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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2024
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Per Share Data and Stockholders' Equity | Earnings Per Share – The calculation of diluted earnings per share considers the potential dilutive effect of outstanding restricted stock units, restricted stock and stock options granted under Sonic’s stock compensation plans (and any non-forfeitable dividends paid on such awards).
Revenue from Contract with Customer | Revenue Recognition – 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. We do not include the cost of obtaining contracts within the related revenue streams since we elected the practical expedient to expense the costs to obtain a contract when incurred. Management has evaluated our established business processes, revenue transaction streams and accounting policies, and identified our 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 third-party vehicle financing and the sale of third-party service, warranty and other insurance contracts; and (5) the performance of vehicle maintenance and repair services and the sale of related parts and accessories. The transaction price for a retail vehicle sale is specified in the contract with the customer and encompasses both cash and non-cash considerations. In the context of a retail vehicle sale, customers frequently trade in their existing vehicles. The value of this trade-in is determined based on its stand-alone selling price as specified in the contract, utilizing various third-party pricing sources. There are no other non-cash forms of consideration associated with retail vehicle sales, and sales are reported net of sales tax and other similar assets. Generally, performance obligations are satisfied when the associated vehicle is delivered to a customer and customer acceptance has occurred, over time as the maintenance and repair services are performed, or at the time of wholesale and retail parts sales. We do 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). Retrospective finance and insurance revenues (“F&I retro revenues”) are recognized when the product contract has been executed with the end customer and the transaction price is 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, we utilize 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. We record revenue when vehicles are delivered to customers, as vehicle service work is performed and when parts are delivered. Conditions for completing a sale include having an agreement with the customer, including pricing, and it being probable that the proceeds from the sale will be collected. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 include approximately $2.2 million and $31.8 million, respectively, related to contract assets from F&I retro revenues recognition, which are recorded in receivables, net. In addition, we recorded approximately $19.7 million related to contract assets from F&I retro revenues recognition in other assets as of September 30, 2024. Changes in contract assets from December 31, 2023 to September 30, 2024 were primarily due to ordinary business activity, including the receipt of cash for amounts earned and recognized in prior periods. Please refer to Note 1, “Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” to the consolidated financial statements in Sonic’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 for further discussion of our revenue recognition policies and processes.
Error Correction | Out-of-Period Adjustment for the Correction of Errors – In the third quarter of 2024, Sonic identified errors in its previously issued financial statements. These errors have been corrected in the condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, through a cumulative out-of-period adjustment. Sonic has determined that these errors are not material to the previously issued financial statements, and the cumulative out-of-period adjustment for the correction of these errors is also not material to the financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024. Below is a summary of the corrected errors and their cumulative impact. In 2022 when the Company completed its purchase accounting for the 2021 stock acquisition of RFJ Auto Partners, Inc., the Company failed to recognize deferred income tax liabilities associated with franchise assets recorded in purchase accounting. According to ASC 805-740-23-3, a deferred tax liability or asset should be recognized for an acquired entity's taxable or deductible temporary difference, except for differences relating to the portion of goodwill for which amortization is not deductible for tax purposes. This understated goodwill and deferred income tax liabilities by $93.5 million. In addition, due to the absence of deferred income tax liabilities related to these franchise assets, the 2022 impairment of certain of these franchise assets did not include a reduction in the related deferred income tax liabilities leading to an overstatement of income tax expense by $31.0 million. Sonic corrected these errors in the current period by recording an increase in goodwill of $93.5 million, increasing deferred income tax liabilities by $62.5 million and recording a benefit to deferred income tax expense of $31.0 million.
Income Tax Disclosure | Income Taxes – During the three month period ended September 30, 2024, we identified an error related to certain tax benefits associated with the impairment of franchise assets in 2022 that impacted the Company's income statement for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and for the year-ended December 31, 2022, as well as interim and annual balance sheets for the periods since March 31, 2022. As a result, during the three-month period ended September 30, 2024, we recognized a $31.0 million discrete tax benefit related to tax benefits associated with the impairment of franchise assets in 2022 resulting in a favorable rate impact of 51.0% and 17.8% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively.

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