Sonic Automotive (SAH Quick QuoteSAH - Free Report) reported $3.45 billion in revenue for the quarter ended June 2024, representing a year-over-year decline of 5.5%. EPS of $1.47 for the same period compares to $1.83 a year ago.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of -2.73% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.55 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $1.39, the EPS surprise was +5.76%.

While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.

Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.

Here is how Sonic Automotive performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

• Total new vehicle units

  : 27,026 versus 28,125 estimated by two analysts on average.

• Gross Profit Per Unit - Total New Vehicle

  : $3,579 versus the two-analyst average estimate of $3,582.63.

• Gross Profit Per Unit - Used Vehicle

  : $1,508 versus $1,524.73 estimated by two analysts on average.

• Total used vehicle units

  : 25,668 compared to the 25,806 average estimate based on two analysts.

• Revenues- Wholesale vehicles

  : $71.30 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $78.51 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -22.1%.

• Revenues- Parts, service and collision repair

  : $444.10 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $458.58 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +0.1%.

• Revenues- New vehicles

  : $1.58 billion versus the four-analyst average estimate of $1.61 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -3.5%.

• Revenues- Finance, insurance and other, net

  : $172.60 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $165.50 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -1.5%.

• Revenues- Used vehicles

  : $1.19 billion versus $1.20 billion estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -9.2% change.

• Revenues- Total vehicles

  : $2.84 billion versus $2.91 billion estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -6.5% change.

• Franchised Dealerships- Same Store Revenue- Used Vehicles

  : $731.90 million versus $729.28 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -97% change.

• Franchised Dealerships- Same Store Revenue- New Vehicles

  : $1.56 billion versus $1.55 billion estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -94.3% change.

View all Key Company Metrics for Sonic Automotive here>>>

Shares of Sonic Automotive have returned +7% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -2.9% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), indicating that it could underperform the broader market in the near term.