Peers, SEC Forensics & Technicals)
✓ SCHEMA.ORG FAQPAGE JSON-LD ENABLEDIs LAD stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell right now according to Roarable's RQD model?
As of 2026-11-02, Lithia Motors Inc. (NYSE: LAD) is rated D (Sell / SELL) by Roarable's 5-pillar RQD engine with a composite confidence score of 45/100 at a spot price of $299.72 (+0.90% 1D, market cap $6.42B). Pillar breakdown: Fundamental Cash Engine 8/20, Institutional 13F & Options Flow 8/20, Executive Insider Alignment 12/20, FRED Macro Regime Fit 5/20, and SEC Balance-Sheet Forensics 12/20. Across 1011 tracked Consumer Discretionary issuers, LAD ranks #660 in composite RQD confidence.
How does LAD compare to RUSHB and AN in the Consumer Discretionary sector?
Within the Consumer Discretionary sector (Retail-Auto Dealers and Gas Stations), LAD carries a Roarable D (45/100 RQD), trailing P/E of 7.8x, gross margin of 15.2%, and ROIC of 11.1%. By comparison, RUSHB (Rush Enterprises Inc. (Class B)) holds a B- grade (71/100 RQD, P/E 24.9x, ROIC 13.7%, cap $6.63B) and AN (AutoNation Inc.) posts a D- grade (40/100 RQD, P/E 8.6x, ROIC 18.9%, cap $5.60B). Among the 5-stock peer group, LAD leads on earnings multiple (7.8x) while AN leads on capital efficiency (18.9% ROIC).
What are the biggest fundamental strengths and SEC risk factors for LAD?
Per LAD's SEC EDGAR XBRL 10-K filing (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31, CIK 0001023128), Lithia Motors Inc. generated $37.63B in revenue (+4.0% YoY), $819.6M in net income, and $5.8M in free cash flow against $25.11B in total assets and $8.32B in total debt. Key quantitative strengths: Established market leader in Consumer Discretionary with deep daily trading liquidity.. Primary risk factors monitored: Sensitive to high interest rates and tighter Federal Reserve market liquidity.. Institutional options positioning shows a 50% call / 50% put premium split.
Where is LAD trading relative to its 50-day, 200-day, and 52-week technical levels?
LAD last traded at $299.72 (+0.90% on volume of 330,740 shares), positioning the stock -6.19% below its 50-day simple moving average ($319.49) and -2.39% below its 200-day simple moving average ($307.06). Across its 52-week range of $239.78 to $439.49, LAD sits at the 30.0% percentile with a 14-day RSI of 48.4 (NEUTRAL RANGE) and an implied next-earnings move of ±9.6% ($270.95 to $328.49).
LAD Investor FAQ & Complete 8-Part Research Index
100% OPEN ACCESS • SEC EDGAR × CBOE × FREDWhy is LAD stock moving today?
Why LAD Stock advanced +0.90% Today — RQD Quant Desk Flash. Stretched risk/reward at 8x P/E (11% return on capital) under elevated 10-year interest-rate pressure.
LAD — Lithia Motors Inc.: What the Facts Mean to a Prospective Investor
Roarable Rating Brief: What This Means to a Prospective Investor
Per the Roarable RQD rating, LAD scores 45 out of 100, earning a letter grade of D and the verdict "Roarable Sell — Underperform / Distribution Warning." The five pillars are: Fundamental Cash Engine at 8 / 20 (ROIC 11.1%; FCF yield 0.09%), Whale 13F Flow at 8 / 20 (institutional accumulation and options positioning), Insider Conviction at 12 / 20 (SEC Form 4 and Congressional PTR cluster flow), Macro Regime Fit at 5 / 20 (Beta 0.93; sector sensitivity), and Forensic Balance Sheet at 12 / 20 (Altman Z 2.34; Piotroski F 5/9; Debt/Equity 1.18).
For a prospective investor evaluating the stock today, the weakest pillars are Macro Regime Fit and Fundamental Cash Engine, which together indicate limited support from the current macro backdrop and a thin free-cash-flow yield relative to the price. The balance-sheet and insider pillars sit mid-range, suggesting neither distress nor strong conviction signals. The rating's verdict label frames the composite as a distribution warning, meaning the aggregate signals lean toward underperformance rather than accumulation. Upside drivers would need to come from improved cash conversion or a shift in institutional and insider positioning; valuation tradeoffs are reflected in a low trailing and forward P/E alongside a very low FCF yield, indicating that earnings multiples alone do not capture the cash-generation weakness.
Snapshot
Recent Catalysts & News Wire Analysis
Per the recent news feed, the headlines include an earnings-power valuation piece (YELLOW), a dividend increase following a strong quarter (YELLOW), a Q3 earnings and revenue beat (YELLOW), a Seeking Alpha downgrade warning flagged as RISK WATCH (RED), a MarketBeat report citing an average price target of $402.60 (YELLOW), and a GuruFocus piece citing a GF Value of $390.59 versus a price of $292.51 following a 3.5% decline (YELLOW). The RED risk-watch item is the only one carrying a negative flag. Per the Butterfly Supply-Chain Graph, no supply-chain links or proprietary signals are recorded (sector: Consumer Discretionary; supply chain: NONE).
Open Questions
- What are the cash, EPS, and free-cash-flow figures for FY 2025 and FY 2024 that the financials table leaves as "N/A," and what is the company's cash balance?
- What drove the decline in free cash flow from $73.7M to $5.8M while debt increased, and is that trend expected to continue?
- Who are the institutional and insider holders, and what is the direction of their recent activity?
- What are the consensus rating and analyst revenue or earnings estimates behind the referenced price targets?
- What is the supply-chain exposure and sector-correlation profile that would explain the Macro Regime Fit pillar score of 5 / 20?
LAD Live News Feed, Press Releases & Catalyst Wire
Real-time company headlines, analyst actions, and sector developments for Lithia Motors Inc. (LAD) • Click "Debate This Headline" to argue it in the Roar Pit below
Yahoo Finance report covering Lithia Motors Inc. (LAD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Benzinga report covering Lithia Motors Inc. (LAD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Yahoo Finance report covering Lithia Motors Inc. (LAD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Seeking Alpha report covering Lithia Motors Inc. (LAD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
MarketBeat report covering Lithia Motors Inc. (LAD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
GuruFocus report covering Lithia Motors Inc. (LAD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Yahoo Finance report covering Lithia Motors Inc. (LAD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
MarketBeat report covering Lithia Motors Inc. (LAD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
LAD Bull vs. Bear Conversation Board — What's Your Call at $299.72?
🔥 Official Bull vs. Bear Debate: Is LAD (D • RQD 45/100) a Buy at $297.06?
Welcome to the LAD (Lithia Motors Inc.) Roar Pit. Current RQD Composite is 45/100 (Roarable Sell — Underperform / Distribution Warning) in Retail-Auto Dealers and Gas Stations. Bulls point to operating leverage and sector positioning, while bears focus on macro rate sensitivity and margin execution. Pick your side (🐂 Bull or 🐻 Bear) and drop your price target below.
Pump the brakes on LAD — check the valuation vs. margin headwinds
Everyone in here is repeating the bull case on LAD, but look at what you are paying: 7.8x trailing P/E with 15.2% gross margins. Unless Lithia Motors Inc. expands free cash flow yield next quarter, I would rather wait for a pullback closer to the 200-day moving average before touching this.
LAD cash flow & RQD setup is being underpriced by the Street here
Looking at the 5-pillar RQD breakdown on LAD, the market is fixating on short-term headline noise in Retail-Auto Dealers and Gas Stations and ignoring the balance sheet and cash flow trajectory. At $297.06 (52-wk range $239.78 - $439.49), any beat on forward guidance forces shorts and underweight funds to chase.