Click to enlarge.
Penske Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE: PAG), a diversified international transportation services company and one of the world’s premier automotive and commercial truck retailers, today announced financial results for the first quarter of 2026. For the quarter, revenue was $7.9 billion compared to $8.0 billion for the same period in 2025. Net income attributable to common stockholders was $234.5 million compared to $257.7 million for the same period in 2025, and related earnings per share was $3.56 compared to $3.86 for the same period in 2025.*
“In the first quarter of 2026, our business delivered over 126,000 retail automotive and commercial truck units, generated $7.9 billion in revenue and $323.7 million in earnings before taxes. During the quarter, we continued to demonstrate a flexible approach to capital allocation by completing the acquisition of two Lexus dealerships in the Orlando metropolitan area of Central Florida, increasing the dividend paid to stockholders by 1.4% and repurchasing 170,393 shares of common stock,” said Chair Roger Penske.**
During the three months ending March 31, 2026, the Company repurchased 170,393 shares of common stock for approximately $26.4 million. As of March 31, 2026, $221.2million remained outstanding and available for repurchases under a securities repurchase program. As of March 31, 2026, the Company had approximately $1.3 billion in liquidity, including $84 million in cash and $1.2 billion of availability under its U.S. and international credit agreements and revolving mortgage facilities. The Company’s leverage ratio at March 31, 2026 was 1.8x.
“I was particularly pleased with the sequential increase in new and used vehicle gross profit per unit in our retail automotive business and the continued strength of our service and parts business, which increased retail automotive same-store revenue by 5% and related gross profit by 6%. Further, I am encouraged with the trends we are seeing across the trucking market as the freight environment improves and Class 8 orders were strong in recent months,” Penske said.
Retail Automotive Dealerships
For the three months ended March 31, 2026, total new units delivered decreased 5% and used units delivered decreased 1%. The decrease in new units is primarily related to the U.S. market from weather-related disruptions during January and February, the benefit in the prior period from tariff-related pull-forward of retail sales, and the lower demand for electric vehicles in the U.S. associated with regulatory easing and the expiration of tax credits. Total retail automotive revenue increased 1% to $7.0 billion and increased 1% on a same-store basis. Compared to the fourth quarter of 2025, new vehicle gross profit per unit increased $94 and used vehicle gross profit per unit increased $306. When compared to the prior year period, same-store retail automotive service and parts revenue increased 5%, gross profit increased 6%, and gross margin improved 60 basis points to 59.0%.
Retail Commercial Truck Dealerships
For the three months ended March 31, 2026, the Company’s retail commercial truck dealerships retailed 3583 new and used units and generated $694.6 million in revenue and $36.4 million in earnings before taxes. This compares to new and used units of 4714, revenue of $823.7 million, and $45.1 million in earnings before taxes during the same period in the prior year as lower order intake related to the weak freight environment in the third and fourth quarters of 2025 impacted truck deliveries during the first quarter of 2026. In recent months, the Class 8 market order activity began to increase as the freight recession started to show signs of improvement, with industry reports showing a 91% increase in Class 8 market orders for the three months ended March 31, 2026, when compared to the same period in the prior year. In retail commercial truck dealership operations experienced a 5% increase in service and parts revenue during the quarter.
Penske Transportation Solutions
Penske Transportation Solutions (“PTS”) is a l provider of full-service truck leasing, truck rental, contract maintenance, and logistics services. PTS operates a managed fleet with more than 387,500 trucks, tractors, and trailers under lease, rental and/or maintenance contracts. Penske Automotive Group has a 28.9% ownership interest in PTS and accounts for its ownership interest using the equity method of accounting. For the three months ended March 31, 2026, the Company recorded a 24% increase in earnings to $41.1 million as PTS operating results improved related to growth in full-service leasing, improved fleet utilization, lower operating expenses, and lower interest costs, partially offset by continued challenges in the rental market and by lower gain on sale of used trucks.
Corporate Development, Capital Allocation, Liquidity, and Leverage
In February 2026, the Company announced that it completed the acquisition of Lexus of Orlando and Lexus of Winter Park, both located in the Orlando metropolitan area of Central Florida. The acquisition is expected to add $450 million in estimated annualized revenue. Coupled with the acquisitions in November 2025, the Company has acquired two Toyota and four Lexus dealerships in the last six months which are expected to generate approximately $2 billion in estimated annualized revenues.
*AutoInformed on
**Penske Automotive Group
Penske Automotive Group, Inc., (NYSE: PAG) headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, says it is “a diversified international transportation services company and one of the world’s premier automotive and commercial truck retailers. PAG operates dealerships in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Australia and is one of the largest retailers of commercial trucks in North America for Freightliner. PAG also distributes and retails commercial vehicles, diesel and gas engines, power systems, and related parts and services principally in Australia and New Zealand. PAG employs more than 27,700 people worldwide. Additionally, PAG owns 28.9% of Penske Transportation Solutions (PTS), a business that employs ~41,000 people worldwide, manages one of the largest, most comprehensive and modern trucking fleets in North America with more than 387,500 trucks, tractors, and trailers under lease, rental, and/or maintenance contracts and provides innovative transportation, supply chain, and technology solutions to its customers. PAG is a member of the S&P Mid Cap 400, Fortune 500, Russell 1000, and Russell 3000 indexes.” Additional information is here: www.penskeautomotive.com.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Penske Automotive Group Posts Q1 2026 Net of $234.5M
Click to enlarge.
Penske Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE: PAG), a diversified international transportation services company and one of the world’s premier automotive and commercial truck retailers, today announced financial results for the first quarter of 2026. For the quarter, revenue was $7.9 billion compared to $8.0 billion for the same period in 2025. Net income attributable to common stockholders was $234.5 million compared to $257.7 million for the same period in 2025, and related earnings per share was $3.56 compared to $3.86 for the same period in 2025.*
“In the first quarter of 2026, our business delivered over 126,000 retail automotive and commercial truck units, generated $7.9 billion in revenue and $323.7 million in earnings before taxes. During the quarter, we continued to demonstrate a flexible approach to capital allocation by completing the acquisition of two Lexus dealerships in the Orlando metropolitan area of Central Florida, increasing the dividend paid to stockholders by 1.4% and repurchasing 170,393 shares of common stock,” said Chair Roger Penske.**
During the three months ending March 31, 2026, the Company repurchased 170,393 shares of common stock for approximately $26.4 million. As of March 31, 2026, $221.2million remained outstanding and available for repurchases under a securities repurchase program. As of March 31, 2026, the Company had approximately $1.3 billion in liquidity, including $84 million in cash and $1.2 billion of availability under its U.S. and international credit agreements and revolving mortgage facilities. The Company’s leverage ratio at March 31, 2026 was 1.8x.
“I was particularly pleased with the sequential increase in new and used vehicle gross profit per unit in our retail automotive business and the continued strength of our service and parts business, which increased retail automotive same-store revenue by 5% and related gross profit by 6%. Further, I am encouraged with the trends we are seeing across the trucking market as the freight environment improves and Class 8 orders were strong in recent months,” Penske said.
Retail Automotive Dealerships
For the three months ended March 31, 2026, total new units delivered decreased 5% and used units delivered decreased 1%. The decrease in new units is primarily related to the U.S. market from weather-related disruptions during January and February, the benefit in the prior period from tariff-related pull-forward of retail sales, and the lower demand for electric vehicles in the U.S. associated with regulatory easing and the expiration of tax credits. Total retail automotive revenue increased 1% to $7.0 billion and increased 1% on a same-store basis. Compared to the fourth quarter of 2025, new vehicle gross profit per unit increased $94 and used vehicle gross profit per unit increased $306. When compared to the prior year period, same-store retail automotive service and parts revenue increased 5%, gross profit increased 6%, and gross margin improved 60 basis points to 59.0%.
Retail Commercial Truck Dealerships
For the three months ended March 31, 2026, the Company’s retail commercial truck dealerships retailed 3583 new and used units and generated $694.6 million in revenue and $36.4 million in earnings before taxes. This compares to new and used units of 4714, revenue of $823.7 million, and $45.1 million in earnings before taxes during the same period in the prior year as lower order intake related to the weak freight environment in the third and fourth quarters of 2025 impacted truck deliveries during the first quarter of 2026. In recent months, the Class 8 market order activity began to increase as the freight recession started to show signs of improvement, with industry reports showing a 91% increase in Class 8 market orders for the three months ended March 31, 2026, when compared to the same period in the prior year. In retail commercial truck dealership operations experienced a 5% increase in service and parts revenue during the quarter.
Penske Transportation Solutions
Penske Transportation Solutions (“PTS”) is a l provider of full-service truck leasing, truck rental, contract maintenance, and logistics services. PTS operates a managed fleet with more than 387,500 trucks, tractors, and trailers under lease, rental and/or maintenance contracts. Penske Automotive Group has a 28.9% ownership interest in PTS and accounts for its ownership interest using the equity method of accounting. For the three months ended March 31, 2026, the Company recorded a 24% increase in earnings to $41.1 million as PTS operating results improved related to growth in full-service leasing, improved fleet utilization, lower operating expenses, and lower interest costs, partially offset by continued challenges in the rental market and by lower gain on sale of used trucks.
Corporate Development, Capital Allocation, Liquidity, and Leverage
In February 2026, the Company announced that it completed the acquisition of Lexus of Orlando and Lexus of Winter Park, both located in the Orlando metropolitan area of Central Florida. The acquisition is expected to add $450 million in estimated annualized revenue. Coupled with the acquisitions in November 2025, the Company has acquired two Toyota and four Lexus dealerships in the last six months which are expected to generate approximately $2 billion in estimated annualized revenues.
*AutoInformed on
**Penske Automotive Group
Penske Automotive Group, Inc., (NYSE: PAG) headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, says it is “a diversified international transportation services company and one of the world’s premier automotive and commercial truck retailers. PAG operates dealerships in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Australia and is one of the largest retailers of commercial trucks in North America for Freightliner. PAG also distributes and retails commercial vehicles, diesel and gas engines, power systems, and related parts and services principally in Australia and New Zealand. PAG employs more than 27,700 people worldwide. Additionally, PAG owns 28.9% of Penske Transportation Solutions (PTS), a business that employs ~41,000 people worldwide, manages one of the largest, most comprehensive and modern trucking fleets in North America with more than 387,500 trucks, tractors, and trailers under lease, rental, and/or maintenance contracts and provides innovative transportation, supply chain, and technology solutions to its customers. PAG is a member of the S&P Mid Cap 400, Fortune 500, Russell 1000, and Russell 3000 indexes.” Additional information is here: www.penskeautomotive.com.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.