Penske Automotive Group
PAG on NYSE. Penske Automotive Group sells cars, trucks, and engines to people and businesses. Market value $13.2bn.
Price checks use the past 12 months to June 2026. Quality checks use five annual reports, the latest for the year to December 2025.
Should I look at this?
Worth a closer look
Why it could be worth it
What to watch out for
Nothing stood out in the numbers we check.
This is not advice. Check the numbers below.
For every $100 of what the whole company costs, it produced $4.53 of spare cash in the past 12 months. A savings account pays about $4.
You pay 12.8 years of operating profit for the business. The average large US company costs around 18.
Each dollar kept in the business earns 18 cents a year. Above 10 is good.
Quality score: 86 of 100. Price score: 90 of 100. Our list needs 70 on quality and 60 on price.
$199.01 a share, 42% above its 1-year low
Over the past year the price has ranged from $140.12 to $227.00.
Dividend: 2.6% a year
Paid every year for at least 5 years
Payouts have jumped around in recent years, so this may not repeat.
Prices from Tuesday’s close (6 October).
Five years of cash, in billions
| Revenue | |||||
| Revenue | $25.6bn | $27.8bn | $30.9bn | $31.9bn | $31.8bn |
| Operating margin | |||||
| Operating margin | 5.3% | 5.3% | 4.6% | 4.3% | 4.0% |
| Debt to equity | |||||
| Debt to equity | 0.36 | 0.39 | 0.34 | 0.34 | 0.39 |
| Shares outstanding | |||||
| Shares outstanding | 0.07bn | 0.07bn | 0.07bn | 0.07bn | 0.07bn |
Health checks
- Free cash flow positive5 of 5 years
- Accounting looks honest (Beneish)Nothing unusual
- Financial strength (Piotroski)7 of 9
- Profit backed by cash (accruals)Yes
- Debt0.39× equity
- Revenue growth, five yearsSlow, 9.2% a year
- Buying back its own sharesYes, 8% fewer since 2021
The quarter to June 2026
How the business did, compared with the same quarter a year earlier.
- Sales: $8.5 billion last quarter, up 6% on a year ago.
- Profit: $260 million, down 2% on a year ago.
- It keeps 4 cents of each $1 of sales as operating profit, about the same as a year earlier.
- Spare cash over the past 12 months: $592 million, down from $706 million.
- 1% fewer shares than a year ago. Each share owns a bit more of the company.
- Debt is $2.4 billion more than cash, up from $1.6 billion a year ago.
- Sales grew on a year ago in 2 of the last 4 quarters.
| Quarter to | Amount |
|---|---|
| September 2024 | $7.9bn |
| December 2024 | $8.1bn |
| March 2025 | $8.0bn |
| June 2025 | $8.0bn |
| September 2025 | $8.1bn |
| December 2025 | $7.8bn |
| March 2026 | $7.9bn |
| June 2026 | $8.5bn |
| Quarter to | Amount |
|---|---|
| September 2024 | $238m |
| December 2024 | $249m |
| March 2025 | $258m |
| June 2025 | $267m |
| September 2025 | $225m |
| December 2025 | $186m |
| March 2026 | $235m |
| June 2026 | $260m |
From the company's quarterly reports to the SEC.
Dates
- Next results (estimated)
- n/a
- Last annual report (10-K)
- 27 February 2026
- Next quarterly (estimated, 10-Q)
- 29 October 2026
Who owns it
4 long-term investors we follow own it, unchanged from 4 last quarter. 392 funds in all.
- GAMCO InvestorsMario Gabelli
- Value
- $71m
- Share of fund
- 0.6%
| Fund | Value | Share of that fund | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| LSV Asset ManagementJosef Lakonishok | $121m | 0.2% | Cut |
| GAMCO InvestorsMario Gabelli | $71m | 0.6% | |
| Horizon KineticsMurray Stahl | $25m | 0.3% | Cut |
| Gotham Asset ManagementJoel Greenblatt | $20m | <0.1% | Added |
Largest holders overall
- BlackRock$418mCut
- Dimensional Fund Advisors LP$295mAdded
- Victory Capital Management$294m
- Bank of Montreal /can$148m
- Vanguard Portfolio Management$143mCut
- Vanguard Capital Management$137m
- LSV Asset Management$121mCut
- Charles Schwab Investment Management$113mAdded
- State Street$112m
- Morgan Stanley$105m
From 13F filings for the quarter ended 30 June 2026.
Big holders and activists
2 investors own more than 5%.
- Penske CorporationInsider or founderat least 52.2%(filed with 1 related holder)Since 22 July 2026
What they said
Item 4 of the Schedule 13D is hereby amended and supplemented by adding the following after the final paragraph thereof: On July 22, 2026, the Investor Group submitted a non-binding proposal (the "Proposal") to the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") to acquire all…
Read the filing - Mitsui & Co., Ltd.Strategic holderat least 20.3%+0.2 pts(filed with 1 related holder)Since 22 July 2026
What they said
Item 4 of the Statement is hereby amended and supplemented as follows: On July 22, 2026, the PC-Mitsui Investors submitted a non-binding proposal (the "Proposal") to the board of directors of the Issuer (the "Board") to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of…
Read the filing
| Holder | Stake | Since | |
|---|---|---|---|
Penske Corporation Insider or founder | at least 52.2% (filed with 1 related holder) | 22 July 2026 | What they saidItem 4 of the Schedule 13D is hereby amended and supplemented by adding the following after the final paragraph thereof: On July 22, 2026, the Investor Group submitted a non-binding proposal (the "Proposal") to the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") to acquire all… Read the filing |
Mitsui & Co., Ltd. Strategic holder | at least 20.3%+0.2 pts (filed with 1 related holder) | 22 July 2026 | What they saidItem 4 of the Statement is hereby amended and supplemented as follows: On July 22, 2026, the PC-Mitsui Investors submitted a non-binding proposal (the "Proposal") to the board of directors of the Issuer (the "Board") to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of… Read the filing |
From Schedule 13D and 13G filings: anyone owning more than 5% must file one.
What insiders did
No insider bought shares on the open market in the last 12 months. 2 sold $832,167.
- Hulgrave MichelleEVP & CFOSold
- Date
- 2 June 2026
- Shares
- 1,500
- Price
- $171.80
- Value
- $257,700
- SMITH GREG CDirectorSold
- Date
- 18 May 2026
- Shares
- 1,488
- Price
- $160.02
- Value
- $238,110
- Hulgrave MichelleEVP & CFOSold
- Date
- 24 November 2025
- Shares
- 2,100
- Price
- $160.17
- Value
- $336,357
| Date | Who | Did | Shares | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 June 2026 | Hulgrave Michelle EVP & CFO | Sold | 1,500 | $171.80 | $257,700 |
| 18 May 2026 | SMITH GREG C Director | Sold | 1,488 | $160.02 | $238,110 |
| 24 November 2025 | Hulgrave Michelle EVP & CFO | Sold | 2,100 | $160.17 | $336,357 |
From Form 4 filings: insiders must report trades in their own company's shares within two days.
Warning signs in its filings
Problems the company itself reported to the SEC, in its own words.
None of the warning signs we check for were found.
We look for five warning signs: doubt it can keep going, weak checks on its own accounts, a notice that its past accounts can't be relied on, a change of auditor, and one customer bringing in a big share of sales. We don't check lawsuits, investigations or debt yet.
We checked the auditor's report, internal controls, restatement notices, auditor changes and big customers in the 10-K filed 27 Feb 2026, plus the 10-Q filed 30 Jul 2026 and 6 later 8-Ks.
A 10-K is the yearly report every US company files with the SEC. An 8-K is a short notice of a big event.
What could go wrong
Cheap for a reason is the question the numbers cannot answer.
Whether the price already reflects the risks is what the deep dive is for.
What changed in the risks this year
Companies must list what could hurt them each year. These are the parts that changed since last year’s report.
Significant adverse geo-political events, weather-related events, supply chain issues, or other events that interrupt vehicle or parts…
Significant adverse geo-political events, weather-related events, supply chain issues, or other events that interrupt vehicle or parts supply to our dealerships would likely have a significant and adverse impact on the automotive or commercial vehicle industries, including us, particularly if the events impact any of the manufacturers whose franchises generate a significant percentage of our revenue. In October 2025, the Dutch government invoked emergency powers to seize control of Nexperia, a subsidiary of a Chinese company and an important supplier of basic chips used in vehicles, prompting the Chinese government to ban exports of the company's finished products. This shortage impacted several manufacturers, most notably, Honda, who experienced reduced production in the fourth quarter of 2025. In September 2025, a fire at a major U.S. aluminum production facility caused significant damage which impacted supplies to various manufacturers. On September 2, 2025, Jaguar Land Rover (“JLR”) disclosed that it had experienced a significant cybersecurity incident that resulted in the temporary shutdown of certain production facilities and information technology systems. This disruption has led to continued delays in new vehicle deliveries, reduced availability of certain models, and interruptions in certain parts supply. These and other events affected, and could continue to affect, the timing of new vehicle deliveries to our dealerships, which may materially and adversely affect us.
Read moreChanges to the retail delivery model, including increased digital retailer competition, efforts to sell vehicles directly outside the franchise system, and transition to an agency model of distribution could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows.
In October 2025, the Dutch government invoked emergency powers to seize control of Nexperia, a subsidiary of a Chinese company and an important supplier of basic chips used in vehicles, prompting the Chinese government to ban exports of the company's finished products. This shortage impacted several manufacturers, most notably, Honda, who experienced reduced production in the fourth quarter of 2025. In September 2025, a fire at a major U.S. aluminum production facility caused significant damage which impacted supplies to various manufacturers. Rare earth minerals are broadly used within the vehicle supply chain. Trade tensions has resulted in China threatening to withhold some of those minerals. These and other events affected, and could continue to affect, the timing of new vehicle deliveries to our dealerships, which may materially and adversely affect us.
Read moreChanges to the retail delivery model, including increased digital retailer competition, efforts to sell vehicles directly outside the franchise system, and transition to an agency model of distribution could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows.
Could happenOur financing activities with customers are subject to truth-in-lending, consumer leasing, equal credit opportunity, and similar regulations as well as motor vehicle finance laws, installment finance laws, insurance laws, usury laws, and other installment sales laws. In the U.K., the Financial Conduct Authority (the "FCA") regulates financial services firms and financial markets, including our activities in acting as broker of vehicle financing. The FCA has reviewed the vehicle finance industry concerning certain practices which, in the FCA’s determination, may have been unfair to customers, including with respect to vehicle financing commission disclosures. In October 2025, the FCA proposed a redress scheme requiring lenders to compensate customers whose financing arrangements are deemed unfair because they involved an undisclosed discretionary commission arrangement, or undisclosed high levels of commission paid to dealers, or there was an undisclosed exclusivity or similar arrangement between the lender and broker. Under the FCA’s proposed redress scheme, lenders would bear primary responsibility for delivering the proposed scheme including identifying affected customers, assessing potential liability and administering and paying redress. The FCA has indicated that dealers will be required to support lenders by providing relevant documentation and information necessary for lenders to implement the scheme. This new proposed redress scheme invited comment by industry participants with that consultation closing in December 2025. The final detail of the redress scheme is expected to be announced in the first quarter of 2026 and implemented later in the same year. The scheme may be subject to industry legal challenges. However, we will be subject to significant administrative obligations in connection with the redress scheme, if implemented, and it is possible that lenders could seek to directly or indirectly offset their redress obligations under the scheme from dealers. While the terms of the final redress scheme and its repercussions are presently unknown, it could materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Read moreCustomers.
Could happenCustomers. PTS has a more concentrated customer base than we do and is subject to changes in the financial health of its customers, changes in their asset utilization rates, and increased competition for those customers. PTS is subject to credit risk associated with accounts receivable from its larger customers. If one or more of its larger customers were to become bankrupt, insolvent, or otherwise were unable to pay for the services PTS provides, PTS may incur significant write-offs of accounts receivable or incur lease or asset impairment charges that could adversely affect its operating results and financial condition.
Read moreChanges to the retail delivery model, including increased digital retailer competition, efforts to sell vehicles directly outside the franchise system, and transition to an agency model of distribution could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows.
Could happenPTG sells new and used heavy- and medium-duty commercial trucks, parts and service, and offers collision repair services. PTS, with its broad product offering including full-service truck leasing, contract maintenance, and truck rental, along with logistics services, is one of the largest purchasers of commercial trucks in North America. The EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ("NHTSA") have been building on federally mandated corporate average fuel economy standards, which are scheduled to increase substantially for certain vehicles through at least 2032 pursuant to existing regulations, and legislative and regulatory efforts in California are seeking higher fuel standards, stringent emissions reductions and a move toward zero emissions fleets while also requiring public disclosures on emissions and other climate-related matters. However, under the current U.S. administration, the EPA and NHTSA have taken steps to revise or scale back their regulations, and Congress has passed resolutions signed by President Trump purporting to revoke a number of waivers necessary for California and other states to engage in their own rulemaking. Moreover, in February 2026, the EPA rescinded its 2009 final rule under the Clean Air Act which found that GHGs endanger the public health and welfare of current and future generations, which forms the basis of the EPA regulatory authority to regulate GHG emissions. These regulatory efforts are expected to face legal challenges and their outcome is uncertain.
Read more
The deep dive
Everything above is arithmetic on public filings. The deep dive reads the last ten years of annual reports, the proxy statements, and the earnings calls, then argues the case the way Buffett, Klarman, and Hohn would, and checks every claim against the source.
- What the business is worth, as a range, and the margin of safety at today’s price
- Prices to start buying, buy, and buy hard
- The three things that would make this a mistake
- Every number footnoted to the filing it came from
Your first deep dive is free.
Not advice. Numbers on this page come from SEC filings and are updated each night; prices are updated again after the US market closes. The five-year figures are rounded.