Document text
3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency services, April 11 Central Point's Arbor Day project will provide shade along Mingus Creek Evans Creek dams on track for removal this summer Since You Asked: A mountainous question — Pitt or McLoughlin? Jury awards more than 200K in Rogue River dog-barking case, orders dogs debarked Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services, April 11 Jury awards more than 200K in Rogue River dog-barking case, orders dogs debarked Alleged subscription scammers may be violating state restraining order Central Point police pull attempted theft suspect from prickly hiding spot Emergency services Politics and Elections Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Former state Senate President Brady Adams dies Arthur I. Cyr: Afghanistan progress is uneven but undeniable Jackson County Commissioners plan no tax on marijuana for one year Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Education Prepping before 9th grade Shumate says initiatives will require reserve spending Eagle Point school district violated union members' constitutional rights, federal judge says SOU celebrates Arbor Day early with awards and talks SOU student's play heads to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Environment Central Point's Arbor Day project will provide shade along Mingus Creek Evans Creek dams on track for removal this summer Nearly 400 steelhead die in Applegate fish-trap failure Forum looks at Crater Lake wilderness proposal A place to play State News Runners to follow historic salmon migration path Wyden lobbies for Pendleton research center funding Ex-Nike worker sentenced to probation in sneaker plot Oregon bill would make school vaccine rates available Google to expand data center, office in Oregon Nation - World Tsarnaev convicted on all charges in Boston Marathon bombing Obituaries Paul Inserra James Raymond (“Jimy”) Angel Peggy Gene Ritchie-Potter Anthony (Tony) Ray Hansen Ian Witter Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Sports Latest Stories Ducks top OSU on bases-loaded walk in 9th Panthers claim first SWC triumph No verdict reached in Hernandez trial Duncan keys 10th straight win for Spurs Strong pitching gives SOU pivotal sweep Varsity 541 College Sports Ducks top OSU on bases-loaded walk in 9th Strong pitching gives SOU pivotal sweep Inspirational Hilll dies from tumor Ashland's Norvell first SOU women's wrestler Duke’s Okafor will enter the NBA draft Pro Sports No verdict reached in Hernandez trial Duncan keys 10th straight win for Spurs Talent principal Santi gets call from NFL Spieth makes Masters look like child's play Curry resets 3-point mark in win over Blazers Community Sports Business Latest Stories New bosses take charge at Harry & David Erickson shores up business with three contracts Ride & Drive: 2015 Ram ProMaster City Blog: Erickson signs construction, firefighting and logging deals, but investors remain a tough sell Dancin Vineyards covers up Real Estate News Jackson County median home price hits $215,000 in first quarter People In Business People in Business, March 26, 2015 Transportation Erickson shores up business with three contracts Lithia Motors shares break the $100 mark Road to health: Bike and pedestrian paths play greater role in transportation project funding Rogue Disposal plans natural gas fueling site Agriculture New bosses take charge at Harry & David Dancin Vineyards covers up Broth maker leaves San Diego for Medford Opinion Latest Other Views: Keep Klamath water plan moving in Congress Our View: Emails contradict claims of Kitzhaber, Hayes Matthew T. Mangino: Shooting a fleeing suspect in the back Letters to the Editor, April 10 Guest Opinion: Conversion therapy on LGBT youth is child abuse Editorials Other Views: Keep Klamath water plan moving in Congress Our View: Emails contradict claims of Kitzhaber, Hayes Our View: All ethics reform bills should get a hearing Our View: Cheers and jeers Our View: No easy answers to Mexican refugee influx Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, April 10 Letters to the Editor, April 9 Letters to the Editor, April 8 Letters to the Editor, April 7 Letters to the Editor, April 6 Columns Matthew T. Mangino: Shooting a fleeing suspect in the back Guest Opinion: Conversion therapy on LGBT youth is child abuse Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Kent Bush: Facebook isn’t going anywhere George Will: When everything is a crime Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Conversion therapy on LGBT youth is child abuse Guest Opinion: Pot opponents have good reason for concern Guest Opinion: If Courtney kills bill, $15 minimum wage will go to the ballot Guest Opinion: Phoenix embraces Bee City USA designation Guest Opinion: Marijuana offers Oregon benefits, drawbacks Lifestyle Latest stories Steelheaders use social media to auction off a driftboat Hanging out at Hanging Rock Community blog: U.S. dietary guidelines change little with the times Religion briefs: Friday, April 10 Fishing Report: Friday, April 10 Food Community blog: U.S. dietary guidelines change little with the times Season Stepp: Try farmer’s market sunchoke in a creamy potato soup Page H. Onorato: Bringing spring to the dinner table Tammy Kelly: Asparagus is in season Power of 5 Home and Garden Garden Cameos: Good soil foundation of fabulous garden Ceramic tile: How it’s made and what’s new Dear Monty: How real estate relocation companies work Paul Rogers: Yard damage may not be as bad as it looks Home Help: 3 things to avoid when renovating your kitchen Health Health Watch: Combat common running and walking ailments Dr. Jeff Hersh: Distracted driving Dr. Murray Feingold: Keep laundry detergent packets away from kids Community blog: Fire Safety Your Mental Health: My husband denies he has PTSD Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs: Friday, April 10 Religion briefs: Friday, April 3 Religion briefs: Friday, March 27 Religion briefs Religion News: Presbyterian Church gives approval on same-sex marriage Milestones and Achievements New Arrivals: Sunday, April 12 Haga-Parks Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Five picks for entertainment this week The Brothers Reed celebrate new CD 'Sick as Folk' Live Music in Local Clubs Britt Festivals line-up kicks off June 6 Rhythm is on tap at the Northwest Percussion Festival Theater Oregon Cabaret Theatre's "The Musical!" delivers five clever Broadway parodies in Ashland OCT stages 'The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!)' Auditions for youth musical set at Camelot Review: From past into present in OSF's 'Long Day's Journey' ‘A Dream of Red Pavilions’ at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Music The Brothers Reed celebrate new CD 'Sick as Folk' Britt Festivals line-up kicks off June 6 Rhythm is on tap at the Northwest Percussion Festival Gene Burnett tonight at Liquid Assets in Ashland The Farr Side: No Zayn Malik? One Direction stays the course Community Events Ashland Co-Dependent Film Festival 2015 Pear Blossom Festival kicks off in Medford Ashland Independent Film Festival announces 2015 lineup Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival MailTribune.com rolls out new calendar Dining La Tapatia offers authentically delicious cuisine RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS: Sunday, April 5 The Laughing Clam in Grants Pass offers seafood-heavy menu Standing Stone owners to open Medford brewpub and restaurant Restaurant Inspections: March 29 Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Runners to follow historic salmon migration path ... Jury awards more than 200K in Rogue River dog-barking case, orders dogs debarked ... Alleged subscription scammers may be violating state restraining order ... Runners to follow historic salmon migration path ... Jury awards more than 200K in Rogue River dog-barking case, orders dogs debarked ... Alleged subscription scammers may be violating state restraining order ... AUTOMOTIVE Lithia Motors shares break the $100 mark By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 8, 2015 @ 3:46 pm Updated Apr 8, 2015 at 6:08 PM By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 8, 2015 @ 3:46 pm Updated Apr 8, 2015 at 6:08 PM » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Lithia Motors shares topped the $100 mark for the first time Wednesday, closing at $101.47 on the New York Stock Exchange. The Medford auto retailer's shares have flirted with the century mark during recent trading sessions, peaking above it but retreating below it prior to the closing bell. The stock has been ascending since plunging briefly last summer. On July 3, shares traded for $96.37, then on Oct. 13, the stock dropped precipitously, losing a third of its value and closing at $64.01. Since then, Lithia has been on the rise. The relentless upward movement comes as no surprise to Executive Chairman Sid DeBoer, who firmly believed the stock was undervalued at $30 a decade ago and guided the company back to stability after a credit crunch and market implosion drove both the auto industry and his company to the brink. "All we had to do was get through the crisis, and we knew we would somehow," said DeBoer, who sold off or shuttered 15 percent of the company's dealerships six years ago. "People always find a way when they are as resilient as our people and company are; the auto industry is that way and has proven it for generations. We just had to wade through the mess." When Chrysler and General Motors teetered on the edge of failure, it was a watershed moment for the industry and Lithia, one of Chrysler's largest retailers. In March 2009, Lithia's stock scraped along the bottom, with shares trading at $2.25. "It was a great period of time to purchase our stock," DeBoer said. "There was a crisis at the time; the whole idea of financing anything with debt was anathema. Thankfully, the government responded. The Fed kept interest rates low, making it possible for people to make money." Within two years, Lithia had stabilized and was leaner and stronger. In May 2012, DeBoer turned over day-to-day operations to his son, Bryan, who joined the company in 1989. In the past two years, the company has pushed to new heights, regularly reporting quarterly revenue of more than $1 billion. Last year, Lithia reported sales of $5.4 billion, and notched its biggest overnight expansion ever when it acquired DCH Auto Group. The $362.5 million deal gave Lithia a presence in the nation's largest markets on both coasts. Per-share earnings are higher than ever. Bryan DeBoer laid out a plan to reach $6-per-share earnings within nine years a little over two years ago. Last year, the company topped $5, and the founding DeBoer suggests $6 will come this year. "You generate a lot of cash in our business," Sid DeBoer said. "You deploy capital to make improvements and buy more stores." The DCH acquisition added 2,500 new employees on Oct. 1, 2014. "We administer all those employees from Medford, and there were some local jobs created, too," he said. Markets are unpredictable. Today's highs can disappear quickly, but DeBoer thinks there is still plenty of upside. "It's taken 19 years, but I told everyone my goal was to get the company to $100 per share," DeBoer said. "This is pretty exciting for a 71-year-old man. If we continue to execute, the stock price will follow. I don't believe that we are done at $100 per share. You can't dictate the macro world we live in, but we can dictate what we do within that framework. " Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or  [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at  www.twitter.com/GregMTBusiness , on Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/greg.stiles.31 , and read his blog at  www.mailtribune.com/ Economic Edge .   By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 8, 2015 @ 3:46 pm Updated Apr 8, 2015 at 6:08 PM » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501