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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies 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 and nine months ended September 30, 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 – 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 recognition 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 guidance must be applied using either of the following transition methods: (1) a full retrospective approach reflecting the application of the amendments 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 applying the amendments recognized at the date of adoption (which requires additional footnote disclosures). These amendments were 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 new revenue 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 wholesale used vehicles at third-party auctions; (4) the arrangement of vehicle financing and the sale of service and other insurance contracts; and (5) the performance of vehicle maintenance and repair services and the sale of related parts and accessories. As a result of this evaluation 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 based on the completed work to date and F&I retro revenues are recognized when the product contract has been executed with the end customer and are estimated each reporting period based on the expected value method using historical and projected data. F&I retro revenues, which represent variable consideration, subject to a constraint, are to be included in the transaction price and recognized when or as the performance obligation is satisfied. 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 historical and projected 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 or over time as the maintenance and repair services are performed. Sonic 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 September 30, 2018 condensed consolidated statements 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 | September 30, 2018 |  |  |  | September 30, 2018
| (In thousands) |  |  |  |
Revenues: |  |  |  |  |
Parts, service and collision repair | $ | 340,600 |  | $ | 2,518 |  | $ | 343,118
Finance, insurance and other, net | 96,031 |  | 2,030 |  | 98,061
Total revenues | $ | 436,631 |  | $ | 4,548 |  | $ | 441,179
Cost of Sales: |  |  |  |  |
Parts, service and collision repair | $ | (175,153) |  | $ | (1,149) |  | $ | (176,302)
Selling, general and administrative expenses | $ | (288,639) |  | $ | (383) |  | $ | (289,022)
Operating income (loss): | $ | 45,121 |  | $ | 3,016 |  | $ | 48,137
| Pre-ASC 606 Results |  | Effects of Adoption of ASC 606 |  | As Reported
| Nine Months Ended |  |  |  | Nine Months Ended
Income Statement | September 30, 2018 |  |  |  | September 30, 2018
| (In thousands) |  |  |  |
Revenues: |  |  |  |  |
Parts, service and collision repair | $ | 1,041,424 |  | $ | 206 |  | $ | 1,041,630
Finance, insurance and other, net | 289,937 |  | 5,953 |  | 295,890
Total revenues | $ | 1,331,361 |  | $ | 6,159 |  | $ | 1,337,520
Cost of Sales: |  |  |  |  |
Parts, service and collision repair | $ | (537,990) |  | $ | (145) |  | $ | (538,135)
Selling, general and administrative expenses | $ | (871,394) |  | $ | (16) |  | $ | (871,410)
Operating income (loss): | $ | 112,974 |  | $ | 5,998 |  | $ | 118,972
Balance Sheet | December 31, 2017 |  | Effects of Adoption of ASC 606 |  | January 1, 2018
|  |  | (In thousands) |  |
Assets: |  |  |  |  |
Receivables, net | $ | 482,126 |  | $ | 4,590 |  | $ | 486,716
Contract assets (1) | — |  | 2,082 |  | 2,082
Liabilities: |  |  |  |  |
Other accrued liabilities | $ | 237,963 |  | $ | 1,286 |  | $ | 239,249
Deferred income taxes | 51,619 |  | 1,468 |  | 53,087
Stockholders’ Equity: |  |  |  |  |
Retained earnings | $ | 625,356 |  | $ | 3,918 |  | $ | 629,274
(1) Contract assets are included in receivables, net in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. Receivables, net at September 30, 2018 includes approximately $4.7 million related to work in process and a contract asset of approximately $8.0 million related to F&I retro revenues. Changes in contract assets from January 1, 2018 to September 30, 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 in the process of quantifying 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 in our consolidated balance sheets and a change in the timing and classification of certain items in our consolidated statements of income and consolidated statements of cash flows as a result of the derecognition of the lease liability. We are currently implementing the changes required under this ASU by identifying and assessing our existing lease contracts and importing lease data into specialized lease accounting software to meet the future reporting requirements of this ASU. As part of our implementation plan, we are also evaluating the changes in internal controls and processes that are necessary to implement this ASU, but do not expect material changes. We expect to provide a quantitative disclosure of the impact of the adoption of this ASU in our Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2018. In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12 which amends the hedge accounting recognition and presentation requirements in ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging. 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 ASU 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 ASU on our consolidated financial statements. In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07 to expand the scope of ASC Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation, to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from non-employees. 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 ASU on our consolidated financial statements. 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 – Beginning January 1, 2018, the federal corporate income tax rate changed from 35.0% to 21.0% along with other tax provision changes that affect the deductibility of certain expenses. Sonic considered these items in its calculation of income tax amounts as of September 30, 2018 and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. The overall effective tax rate from continuing operations was 32.4% and 31.1% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, and 41.7% and 41.0% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively. Income tax expense for the three months ended September 30, 2018 includes a $0.8 million discrete charge for non-deductible executive officer compensation related to executive transition costs. Income tax expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 includes a $0.8 million discrete charge for non-deductible executive officer compensation related to executive transition costs, a $0.2 million discrete charge related to changes in uncertain tax positions and a $0.6 million discrete charge for non-deductible book goodwill related to dealership dispositions, offset partially by a $0.9 million discrete benefit related to vested or exercised stock compensation. Income tax expense for the three months ended September 30, 2017 includes a $0.4 million discrete charge related to a non-deductible asset impairment charge. Income tax expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 includes a $0.4 million discrete charge related to a non-deductible asset impairment charge and a benefit of approximately $0.5 million as a result of the adoption of ASU 2016-09 which requires all book-tax differences related to the exercise of stock options or vesting of restricted stock or restricted stock units to flow through the provision for income taxes. Sonic’s effective tax rate varies from year to year based on the distribution of taxable income between states in which the Company operates and other tax adjustments. Sonic expects the annual effective tax rate in future periods to fall within a range of 26.0% to 28.0% before the impact, if any, of changes in valuation allowances related to deferred income tax assets or discrete tax adjustments.

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