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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Basis of Presentation | Basis of Presentation – The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of Sonic Automotive, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries (“Sonic,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our”) for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 are unaudited and have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements reflect, in the opinion of management, all material normal recurring adjustments necessary to fairly state the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire fiscal year or future interim periods, because the first quarter historically has contributed less operating profit than the second, third and fourth quarters. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included in Sonic’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements | Recent Accounting Pronouncements – In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09 as well as several subsequent amendments to amend the accounting guidance on revenue recognition. The amendments to the revenue accounting guidance are included in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” and are intended to provide a more robust framework for addressing revenue issues, improve comparability of revenue recognition practices and improve disclosure requirements. The amendments to this standard must be applied using either of the following transition methods: (1) a full retrospective approach reflecting the application of the standard in each prior reporting period with the option to elect certain practical expedients; or (2) a modified retrospective approach with the cumulative effect of initially adopting the standard recognized at the date of adoption (which requires additional footnote disclosures). These amendments are effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. On January 1, 2018, Sonic adopted ASC 606 (the “new revenue standard”) using the modified retrospective transition approach applied to contracts not completed as of the date of adoption. We recognized the cumulative effect of initially applying the new revenue standard as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. The comparative financial information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for that period. We do not expect the adoption of the new revenue standard to have a material impact on our net income on an ongoing basis. Under the new revenue standard, revenue is recognized when a customer obtains control of promised goods or services and in an amount that reflects the consideration that the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. The principles apply a five-step model that includes: (1) identifying the contract(s) with the customer; (2) identifying the performance obligation(s) in the contract(s); (3) determining the transaction price; (4) allocating the transaction price to the performance obligation(s) in the contract(s); and (5) recognizing revenue as the performance obligation(s) are satisfied. The standard also requires disclosure of the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. Sonic does not include the cost of obtaining contracts within the related revenue streams. Sonic has elected the practical expedient to expense the costs to obtain a contract when incurred. During the implementation process, management evaluated its established business processes, revenue transaction streams and accounting policies, and generally expects similar performance obligations to result under the new revenue standard as compared with prior U.S. GAAP. Management identified its material revenue streams to be (1) the sale of new vehicles; (2) the sale of used vehicles to retail customers; (3) the sale of used vehicles at wholesale auction; (4) arrangement of vehicle financing and the sale of service and other insurance contracts; and (5) the performance of vehicle maintenance and repair services and sale of related parts and accessories. As a result of this analysis during the implementation process, management expects the amounts and timing of revenue recognition to generally remain the same, with the exception of the timing of revenue recognition related to: (1) service and collision repair orders that are incomplete as of a reporting date (“work in process”) and (2) certain retrospective finance and insurance revenue earned in periods subsequent to the completion of the initial performance obligation (“F&I retro revenues”), both of which are subject to accelerated recognition under the new revenue standard. Work in process revenues are recognized over-time which is based on the completed work to date and F&I retro revenues are estimated each reporting period based on the expected value method using historical and projected data. F&I retro revenues can vary based on a variety of factors, including number of contracts and history of cancellations and claims. Accordingly, Sonic utilizes this data to constrain the consideration to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is subsequently resolved. Generally, performance conditions are satisfied when the associated vehicle is either delivered or returned to a customer and customer acceptance has occurred. The Company does not have any revenue streams with significant financing components as payments are typically received within a short period of time following completion of the performance obligation(s). The cumulative effect of the adjustments to our March 31, 2018 condensed consolidated statement of income and January 1, 2018 condensed consolidated balance sheet for the adoption of ASC 606 were as follows:
| Pre-ASC 606 Results |  | Effects of Adoption of ASC 606 |  | As Reported
| Three months ended |  |  | Three months ended
Income Statement | March 31, 2018 |  |  | March 31, 2018
Revenues: | (In thousands)
Parts, service and collision repair | $ | 351,202 |  |  | $ | 556 |  |  | $ | 351,758 |
Finance, insurance and other, net | 93,302 |  |  | 423 |  |  | 93,725 |
Total revenues | $ | 444,504 |  |  | $ | 979 |  |  | $ | 445,483 |
Cost of Sales: |  |  |  |  |
Parts, service and collision repair | $ | (181,842 | ) |  | $ | (288 | ) |  | $ | (182,130 | )
Selling, general and administrative expenses: |  |  |  |  |
Compensation | $ | (185,000 | ) |  | $ | (37 | ) |  | $ | (185,037 | )
Operating income (loss): | $ | 19,534 |  |  | $ | 654 |  |  | $ | 20,188 |
Balance Sheet | December 31, 2017 |  | Effects of Adoption of ASC 606 |  | January 1, 2018
Assets: |  |  | (In thousands) |  |
Receivables, net | $ | 482,126 |  |  | $ | 4,590 |  |  | $ | 486,716 |
Contract Assets (1) | — |  |  | 2,082 |  |  | 2,082 |
Liabilities: |  |  |  |  |
Other accrued liabilities | $ | 237,963 |  |  | $ | (1,286 | ) |  | $ | 236,677 |
Deferred income taxes | 51,619 |  |  | (1,468 | ) |  | 50,151 |
Stockholders’ Equity: |  |  |  |  |
Retained earnings | $ | 625,356 |  |  | $ | (3,918 | ) |  | $ | 621,438 |
(1) | Contract assets are included in Receivables, net in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
Receivables, net, at March 31, 2018 includes approximately $4.7 million related to work in process and a contract asset of approximately $2.6 million related to F&I retro revenue. Changes in contract assets from January 1, 2018 to March 31, 2018 were primarily due to ordinary business activity. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. The amendments in this ASU require that leases are classified as either finance or operating leases, a right-of-use asset and lease liability is recognized in the statement of financial position and repayments are classified within operating activities in the statement of cash flows. The amendments in this ASU are to be applied using a modified retrospective approach and are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018 (early adoption is permitted). We plan to adopt this ASU effective January 1, 2019. While management is still evaluating the impact of adopting the provisions of this ASU, management expects that upon adoption of this ASU, the presentation of certain items in our consolidated financial position, cash flows and other disclosures will be materially impacted, primarily due to the recognition of a right-of-use asset and an associated liability and a change in the timing and classification of certain items in our results of operations as a result of the derecognition of the lease liability. In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12 which amends the hedge accounting recognition and presentation requirements in ASC 815. This ASU expands and refines hedge accounting for both non-financial and financial risk components and aligns the recognition and presentation of the effects of the hedging instrument and the hedged item in the financial statements. It also includes certain targeted improvements to simplify the application of current guidance related to hedge accounting. For public companies, this ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018 (early adoption is permitted). We do not believe the effects of this pronouncement will materially impact our consolidated financial statements. In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, which allows the reclassification of stranded tax effects, as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Acts of 2017, from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. For public companies, this ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018 (early adoption is permitted). We are currently in the process of evaluating the effects of this pronouncement on our consolidated financial statements.
Principles of Consolidation | Principles of Consolidation – All of our subsidiaries are wholly owned and consolidated in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements, except for one 50%-owned dealership that is accounted for under the equity method. All material intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.
Income Tax Expense | Income Tax Expense – Beginning January 1, 2018, the federal income tax rate changed from 35.0% to 21.0% along with other tax provision changes that affect the deductibility of certain expenses. Sonic has considered these items in its calculation of income tax balances as of March 31, 2018. The overall effective tax rate from continuing operations was 47.8% and 113.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2018 includes a $0.9 million discrete benefit related to vested or exercised stock compensation, offset partially by a $0.2 million discrete charge related to changes in uncertain tax positions in the three months ended March 31, 2018. Income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2017 includes a discrete charge of approximately $0.6 million related to uncertain tax positions, offset partially by a $0.3 million discrete benefit related to vested stock compensation. Sonic’s effective tax rate varies from year to year based on the distribution of taxable income between states in which Sonic operates and other tax adjustments. Sonic expects the annual effective tax rate in future periods to fall within a range of 26% to 28% before the impact, if any, of changes in valuation allowances related to deferred income tax assets or discrete tax adjustments.

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