Cars.com, Inc. (CARS)
NYSE:CARS
Want to see CARS full AI Analyst Report?
CARS Stock Chart & Stats
$10.59
-$0.43(-2.50%)
At close: 4:00 PM EST
$10.59
-$0.43(-2.50%)
Day’s Range― - ―
52-Week Range$7.40 - $13.97
Previous CloseN/A
Volume77.04K
Average Volume (3M)875.12K
Market Cap
$544.50M
Enterprise Value$953.52M
Total Cash (Recent Filing)$64.60M
Total Debt (Recent Filing)$451.82M
Price to Earnings (P/E)22.1
Beta1.44
Next Earnings
Jul 30, 2026EPS Estimate
0.51Next Dividend Ex-DateN/A
Dividend YieldN/A
Share Statistics
EPS (TTM)0.43
Shares Outstanding55,903,027
10 Day Avg. Volume1,057,317
30 Day Avg. Volume875,119
Financial Highlights & Ratios
PEG Ratio-0.65
Price to Book (P/B)1.56
Price to Sales (P/S)1.02
P/FCF Ratio4.99
Enterprise Value/Market Cap1.75
Enterprise Value/Revenue1.32
Enterprise Value/Gross Profit1.59
Enterprise Value/Ebitda6.75
Forecast
1Y Price Target
$13.50Price Target Upside27.48% Upside
Rating ConsensusModerate Buy
Number of Analyst Covering6
EPS Forecast (FY)2.19
Revenue Forecast (FY)$729.29M
Bulls Say, Bears Say
Bulls Say
Consistent Strong Cash Generation And Free Cash FlowPersistent operating cash flow ahead of reported earnings and a TTM FCF rebound provide durable internal funding for product investment, buybacks, and working capital. Strong cash conversion reduces financing needs, supports capital allocation flexibility and cushions the business through cyclical ad volatility.
Material Balance-sheet Improvement And Low LeverageA materially stronger balance sheet with minimal net debt expands strategic optionality — enabling sustained share repurchases, M&A or product investment without stressing liquidity. Lower leverage also reduces refinancing and interest-rate risk, improving resilience through advertising cycles.
Product And Marketplace Innovation Driving Higher EngagementNew AI-driven tools and integrations materially raise consumer engagement and lead conversion, while growing premium tiers expands higher-margin recurring revenue. Durable product differentiation can lift ARPD and customer stickiness as dealers adopt bundled, AI-enabled workflows over the medium term.
Bears Say
OEM And National Advertising Budget VolatilityDependence on OEM and national ad budgets introduces structural cyclicality that can swing revenue and margin visibility across quarters. Prolonged OEM budget uncertainty dampens predictable ARPD growth and forces wider guidance ranges, complicating investment planning and long-term revenue ramp.
Volatile Net Margins And Earnings-quality RiskPersistently variable net margins and softer operating profitability create uncertainty about sustainable earnings power. Portions of recent GAAP improvement stem from amortization/D&A tailwinds, implying underlying operating margins may not be fully durable without revenue-driven margin expansion.
Dealer/solutions Churn And Product Transition HeadwindsSequential dealer losses and declining standalone product subscribers reflect friction from retooling packaging and deeper integrations. Transitional churn and slower monetization risk compress near-term recurring revenue and ARPD, making revenue recovery reliant on successful bundle adoption over months.
Cars News
CARS FAQ
What was Cars.com, Inc.’s price range in the past 12 months?
Cars.com, Inc. lowest stock price was $7.40 and its highest was $13.97 in the past 12 months.
What is Cars.com, Inc.’s market cap?
Cars.com, Inc.’s market cap is $544.50M.
When is Cars.com, Inc.’s upcoming earnings report date?
Cars.com, Inc.’s upcoming earnings report date is Jul 30, 2026 which is in 43 days.
How were Cars.com, Inc.’s earnings last quarter?
Cars.com, Inc. released its earnings results on May 07, 2026. The company reported $0.45 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.461 by -$0.011.
Is Cars.com, Inc. overvalued?
According to Wall Street analysts Cars.com, Inc.’s price is currently Undervalued.
Does Cars.com, Inc. pay dividends?
Cars.com, Inc. does not currently pay dividends.
What is Cars.com, Inc.’s EPS estimate?
Cars.com, Inc.’s EPS estimate is 0.51.
How many shares outstanding does Cars.com, Inc. have?
Cars.com, Inc. has 55,903,027 shares outstanding.
What happened to Cars.com, Inc.’s price movement after its last earnings report?
Cars.com, Inc. reported an EPS of $0.45 in its last earnings report, missing expectations of $0.461. Following the earnings report the stock price went up 10.188%.
Which hedge fund is a major shareholder of Cars.com, Inc.?
Currently, no hedge funds are holding shares in CARS
What is the TipRanks Smart Score and how is it calculated?
Smart Score combines eight research factors - such as analyst recommendations, hedge fund trends, and technical indicators - to measure a stock’s outlook. These signals are unified into a single score that reflects bullish or bearish momentum. See detailed methodology
Cars Stock Smart Score
Underperform
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Analyst Consensus
Moderate Buy
Average Price Target:
$13.50 (27.48% Upside)
$13.50 (27.48% Upside)
Hedge Fund Trend
Decreased
By 2.4M Shares
Last Quarter.
Last Quarter.
Insider Transactions
Sold Shares
Worth $810.4K over
the Last 3 Months
the Last 3 Months
Crowd Wisdom
Very Negative
Last 7 Days ▼ 1.0%
Last 30 Days ▼ 4.1%
Last 30 Days ▼ 4.1%
News Sentiment
Very Bullish
Bullish news 100%
Bearish news 0%
Bearish news 0%
Technicals
SMA
Negative
20 days / 200 days
Momentum
-35.19%
12-Months-Change
Fundamentals
Return on Equity
5.71%
Trailing 12-Months
Asset Growth
-2.79%
Trailing 12-Months
Company Description
Cars.com, Inc.
Cars.com Inc. operates as a leading digital platform, offering comprehensive services and solutions specifically tailored for the automotive sector. Its central purpose is to seamlessly connect prospective car buyers with vehicle sellers. Through its flagship online marketplace, customized dealer websites, and an array of other digital products, the company undertakes several key functions: it prominently showcases available vehicle inventories from dealerships, significantly enhances the brand visibility and reputation of both independent and franchised dealers alongside automotive manufacturers (OEMs), directs genuinely interested buyers to sellers, and equips consumers with essential tools and information to confidently navigate their car purchasing journey. Beyond these core offerings, Cars.com Inc. provides a diverse portfolio of specialized services. These include marketplace-centric products such as subscription-based advertising and social selling support. Its digital solutions encompass website platform hosting, an advanced AI-powered chat system, comprehensive digital retailing functionalities, and robust reputation management services. Furthermore, a wide array of advertising options are available, ranging from visual display campaigns and instant loan pre-qualification and approval processes to broader digital ad placements and targeted in-market audio advertisements. By December 31, 2021, Cars.com Inc. had established an extensive client base, serving 19,179 dealer customers throughout all 50 U.S. states. This diverse network included both franchised and independent dealerships operating via online platforms and traditional brick-and-mortar locations, as well as major automakers marketing vehicles across the United States. Essentially, its primary clientele consists of local car dealerships, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and various national advertisers. Cars.com Inc. was founded in 1998 and maintains its corporate headquarters in Chicago, Illinois.
CARS Company Deck
CARS Earnings Call
Q1 2026
0:00 / 0:00
Earnings Call Sentiment|Positive
The call presented a mix of operational progress and near‑term challenges. Key positives include revenue growth (Q1 +1% YoY), strong profitability and cash flow (adjusted EBITDA margin 28.3%, free cash flow +~42% YoY), identified $25–$30 million of annualized cost savings, active share repurchases and multiple product launches (dealer app, Conversational Carson, MCP integrations). Offsets include pressure in OEM/national advertising (Q1 down $2M YoY and expected Q2 weakness), sequential dealer count declines and AccuTrade subscriber softness, tempered media performance impacting ARPD upside, and a portion of GAAP improvement driven by amortization/D&A tailwinds rather than purely operating improvements. Overall, the company appears to be taking credible, proactive steps (cost actions, product integration, buybacks) to improve margins and accelerate growth, while facing cyclical ad headwinds and transitional product bundling impacts that may weigh on near‑term unit metrics.View all CARS earnings summariesCARS Stock 12 Month Forecast
Average Price Target
$13.50
▲(27.48% Upside)
Technical Analysis
Ownership Overview
5.54% Insiders
31.20% Mutual Funds
23.89% Other Institutional Investors
20.12% Public Companies and
Individual Investors