February Activity Holds Steady Above Long-Term Average
February 2026 saw 25 dealership ownership changes, maintaining momentum slightly above the rolling 9-month average of 23 transactions per month. All changes were buy-sell transactions, with no store closures or new franchise openings recorded during the month.
Missouri led activity with 6 transactions, followed by Texas and Florida with 3 each. Other states with notable activity included South Carolina (3), New York (2), and Connecticut (2). Single transactions were recorded in Georgia, Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, Kansas, and Oregon.
Notable Transactions
Several significant deals highlighted the month's activity. Keating Auto Group expanded its Texas presence with two acquisitions from IDEA Auto Group, purchasing Toyota of Cedar Park in Cedar Park and City Limits Subaru in Buda. Both transactions were facilitated by Ivy List.
MileOne Autogroup made strategic moves in Missouri, acquiring two premium stores from Asbury Automotive Group. The transactions included Plaza Infiniti in St. Louis and Mercedes-Benz of Chesterfield in Chesterfield, both handled by The Presidio Group.
In Georgia, Lopez Automotive Group purchased Five Star Nissan of Albany from Five Star Automotive Group, with Performance Brokerage Services facilitating the deal.
Broker Spotlight
February saw active participation from dealership brokers, with The Presidio Group leading activity by facilitating 6 transactions. The investment banking firm, which often handles premium and luxury brand transactions, was particularly active in Missouri markets.
Performance Brokerage Services, the national dealership brokerage firm, completed 5 transactions across various markets. Ivy List, a dealership buy-sell advisory firm, handled 2 deals in Texas. Hacman Financial, Haig Partners, and Presidio Group each facilitated 1 transaction during the month.
What This Means for Vendors
The consistent transaction volume above the rolling average suggests an active M&A environment that vendors should monitor closely. With established groups like MileOne Autogroup and Keating Auto Group making strategic acquisitions, vendors may see opportunities for expanded relationships or need to adapt to new ownership preferences at acquired stores.
The geographic spread across 12 states indicates broad market activity, requiring vendors to stay alert to ownership changes beyond traditional high-activity markets. The mix of luxury, import, and domestic brand transactions suggests no particular brand segment is driving the activity.
Data reflects transactions identified through public records, press releases, and industry news sources. Some transactions may not yet be captured in our database. Stay ahead of dealership ownership changes that could impact your business with a subscription to The Buy-Sell Report.