CarGurus Inc (CARG)
NASDAQ:CARG
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CarGurus (CARG) AI Stock Analysis

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CARG

CarGurus

(NASDAQ:CARG)

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Neutral 68 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:68Neutral
Price Target:
$36.00
▲(0.98% Upside)
CarGurus' overall stock score is driven by strong financial performance and positive earnings call sentiment, highlighting growth and strategic initiatives. However, technical analysis indicates bearish trends, and the valuation suggests potential overvaluation, which tempers the overall score.
Positive Factors
International Expansion
Strong international growth, particularly in Canada and the U.K., indicates successful market penetration and potential for further expansion.
Product Innovation
Introduction of innovative tools like PriceVantage enhances dealer profitability and inventory turnover, strengthening competitive advantage.
Cash Flow Management
Robust cash flow management ensures financial flexibility and supports strategic investments and operational resilience.
Negative Factors
Revenue Growth Volatility
Inconsistent revenue growth could indicate challenges in sustaining market demand or competitive pressures, affecting long-term stability.
CarOffer Wind Down
Winding down CarOffer may lead to revenue loss and reflects challenges in diversifying revenue streams, impacting growth prospects.
Cookie Consent Regulation Impact
Regulatory changes affecting user data tracking could reduce engagement metrics, impacting advertising revenue and platform effectiveness.

CarGurus (CARG) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

CarGurus Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionCarGurus (CARG) is an online automotive marketplace that connects buyers and sellers of new and used vehicles. Founded in 2006, the company operates primarily in the automotive sector, providing a platform for consumers to research and compare car listings, read reviews, and connect with local dealerships. CarGurus aims to simplify the car buying process while offering tools such as price analysis, vehicle history reports, and financing options to enhance the user experience.
How the Company Makes MoneyCarGurus generates revenue primarily through its dealer services and advertising segments. The company offers subscription-based services to automotive dealers, allowing them to list their inventory on the CarGurus platform, gain access to valuable analytics, and utilize marketing tools to enhance their visibility. Additionally, CarGurus earns revenue from lead generation, where they charge dealerships for connecting them with potential buyers. The platform also provides cost-per-click advertising options for manufacturers and dealerships, further diversifying its revenue streams. Strategic partnerships with various automotive-related services, such as financing and insurance providers, contribute to its earnings by offering users integrated solutions while generating referral fees for CarGurus.

CarGurus Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Paying Dealers by Geography
Paying Dealers by Geography
Shows the distribution of paying dealers across different regions, highlighting market penetration and potential areas for expansion or increased competition.
Chart InsightsCarGurus is seeing a steady recovery in its U.S. dealer base, with numbers gradually rebounding after previous declines. The international dealer segment is experiencing robust growth, aligning with the company's earnings call highlighting a 23% increase in international revenue. This expansion is critical as it offsets challenges in the Digital Wholesale segment, which faced significant losses. The focus on enhancing dealer engagement and international expansion seems to be a strategic move to stabilize overall revenue and mitigate risks from underperforming segments.
Data provided by:Main Street Data

CarGurus Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Nov 06, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Feb 19, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call presented a predominantly positive outlook with strong revenue growth, significant international expansion, and successful product innovations. While there were challenges such as the wind down of CarOffer and potential impacts from cookie consent regulations, the highlights considerably outweighed the lowlights.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Marketplace Revenue Growth
Marketplace revenue grew approximately 14% year-over-year, driven by dealer upgrades, broader adoption of add-on products, and increased lead quality.
International Expansion Success
International operations saw revenue growth of 27% year-over-year, with significant contributions from Canada and the U.K.
Introduction of PriceVantage
Launched PriceVantage, a machine learning-based pricing tool, leading to improved dealer profitability and faster inventory turnover.
Expanded Dealer Network
Added 1,989 net new dealers globally year-over-year, supported by stronger retention.
Increased AI Utilization
91% of employees report using AI weekly, driving faster execution, sharper insights, and greater collaboration.
Positive Financial Performance
Adjusted EBITDA up 21% year-over-year, with a non-GAAP gross margin increase of about 650 basis points year-over-year.
Negative Updates
CarOffer Wind Down
Decision to wind down the CarOffer transactions business, leading to a $4 million loss in the third quarter.
Cookie Consent Regulation Impact
Expected decline in reported uniques and sessions due to changes in cookie consent regulations.
Company Guidance
During the CarGurus Third Quarter 2025 Earnings Call, the company provided guidance indicating strong performance and growth prospects. For the fourth quarter of 2025, CarGurus expects Marketplace revenue to be between $236 million and $241 million, representing a year-over-year growth of 12% to 15%. The full-year Marketplace revenue is projected to range from $902 million to $907 million, translating to a 13% to 14% increase from the previous year. Marketplace adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter is anticipated to be within $83 million to $91 million, reflecting a 5% to 15% year-over-year increase, while the full-year adjusted EBITDA is expected to be between $313 million and $321 million, marking an 18% to 21% growth. These figures underscore CarGurus' strategic focus on expanding its Marketplace and enhancing product offerings to drive long-term growth.

CarGurus Financial Statement Overview

Summary
CarGurus demonstrates strong financial performance with robust revenue growth and profitability metrics. The balance sheet is stable, though there is a slight increase in leverage. Cash flow generation is robust, supporting the company's operational and strategic initiatives.
Income Statement
75
Positive
CarGurus shows strong profitability with a high gross profit margin of 88.15% and a net profit margin of 16.41% in the TTM period. Revenue growth is robust at 79.8% TTM, indicating a significant recovery from previous declines. However, the EBIT margin has decreased compared to historical levels, suggesting potential cost management issues.
Balance Sheet
70
Positive
The company's debt-to-equity ratio is moderate at 0.51 TTM, indicating a balanced approach to leverage. Return on equity is strong at 34.65%, reflecting efficient use of equity. However, the equity ratio has decreased, suggesting increased reliance on debt financing.
Cash Flow
80
Positive
CarGurus demonstrates strong cash flow management with a free cash flow growth rate of 5.16% TTM and a high operating cash flow to net income ratio of 3.07. The free cash flow to net income ratio is also healthy at 0.93, indicating effective conversion of earnings into cash.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue926.42M894.38M914.24M1.66B951.37M551.45M
Gross Profit816.61M738.95M651.45M657.55M657.36M508.75M
EBITDA237.71M173.27M81.10M167.76M200.01M104.62M
Net Income151.99M20.97M31.10M193.78M109.24M77.55M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets660.47M824.54M918.93M927.10M931.57M502.30M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments178.83M304.19M312.09M469.52M321.94M290.30M
Total Debt193.26M192.74M194.39M66.42M70.70M69.89M
Total Liabilities285.02M282.85M302.07M155.74M251.93M128.71M
Stockholders Equity375.45M541.69M616.85M734.61M516.84M373.59M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow251.57M180.32M83.32M238.84M84.42M149.21M
Operating Cash Flow287.90M255.49M124.53M256.11M98.29M156.74M
Investing Cash Flow-36.33M-72.97M-61.56M72.73M-68.15M-16.89M
Financing Cash Flow-323.36M-168.63M-253.64M-92.62M17.81M-10.09M

CarGurus Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price35.65
Price Trends
50DMA
35.82
Negative
100DMA
34.45
Positive
200DMA
33.06
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.28
Negative
RSI
53.47
Neutral
STOCH
72.60
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For CARG, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 35.65 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 35.06, below the 50-day MA of 35.82, and above the 200-day MA of 33.06, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.28 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 53.47 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 72.60 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for CARG.

CarGurus Risk Analysis

CarGurus disclosed 45 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. CarGurus reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

CarGurus Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
73
Outperform
$924.07M17.9636.81%57.83%293.63%
70
Outperform
$1.80B12.9420.37%5.35%33.74%
68
Neutral
$3.38B23.4735.39%4.21%
68
Neutral
$3.09B14.655.87%6.98%-5.54%-14.30%
61
Neutral
$18.38B12.79-2.54%3.03%1.52%-15.83%
53
Neutral
$225.86M82.901.22%17.38%
50
Neutral
$194.58M-6.55-15.37%6.18%28.04%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
CARG
CarGurus
35.65
-0.24
-0.67%
YELP
Yelp
29.73
-6.70
-18.39%
ATHM
AutoHome
24.92
-0.43
-1.70%
TRUE
TrueCar
2.29
-1.83
-44.42%
TRVG
trivago
3.20
1.54
92.77%
EVER
EverQuote
25.70
6.89
36.63%

CarGurus Corporate Events

CarGurus Reports Strong Q3 2025 Revenue Growth
Nov 7, 2025

CarGurus, Inc. is a leading multinational automotive platform that facilitates buying and selling vehicles, primarily operating in the automotive shopping sector with a strong focus on data-driven solutions and consumer trust.

CarGurus Q2 2025 Earnings: Growth Amid Challenges
Aug 13, 2025

CarGurus’ recent earnings call painted a picture of both robust growth and strategic challenges. The company showcased strong financial growth and innovation, particularly in its core Marketplace and international businesses. However, it also faced significant hurdles with the wind-down of its CarOffer transactions business and declines in wholesale and product revenues.

CarGurus Reports Strong Q2 2025 Results and Strategic Shift
Aug 8, 2025

CarGurus, Inc. is a leading digital automotive marketplace that facilitates the buying and selling of vehicles, leveraging technology and data analytics to enhance the car-shopping experience for consumers and dealers alike.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Nov 08, 2025