Lithia Motors (LAD) vs Penske Automotive Group (PAG)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Penske Automotive Group (PAG) has outperformed Lithia Motors (LAD) over the past year, gaining 14.5% versus a loss of 5.5%. Over five years, PAG leads with a +87.9% price change compared with -14.8% for LAD. Penske Automotive Group is the larger company by market cap ($13.00 billion vs $6.35 billion), about 2.0 times the size, while Lithia Motors is growing revenue faster (+4.0% vs -0.2%).
On valuation, Lithia Motors trades at a lower forward P/E (6.8x vs 13.8x for Penske Automotive Group). Penske Automotive Group offers the higher dividend yield (2.85% vs 0.82%). Penske Automotive Group converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 2.9% versus 2.2%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | LAD | PAG |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $288.87 | $198.05 |
| Market cap | $6.35B | $13.00B |
| 1-day change | +0.52% | +1.97% |
| YTD return | -13.53% | +22.70% |
| 1-year return | -5.53% | +14.48% |
| 5-year return | -14.78% | +87.87% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 9.57 | 13.93 |
| Forward P/E | 6.78 | 13.79 |
| EPS (TTM) | $30.19 | $14.22 |
| Dividend yield | 0.82% | 2.85% |
| Annual dividend | $2.37 | $5.64 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $37.63B | $31.81B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +4.00% | -0.18% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $819.60M | $935.40M |
| Gross margin | 15.23% | 16.40% |
| Operating margin | 4.24% | 4.03% |
| Net margin | 2.18% | 2.94% |
| 52-week high | $439.49 | $227.00 |
| 52-week low | $239.78 | $140.12 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -34.27% | -12.75% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +50.08% | +5.72% |
| Average volume | 301.56K | 425.30K |
| Shares outstanding | 21.98M | 65.66M |
| Employees | 30,000 | 28,600 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Retail-Auto Dealers and Gas Stations | Retail-Auto Dealers and Gas Stations |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Penske Automotive Group is about 2.0 times larger than Lithia Motors by market value ($13.00B vs $6.35B).
- PAG has outperformed LAD by 20.0 percentage points over the past year.
- Penske Automotive Group trades at a higher earnings multiple (13.9x vs 9.6x trailing P/E).
- Penske Automotive Group offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.85% vs 0.82%).
About Lithia Motors
LAD stock →Lithia Motors, Inc. operates as an automotive retailer in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.
Consumer Discretionary · Retail-Auto Dealers and Gas Stations · 30,000 employees
About Penske Automotive Group
PAG stock →Penske Automotive Group, Inc., a diversified transportation services company, operates automotive and commercial truck dealerships in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Retail Automotive, Retail Commercial Truck, Other, and Non-Automotive Investments.
Consumer Discretionary · Retail-Auto Dealers and Gas Stations · 28,600 employees
LAD vs PAG FAQ
Which is bigger, Lithia Motors or Penske Automotive Group?
Penske Automotive Group (PAG) is larger, with a market capitalization of $13.00B compared with $6.35B for Lithia Motors (LAD).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, LAD or PAG?
PAG returned +14.48% over the past 12 months, compared with -5.53% for LAD (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, LAD or PAG?
LAD has the lower trailing P/E at 9.6, versus 13.9 for PAG. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Lithia Motors or Penske Automotive Group?
Penske Automotive Group has the higher yield at 2.85%, compared with 0.82% for Lithia Motors.
Are Lithia Motors and Penske Automotive Group in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Retail-Auto Dealers and Gas Stations industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.