The end of the earnings season is always a good time to take a step back and see who shined (and who not so much). Let’s take a look at how vehicle retailer stocks fared in Q4, starting with Lithia (NYSE: LAD).

Buying a vehicle is a big decision and usually the second-largest purchase behind a home for many people, so retailers that sell new and used cars try to offer selection, convenience, and customer service to shoppers. While there is online competition, especially for research and discovery, the vehicle sales market is still very fragmented and localized given the magnitude of the purchase and the logistical costs associated with moving cars over long distances. At the end of the day, a large swath of the population relies on cars to get from point A to point B, and vehicle sellers are acutely aware of this need.

The 6 vehicle retailer stocks we track reported a slower Q4. As a group, revenues missed analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.8%.

Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 17.6% since the latest earnings results.

Lithia (NYSE: LAD)

With a strong presence in the Western US, Lithia Motors (NYSE: LAD) sells a wide range of vehicles, including new and used cars, trucks, SUVs, and luxury vehicles from various manufacturers.

Lithia reported revenues of $9.20 billion, flat year on year. This print fell short of analysts’ expectations by 0.6%. Overall, it was a mixed quarter for the company with an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates but a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.

"Our team delivered strong growth in used vehicles and aftersales, despite headwinds in new vehicles and continued margin pressures. This resulted in industry-leading same store gross profits declines of only 1%. Driveway Finance Corporation delivered record quarterly income while achieving strong penetration with excellent credit quality. " said Bryan DeBoer, President and CEO.

The stock is down 23.5% since reporting and currently trades at $249.70.

Read our full report on Lithia here, it’s free.

Best Q4: CarMax (NYSE: KMX)

Known for its transparent, customer-centric approach and wide selection of vehicles, Carmax (NYSE: KMX) is the largest automotive retailer in the United States.

CarMax reported revenues of $5.79 billion, down 6.9% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 3.3%. The business had a stunning quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

CarMax scored the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The market seems content with the results as the stock is up 1.2% since reporting. It currently trades at $41.55.

Is now the time to buy CarMax? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Weakest Q4: America's Car-Mart (NASDAQ: CRMT)

With a strong presence in the Southern and Central US, America’s Car-Mart (NASDAQ: CRMT) sells used cars to budget-conscious consumers.

America's Car-Mart reported revenues of $285.3 million, down 12% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 13.4%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ revenue estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

America's Car-Mart delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates and slowest revenue growth in the group. As expected, the stock is down 33.1% since the results and currently trades at $12.75.

Read our full analysis of America's Car-Mart’s results here.

Penske Automotive Group (NYSE: PAG)

With a diverse global network spanning the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Australia, Penske Automotive Group (NYSE: PAG) operates automotive and commercial truck dealerships across the globe, selling new and used vehicles while providing service, parts, and financing options.

Penske Automotive Group reported revenues of $7.77 billion, flat year on year. This number topped analysts’ expectations by 2.2%. Aside from that, it was a slower quarter as it logged a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ gross margin estimates.

Penske Automotive Group scored the fastest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is down 9% since reporting and currently trades at $149.60.

Read our full, actionable report on Penske Automotive Group here, it’s free.

AutoNation (NYSE: AN)

With a vast network of over 300 locations strategically concentrated in America's Sunbelt region, AutoNation (NYSE: AN) operates one of America's largest networks of automotive dealerships, selling new and used vehicles, parts, and services across multiple brands.

AutoNation reported revenues of $6.93 billion, down 3.9% year on year. This result lagged analysts' expectations by 3.6%. Overall, it was a softer quarter as it also produced a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA and revenue estimates.

The stock is down 4.3% since reporting and currently trades at $195.35.

Read our full, actionable report on AutoNation here, it’s free.

Market Update

Late in 2025 into early 2026, there was hand wringing around artificial intelligence. For software companies, the fear was that AI would erode pricing power and compress margins as new tools made it easier to replicate what once required expensive enterprise platforms. Crypto investors had their own version of the same anxiety: if AI agents could trade, allocate capital, and manage wallets autonomously, what exactly was the long-term value of today’s crypto infrastructure?

These concerns triggered a noticeable rotation away from these sectors and into safer havens. But markets rarely dwell on one narrative for long. Spring 2026 came, and the focus shifted abruptly from technological disruption to geopolitical risk. The US’ conflict with Iran became the dominant driver of market psychology, and when geopolitics takes center stage, the script changes quickly. Investors stop debating growth rates and start worrying about oil supply, inflation, and global stability.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Hidden Gem Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.