In February 2026, the U.S. auto industry regained its footing after experiencing a 7.4% decline in the SAAR in January. From January to February, the SAAR increased by 6.3%, reflecting a notable increase from 14.8 million light total units sold in January to 15.8 million units sold in February. However, on a year-over-year basis, the SAAR fell 1.5% from February 2025, the fifth consecutive month of year-over-year decreases.

John Murphy’s move from Wall Street to Haig Partners reflects a shift from quarter-to-quarter forecasting toward long-term, research-driven strategy for dealership operators. He sees structural valuation support in the franchise model and significant untapped earnings potential through lifecycle customer retention and disciplined capital allocation.

January 2026 SAAR declined to 14.9 million units, reflecting seasonal weakness, weather disruption, and lingering effects from Q4 tariff and EV credit dynamics. While transaction prices and consumer spending remain firm, brand-level inventory divergence and affordability pressures are shaping margin outlooks for dealers.