Autotrader Cuts Share Count with Latest Buyback Tranche

Auto Trader ( (GB:AUTO) ) just unveiled an update.

Autotrader Group plc has continued its share buyback programme, repurchasing 2.1 million ordinary shares between 27 April and 1 May 2026 via Merrill Lynch International for cancellation. The purchases were executed at volume-weighted average prices ranging from about 494p to 507p per share, as part of the company’s ongoing capital management strategy.

Following these transactions, Autotrader now has 820,182,631 ordinary shares in issue, of which 4,363,294 are held in treasury, resulting in 815,819,337 voting rights for shareholders. The updated share count affects calculations for investors’ disclosure obligations under UK transparency rules and may incrementally enhance earnings per share by reducing the free float.

The most recent analyst rating on (GB:AUTO) stock is a Hold with a £605.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Auto Trader stock, see the GB:AUTO Stock Forecast page.

Spark’s Take on AUTO Stock

According to Spark, TipRanks’ AI Analyst, AUTO is a Outperform.

Auto Trader’s strong financial performance and strategic share buybacks are significant positives, supporting a stable outlook. However, weak technical indicators and challenges in certain revenue streams slightly temper the overall score.

To see Spark’s full report on AUTO stock, click here.

More about Auto Trader

Autotrader Group plc operates in the automotive marketplace industry, providing an online platform for buying and selling vehicles. The company focuses on digital automotive advertising and classified listings, serving car buyers, dealers and other automotive stakeholders primarily in the UK market.

Average Trading Volume: 5,186,840

Technical Sentiment Signal: Sell

Current Market Cap: £4.03B

For an in-depth examination of AUTO stock, go to TipRanks’ Overview page.