Automotive buy/sell market flourishes in Q1 despite economic concerns

According to the recently issued Kerrigan Advisors Blue Sky Report®, the auto dealership buy/sell market is off to a strong start in the first quarter of 2022, outperforming the first quarter of 2021.

72 dealership buy/sell transactions were reported in the first quarter resulting in a twelve-month record of 389 transactions (ending March 2022), representing 829 franchisees.

Average dealership blue sky values soared to a new high of $11.5 million during the quarter, up 4.6% from the end of 2021. Growth in quarterly dealership earnings topped the first quarter of 2021 by an estimated 27% as well.

Despite probable economic headwinds, Kerrigan Advisors anticipates a very active year for the buy/sell market in 2022, with high values limited only by the number of available dealerships for sale and supported by a highly successful auto retail industry.

“It was another extraordinary quarter for the buy/sell market, even in the face of turmoil in the financial markets,” said Erin Kerrigan, Founder and Managing Director of Kerrigan Advisors in a recent press release. “If this transaction pace continues, nearly every dealership in the US would trade hands in the next 20 years, leading to fewer single point dealers and a much higher concentration of vehicle sales amongst the leading consolidators.”


Did you enjoy this article? Read other articles on CBT News here. Please share your thoughts, comments, or questions regarding this topic by submitting a letter to the editor here, or connect with us at newsroom@cbtnews.com.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date or catch up on all of our podcasts on demand.

While you’re here, don’t forget to subscribe to our email newsletter for all the latest auto industry news from CBT News.

dealers