Velarion · Company Intelligence
Compensation Brief
Fiscal year 2025 · Filings through 2026-05-12

Sonic Automotive (SAH)

Fiscal year 2025 executive and director compensation, incentive-plan design, equity activity, and governance — every figure in this brief is traceable to its exact location in the company’s SEC filing — the document, the section, the page, and the table, linked directly.

$11,830,626
David Bruton Smith total, FY2025
25th
CEO pay percentile vs peers
CEO-to-median pay ratio
96.08%
Say-on-pay support, latest vote
Companies that benchmark against SAH
2 companies name SAH as a compensation peer

Each company listed discloses SAH in its own benchmarking peer group, as disclosed in each company's most recent proxy statement within the last two proxy seasons. Two companies are therefore absent by design: one that named SAH in an earlier year and no longer does, and one whose own most recent disclosure is older than the last two seasons.

01

Summary Compensation Table — fiscal year 2025

Named executive officerSalaryBonusStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentivePension / NQDCAll otherTotal
David Bruton Smith$1,737,276$0$3,979,216$0$5,646,147$0$467,987$11,830,626
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Jeff Dyke1,491,53802,261,02904,847,499640,007176,4839,416,556
President
Heath Byrd1,023,00001,762,23003,324,750247,607118,8186,476,405
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

A dash means the company reported no figure in that column; 0 means it reported zero. Figures are as printed in the filing, without adjustment.

Three-year trend — total compensation per named executive

Named executive officerFY2025 totalFY2024 totalFY2023 totalΔ FY20242025
David Bruton Smith$11,830,626$9,923,585$7,507,855+1,907,041
Jeff Dyke9,416,5567,923,8715,531,437+1,492,685
Heath Byrd6,476,4056,172,8594,291,721+303,546

Prior-year totals as disclosed in the corresponding proxy; deltas are computed values with the derivation shown in the register.

02

Equity transactions since the proxy statement was filed

No insider equity transactions reported since the proxy statement.

03

Grants of plan-based awards — fiscal year 2025

ExecutiveAwardGrant dateThresholdTargetGrantedMaximumGrant-date fair value
Heath ByrdPSU2025-02-0519,21721,35223,487$1,762,230
Jeff DykePSU2025-02-0524,65627,39630,1352,261,029
David Bruton SmithPSU2025-02-0543,39348,21453,0353,979,216
03b

Vehicle mix — grant-date fair value by award type

Named executive officerTime-vested (RSU)Performance-vested (PSU)Options / SARs% performance-vested
Heath Byrd$0$1,762,230$0100.0%
Jeff Dyke02,261,0290100.0%
David Bruton Smith03,979,2160100.0%

% performance-vested = PSU grant-date fair value ÷ (RSU + PSU + Options), a computed value with the derivation shown in the register.

04

Outstanding equity awards at fiscal year-end 2025

ExecutiveAwardShares unvestedExercise priceMarket value unvested
Jeff DykeRSU333,332$20,619,918
Heath ByrdRSU75,0004,639,500
SmithRSU53,3453,299,921
SmithRSU53,0353,280,745
Jeff DykeRSU36,7342,272,365
Jeff DykeRSU30,1351,864,151
Heath ByrdRSU28,6311,771,113
SmithRSU28,4911,762,453
Heath ByrdRSU23,4871,452,906
Jeff DykeRSU12,335763,043
Heath ByrdRSU9,613594,660
06

Say-on-pay — recent advisory votes

Meeting yearMeeting dateForAgainstAbstainSupportOutcome
20262026-04-29133,238,8025,439,35613,61496.08%Passed
20252025-04-23133,618,6405,406,78513,84496.11%Passed
20242024-04-24138,324,220316,25829,60299.77%Passed
20232023-05-15134,132,7916,011,88435,07395.71%Passed
20222022-04-27134,480,3968,665,072136,02393.95%Passed
20212021-04-28143,981,5181,073,29529,53999.26%Passed

Rows are labeled by annual-meeting year, with the meeting date beside each; the vote held in a given year acts on the prior fiscal year's compensation.

Say-on-pay — history, company's computation

Meeting yearMeeting dateApproval — company's computation
20262026-04-2996.08%a
20252025-04-2396.11%b
20242024-04-2499.77%c

a. Approved under the standard stated in the filing — “Abstentions and broker non-votes are not considered votes cast for the foregoing purposes and 3 will therefore have no effect on the vote for these proposals.”.

b. Approved under the standard stated in the filing — “Abstentions and broker non-votes are not considered votes cast for the foregoing purposes and will therefore have no effect on the vote for these proposals.”.

c. Approved under the standard stated in the filing — “Abstentions and broker non-votes are not considered votes cast for the foregoing purposes and will therefore have no effect on the vote for these proposals.”.

Approval percentages are the company's own reported computations under its own stated standard, not recomputed by Velarion. Where a company does not state a standard, none is assumed.

08

Director compensation — fiscal year 2025

DirectorCash feesStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentiveAll otherTotal
Marcus G. SmithNot independent$0$309,077$83,030$392,107
Keri A. KaiserIndependent · Audit Committee · Compensation Committee · NCG Committee (Chair)107,500216,37240,229364,101
William I. BelkIndependent · Lead Independent Director · Audit Committee (Chair) · Compensation Committee · NCG Committee137,500200,92121,814360,235
R. Eugene TaylorIndependent · Audit Committee · Compensation Committee (Chair) · NCG Committee128,750200,92120,990350,661
Michael HodgeNot independent52,500254,96936,558344,027
B. Scott SmithNot independent0309,07734,499343,576
William R. BrooksNot independent100,000206,09112,712318,803
David Bruton SmithEmployee director · Board Chair0
Jeff DykeEmployee director0
09

Board fee structure and ownership guideline

Annual cash retainer$105,000
Annual equity retainer$195,000
Per board meeting fee
Committee chair fees (audit / comp / nom-gov)20,000 / 12,500 / 12,500
Stock ownership guideline$5
09b

Total cost of the board

ComponentFY2025
Cash retainers and fees$526,250
Equity awards (grant-date value)$1,697,428
All other compensation$249,832
Total cost of the board$2,473,510

Computed as the sum of the director compensation table rows above; inputs and formula shown in the register.

10

Disclosed peer group — fiscal year 2025

The compensation peer group as the company disclosed it in its own proxy — the reference set behind the percentile above.

10a

Peer reciprocity

Of the companies Sonic Automotive names as compensation peers, which name it back in their own disclosed peer groups. A peer set the market reciprocates reads differently from one selected in a single direction.

Reciprocity shown where the peer's own current proxy has been read — each mark is cited in the register to that peer's filing. A dash means the peer's current proxy was read and names no reciprocal group including Sonic Automotive.

10b

Chief executive pay against the peer group

Most recent fiscal-year chief executive compensation at each disclosed peer, taken from that company's own proxy statement.

RankCompanyFYChief executiveSalaryStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentiveTotal
1AutoNation, Inc.2025Michael Manley$1,425,000$28,064,546$0$4,647,956$34,391,069
2The TJX Companies, Inc.2026Ernie Herrman1,700,00014,300,17308,386,10026,603,537
3Ross Stores, Inc.2025James Conroy1,450,00010,650,10004,233,13017,406,705
4Lithia Motors, Inc.2025Bryan DeBoer1,300,00010,736,20303,783,00015,895,468
5Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc.2025Lauren Hobart1,393,26911,000,16602,438,22115,103,545
6Dollar Tree, Inc.2025Michael Creedon, Jr.1,300,0009,443,15503,166,80014,775,215
7CarMax, Inc.2026William Nash927,2166,024,6955,249,987487,22614,245,563
8Macy’s, Inc.2025Tony Spring1,337,5009,007,86803,241,62014,104,067
9Genuine Parts Company2025William Stengel1,018,7509,749,97301,474,12912,863,479
10Sonic Automotive2025David Bruton Smith1,737,2763,979,21605,646,14711,830,626
11AutoZone, Inc.2025Philip Daniele III1,000,00027,7547,198,7891,257,7519,636,414
12Kohl’s Corporation2025Ashley Buchanan368,7509,000,005009,582,736
13Advance Auto Parts, Inc.2025Shane O'Kelly1,125,0006,335,52901,640,0819,121,929
14Carvana Co.2025Ernest C. Garcia, III961,6747,419,121008,382,555
15Dollar General Corporation2025Todd Vasos1,608,395006,020,1678,163,197
16Nordstrom, Inc.2023Erik Nordstrom773,0871,592,8451,061,9011,061,9004,540,362
17O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.2025Brad Beckham1,098,79801,415,6571,645,8074,231,108
Avis Budget Group, Inc.not in coverage universe
Penske Automotive Group, Inc.not in coverage universe
Group 1 Automotive, Inc.not in coverage universe
Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.not in coverage universe
Rush Enterprises, Inc.not in coverage universe
Hertz Global Holdings, Inc.not in coverage universe

Each peer's compensation is from its most recently filed proxy; fiscal years differ by company. Each peer's figures come from its own filings; the subject company is highlighted. Peers whose chief executive compensation is outside our coverage universe are stated as such, never left blank.

10c

Incentive design against the same peers

CompanyAnnual incentive payoutLong-term vehicle mixPSU measures include TSRCompensation consultant
Sonic Automotivenot disclosednot disclosednot disclosednot disclosed
Advance Auto Parts, Inc.97%PSU 50 · RSU 50NoF.W. Cook
Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.not disclosednot disclosednot disclosednot disclosed
AutoNation, Inc.163%PSU 60 · RSU 40Yes — Relative TSRMeridian Compensation Partners, LLC
AutoZone, Inc.96.75%Options 100not disclosedPearl Meyer
Avis Budget Group, Inc.not disclosednot disclosednot disclosednot disclosed
CarMax, Inc.30%PSU 50 · Options 50NoSemler Brossy
Carvana Co.not disclosedRSU 100not disclosedKorn Ferry
Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc.100%PSU 50 · RSU 50NoWillis Towers Watson
Dollar General Corporation182.4%RSU 50 · PSU 50NoPearl Meyer
Dollar Tree, Inc.162.4%PSU 50 · RSU 50NoMeridian Compensation Partners
Genuine Parts Company96%PSU 60 · RSU 40NoMeridian Compensation Partners, LLC
Group 1 Automotive, Inc.not disclosednot disclosednot disclosednot disclosed
Hertz Global Holdings, Inc.not disclosednot disclosednot disclosednot disclosed
Kohl’s Corporationnot disclosednot disclosednot disclosedNot explicitly named in provided text (referred to only as 'independent compensation consultant')
Lithia Motors, Inc.194.0%PSU 75 · RSU 25Noindependent compensation consultant
Macy’s, Inc.120.06%PSU 50 · RSU 50Yes — Relative Total Shareholder Return (rTSR)Semler Brossy Consulting Group LLC
Nordstrom, Inc.70%PSU 60NoSemler Brossy
O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.146.3%not disclosednot disclosedEquilar, Inc.
Penske Automotive Group, Inc.not disclosednot disclosednot disclosednot disclosed
Ross Stores, Inc.145.97%not disclosedNoExequity, LLP
Rush Enterprises, Inc.not disclosednot disclosednot disclosednot disclosed
The TJX Companies, Inc.180.7%PSU 54 · RSU 35 · Cash LTI 11NoPearl Meyer LLC

Read from each company's Compensation Discussion and Analysis: annual incentive payout as a percentage of target, the disclosed long-term vehicle mix, whether performance-share measures include a total shareholder return component, and the retained compensation consultant. “Not disclosed” appears only where the company's filing does not state the item.

11

Source register

Each figure's location is given both for the eye (section · page · table · row · column) and for a script (table/row/column index and exact character span in the filed document). Any figure can be independently confirmed against the source.

#SupportsDocumentFiledAccessionLocation in document
1Section 01, David Bruton SmithDEF 14A2026-03-060001628280-26-015631Section “Summary Compensation Table” · page 54. As printed: 11,830,626. Filing ↗machine: span 432590–432600
2Section 01, Jeff DykeDEF 14A2026-03-060001628280-26-015631Section “Summary Compensation Table” · page 54. As printed: 9,416,556. Filing ↗machine: span 448728–448737
3Section 01, Heath ByrdDEF 14A2026-03-060001628280-26-015631Section “Summary Compensation Table” · page 54. As printed: 6,476,405. Filing ↗machine: span 463725–463734
4Section 03, Heath Byrd PSUDEF 14A2026-03-060001628280-26-015631Section “Grants of Plan-Based Awards During” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: span 523788–523797
5Section 03, Jeff Dyke PSUDEF 14A2026-03-060001628280-26-015631Section “Grants of Plan-Based Awards During” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: span 512661–512670
6Section 03, David Bruton Smith PSUDEF 14A2026-03-060001628280-26-015631Section “Grants of Plan-Based Awards During” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: span 503238–503247
7Section 08, Marcus G. SmithDEF 14A2026-03-060001628280-26-015631Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 392,107. Filing ↗machine: span 277981–277988
8Section 08, Keri A. KaiserDEF 14A2026-03-060001628280-26-015631Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 364,101. Filing ↗machine: span 273268–273275
9Section 08, William I. BelkDEF 14A2026-03-060001628280-26-015631Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 360,235. Filing ↗machine: span 266241–266248
10Section 08, R. Eugene TaylorDEF 14A2026-03-060001628280-26-015631Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 350,661. Filing ↗machine: span 280325–280332
11Section 08, Michael HodgeDEF 14A2026-03-060001628280-26-015631Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 344,027. Filing ↗machine: span 270926–270933
12Section 08, B. Scott SmithDEF 14A2026-03-060001628280-26-015631Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 343,576. Filing ↗machine: span 275638–275645
13Section 08, William R. BrooksDEF 14A2026-03-060001628280-26-015631Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 318,803. Filing ↗machine: span 268586–268593
14Section 08, David Bruton SmithDEF 14A2026-03-060001628280-26-015631Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 0. Filing ↗
15Section 08, Jeff DykeDEF 14A2026-03-060001628280-26-015631Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 0. Filing ↗
16Section 06, 2026 voteForm 8-K2026-05-010001628280-26-029314Item 5.07 · say-on-pay result. As reported: 96.08% (votes for as printed: 133,238,802). Filing ↗
17Section 06, 2025 voteForm 8-K2025-04-240001043509-25-000015Item 5.07 · say-on-pay result. As reported: 96.11% (votes for as printed: 133,618,640). Filing ↗
18Section 06, 2024 voteForm 8-K2024-04-250001043509-24-000044Item 5.07 · say-on-pay result. As reported: 99.77% (votes for as printed: 138,324,220). Filing ↗
19Section 01 trend, Δ column (computed)ComputedcomputedΔ = current-FY total − prior-FY total per named officer.machine: formula: Δ = FY(n) − FY(n−1)
20Section 03b vehicle mix (computed)ComputedcomputedRSU / PSU / Options grant-date fair values summed per officer from the grants table; % performance-vested = PSU ÷ (RSU+PSU+Options).machine: formula: sums + PSU ratio
21Section 09b board cost (computed)ComputedcomputedCash 526,250 + equity 1,697,428 + all other 249,832 = 2,473,510, summed across the director compensation table rows.machine: formula: Σ = 2,473,510
22AutoNation, Inc., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-03-170001628280-26-018696CEO total compensation as printed in AutoNation, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 34,391,069. Filing ↗machine: span 461406–461416
23The TJX Companies, Inc., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-04-300000109198-26-000015CEO total compensation as printed in The TJX Companies, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 26,603,537. Filing ↗machine: r2 · c21 · span 787052–787062
24Ross Stores, Inc., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-04-070000745732-26-000013CEO total compensation as printed in Ross Stores, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 17,406,705. Filing ↗machine: span 525142–525152
25Lithia Motors, Inc., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-03-110001023128-26-000026CEO total compensation as printed in Lithia Motors, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 15,895,468. Filing ↗machine: t94 · r2 · c7 · span 1572109–1572119
26Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-05-010001089063-26-000015CEO total compensation as printed in Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 15,103,545. Filing ↗machine: t134 · r3 · c28 · span 969849–969859
27Dollar Tree, Inc., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-05-010001104659-26-053500CEO total compensation as printed in Dollar Tree, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 14,775,215. Filing ↗machine: t44 · r1 · c25 · span 1003747–1003757
28CarMax, Inc., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-05-120001170010-26-000045CEO total compensation as printed in CarMax, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 14,245,563. Filing ↗machine: r13 · c45 · span 642071–642081
29Macy’s, Inc., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-03-310001104659-26-037752CEO total compensation as printed in Macy’s, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 14,104,067. Filing ↗machine: t362 · r9 · c18 · span 1944230–1944240
30Genuine Parts Company, Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-02-270000040987-26-000011CEO total compensation as printed in Genuine Parts Company's own proxy. As printed: 12,863,479. Filing ↗machine: r2 · c21 · span 487449–487459
31Sonic Automotive (subject), Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-03-060001628280-26-015631CEO total compensation as printed in Sonic Automotive's own proxy. As printed: 11,830,626. Filing ↗machine: span 432590–432600
32AutoZone, Inc., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2025-10-280001104659-25-103210CEO total compensation as printed in AutoZone, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 9,636,414. Filing ↗machine: t176 · span 1797509–1797518
33Kohl’s Corporation, Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-04-100001104659-26-041769CEO total compensation as printed in Kohl’s Corporation's own proxy. As printed: 9,582,736. Filing ↗machine: t495 · r23 · c16 · span 3003658–3003667
34Advance Auto Parts, Inc., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-04-010001193125-26-138147CEO total compensation as printed in Advance Auto Parts, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 9,121,929. Filing ↗machine: t53 · r9 · c25 · span 1070819–1070828
35Carvana Co., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-03-250001690820-26-000024CEO total compensation as printed in Carvana Co.'s own proxy. As printed: 8,382,555. Filing ↗machine: t63 · r3 · c17 · span 494349–494358
36Dollar General Corporation, Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-04-070001104659-26-040394CEO total compensation as printed in Dollar General Corporation's own proxy. As printed: 8,163,197. Filing ↗machine: r1 · c48 · span 767818–767827
37Nordstrom, Inc., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2024-04-110000072333-24-000046CEO total compensation as printed in Nordstrom, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 4,540,362. Filing ↗machine: r2 · c27 · span 957938–957947
38O’Reilly Automotive, Inc., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-03-270000898173-26-000014CEO total compensation as printed in O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 4,231,108. Filing ↗machine: t234 · r14 · c14 · span 1809648–1809657
39Section 10a, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc. reciprocityDEF 14A0001089063-26-000015Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Sonic Automotive. Filing ↗
40Section 10a, Ross Stores, Inc. reciprocityDEF 14A0000745732-26-000013Ross Stores, Inc.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Sonic Automotive. Filing ↗
41Section 10a, Genuine Parts Company reciprocityDEF 14A0000040987-26-000011Genuine Parts Company's most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Sonic Automotive. Filing ↗
42Section 10a, Lithia Motors, Inc. reciprocityDEF 14A0001140361-24-012693Lithia Motors, Inc. names Sonic Automotive in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). Filing ↗
43Section 10a, Nordstrom, Inc. reciprocityDEF 14A0000072333-24-000046Nordstrom, Inc.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Sonic Automotive. Filing ↗
44Section 10a, O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. reciprocityDEF 14A0000898173-26-000014O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Sonic Automotive. Filing ↗
45Section 10a, Carvana Co. reciprocityDEF 14A0001690820-26-000024Carvana Co.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Sonic Automotive. Filing ↗
46Section 10a, AutoZone, Inc. reciprocityDEF 14A0001104659-25-103210AutoZone, Inc.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Sonic Automotive. Filing ↗
47Section 10a, CarMax, Inc. reciprocityDEF 14A0001170010-26-000045CarMax, Inc.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Sonic Automotive. Filing ↗
48Section 10a, Dollar General Corporation reciprocityDEF 14A0001104659-26-040394Dollar General Corporation's most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Sonic Automotive. Filing ↗
49Section 10a, Dollar Tree, Inc. reciprocityDEF 14A0001104659-26-053500Dollar Tree, Inc.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Sonic Automotive. Filing ↗
50Section 10a, Macy’s, Inc. reciprocityDEF 14A0001104659-26-037752Macy’s, Inc.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Sonic Automotive. Filing ↗
51Section 10a, Advance Auto Parts, Inc. reciprocityDEF 14A0001193125-26-138147Advance Auto Parts, Inc.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Sonic Automotive. Filing ↗
52Section 10a, AutoNation, Inc. reciprocityDEF 14A0001628280-26-018696AutoNation, Inc.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Sonic Automotive. Filing ↗