Lithia as a Public Company
As of March 10, 2007 Lithia Motors, Inc. is one of the largest full-service new vehicle retailers in the United States with 108 stores in 46 markets located in 15 states in the Western and Midwestern United States. Lithia offers 30 brands of new domestic and imported vehicles, all makes of used vehicles, service and parts, and finance/insurance. Internet sales are centralized at "Lithia.com-America's Car & Truck Store". Lithia had total revenues of $3.17 billion in 2006. Lithia went public in December 1996 at $11/share. Over the last eight years the Company has achieved Compound Annual Growth Rates (CAGR) in sales of 40%, net profit of 39%, and in Earnings per Share (EPS) of 20% per year. Over the same period same-store sales grew at an average annual rate of 2.9%. The common stock trades on the NYSE under the ticker "LAD". For the full-year 2006, Lithia's net income from continuing operations was $40.3 million. Lithia earned $1.91 per share from continuing operations. Total revenues increased 11% to $3.17 billion. For the fourth quarter of 2006, Lithia's Board of Directors approved a quarterly dividend of $0.14 per share. Shareholders of record as of January 16, 2007 will receive the dividend that will be payable January 30, 2007.