OPENLANE (KAR) AI Stock Analysis

• Market Cap: $2.73B
• Dividend Yield: N/A
• Average Volume (3M): 794.18K
• Price to Earnings (P/E): 43.6
• Beta (1Y): 0.95
• Revenue Growth: 9.42%
• EPS Growth: N/A
• Country: US
• Employees: 4,080
• Sector: Consumer Cyclical
• Sector Strength: 61
• Industry: Auto - Dealerships
• EPS (TTM): 0.31
• Shares Outstanding: 107,383,670
• 10 Day Avg. Volume: 1,021,139
• 30 Day Avg. Volume: 794,182
• PEG Ratio: -0.44
• Price to Book (P/B): 1.74
• Price to Sales (P/S): 0.00
• P/FCF Ratio: 7.54
• Enterprise Value/Market Cap: 1.69
• Enterprise Value/Revenue: 0.66
• Enterprise Value/Gross Profit: 5.85
• Enterprise Value/Ebitda: 3.14
• 1Y Price Target: $24.50
• Price Target Upside: -3.58% Downside
• Rating Consensus: Moderate Buy
• Number of Analyst Covering: 4

• Rating: 61 Neutral
• Price Target: $27.00 ▲(6.26%Upside)

Kar Auction Services' overall score is driven by strong financial performance and positive earnings call insights. However, technical indicators suggest caution due to overbought conditions, and the high P/E ratio raises valuation concerns. Recent corporate events contribute positively to the outlook.

Positive Factors

Financial Performance

OPENLANE's financial results for Q1/25 were better than expected, with total revenue increasing by 7% and adjusted EBITDA rising by 10.7%.

Market Share

There was strong dealer volume growth of 14.7%, marking the second consecutive quarter of double-digit unit growth and contributing to increased market share.

Negative Factors

Finance Segment Performance

Finance segment revenue decreased 4.67% to $106.2 million including a decrease of 13.35% in interest revenue.

Market Conditions

Auto import tariffs raise the price of used vehicles and potentially diminish the supply of new vehicles as a risk to the bullish thesis.

OPENLANE Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description

OPENLANE, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a digital marketplace for used vehicles, which connects sellers and buyers in the United States, Canada, Continental Europe and the United Kingdom. The company operates through two segments, Marketplace and Finance. The Marketplace segment offers digital marketplace services for buying and selling used vehicles; and value-added ancillary services, including inbound and outbound transportation logistics, reconditioning, vehicle inspection and certification, titling, administrative, and collateral recovery services. Its digital marketplaces include OPENLANE platform, a mobile app enabled solutions that allows dealers to sell and source inventory. This segment sells its products and services through commercial fleet operators, financial institutions, rental car companies, new and used vehicle dealers, and vehicle manufacturers. The Finance segment offers floorplan financing, a short-term inventory-secured financing to independent vehicle dealers. It serves commercial customers, and franchise and independent dealer customers. The company was formerly known as KAR Auction Services, Inc. and changed its name to OPENLANE, Inc. in May 2023. OPENLANE, Inc. was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Carmel, Indiana.

How the Company Makes Money

OPENLANE generates revenue primarily through fees collected from facilitating vehicle transactions on its digital auction platforms. The company charges sellers a fee for listing their vehicles and buyers a fee for purchasing vehicles through its marketplace. Additionally, OPENLANE earns income from ancillary services such as vehicle transportation, reconditioning, and inspection services offered to its commercial clients. Strategic partnerships with automotive manufacturers and financial institutions also contribute to its revenue, enhancing the company's service offerings and expanding its customer base. The integration of technology and data analytics further helps OPENLANE optimize its operations and improve customer experience, driving profitability.

OPENLANE Financial Statement Overview

Summary

Kar Auction Services shows strong revenue growth with improved profitability metrics. Robust cash flow management supports operational needs, but the balance sheet indicates a need for careful management of debt and equity to ensure long-term stability.

Income Statement

Kar Auction Services shows a positive trend in revenue growth with a 8.71% increase over the past year, indicating recovery. The gross profit margin is healthy at 46.54%, reflecting operational efficiency. Net profit margin improved to 6.14%, a significant turnaround from the previous year's loss. EBIT and EBITDA margins are at 10.19% and 21.06% respectively, showing improvement but still reflecting moderate operational challenges.

Balance Sheet

The debt-to-equity ratio stands at 0.21, which is manageable but suggests reliance on debt financing. Return on equity (ROE) is 8.19%, indicating moderate profitability relative to shareholder equity. The equity ratio is 39.03%, showing a relatively balanced capital structure. However, the decrease in stockholders' equity over time is a concern.

Cash Flow

The company displays strong cash flow management with a 30.73% increase in free cash flow year-over-year. The operating cash flow to net income ratio of 2.66 highlights robust cash generation from operations. Free cash flow to net income ratio is 2.18, showing effective conversion of earnings into cash.

Breakdown	TTM	Dec 2024	Dec 2023	Dec 2022	Dec 2021	Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue	1.83B	1.79B	1.65B	1.52B	2.25B	2.19B
Gross Profit	787.20M	832.20M	777.50M	685.10M	951.70M	902.90M
EBITDA	386.40M	274.90M	110.80M	258.00M	237.40M	325.60M
Net Income	128.30M	109.90M	-154.10M	28.60M	66.50M	500.00K
Balance Sheet
Total Assets	0.00	4.62B	4.73B	5.12B	7.42B	6.80B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments	0.00	143.00M	93.50M	225.70M	190.00M	752.10M
Total Debt	284.00M	282.90M	427.40M	573.70M	2.18B	2.22B
Total Liabilities	3.43B	3.28B	3.40B	2.99B	5.31B	4.63B
Stockholders Equity	1.37B	1.34B	1.94B	2.13B	2.10B	2.17B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow	265.10M	238.40M	183.40M	-473.40M	304.70M	283.00M
Operating Cash Flow	317.10M	292.80M	235.40M	-412.50M	413.20M	384.40M
Investing Cash Flow	-95.00M	-70.90M	-83.50M	2.14B	-1.22B	-326.60M
Financing Cash Flow	152.10M	-173.90M	-279.90M	-1.61B	210.40M	194.80M

OPENLANE Technical Analysis

• Technical Analysis Sentiment: Positive
• Last Price: 25.41
• 50DMA: Positive
• 100DMA: Positive
• 200DMA: Positive
• MACD: Negative
• RSI: Neutral
• STOCH: Negative

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For KAR, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 25.41 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 23.71, above the 50-day MA of 22.37, and above the 200-day MA of 20.03, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.78 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 65.40 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 86.72 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for KAR.

OPENLANE Peers Comparison

Name	Overall Rating	Market Cap	P/E Ratio	ROE	Dividend Yield	Revenue Growth	EPS Growth
CARS	78 Outperform	$760.93M	18.25	9.35%	―	2.24%	-57.33%
CRMT	67 Neutral	$502.07M	28.99	3.45%	―	-2.26%	―
ACVA	67 Neutral	$2.82B	―	-16.49%	―	32.89%	7.44%
CANG	64 Neutral	$524.10M	6.63	0.12%	―	40.31%	-204.86%
KAR	61 Neutral	$2.73B	43.56	5.46%	―	9.42%	―
Sector *	56 Neutral	HK$24.59B	3.77	-2.05%	6.59%	-0.32%	-67.68%
UXIN	45 Neutral	$773.13M	―	260.24%	―	―	―

OPENLANE Corporate Events

OPENLANE Holds Annual Stockholders Meeting on June 6, 2025

On June 6, 2025, OPENLANE, Inc. held its annual stockholders meeting where several key decisions were made. The stockholders elected a director nominated by Ignition Parent LP to the board, alongside eight other directors, approved executive compensation, and ratified KPMG LLP as the independent accounting firm for 2025, indicating a continued focus on strategic governance and financial oversight.

The most recent analyst rating on (KAR) stock is a Buy with a $25.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on OPENLANE stock, see the KAR Stock Forecast page.

OPENLANE Expands Canadian Receivables Purchase Agreement

On May 23, 2025, OPENLANE, Inc., through its subsidiary Automotive Finance Canada Inc. (AFCI), amended its Canadian Receivables Purchase Agreement to increase the program limit from C$300 million to C$375 million. This amendment, involving major financial institutions like Computershare Trust Company of Canada and Royal Bank of Canada, signifies a strategic move by OPENLANE to enhance its financial capacity, potentially impacting its operations and market positioning positively.

The most recent analyst rating on (KAR) stock is a Buy with a $25.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on OPENLANE stock, see the KAR Stock Forecast page.

OPENLANE Appoints New CFO to Drive Growth

On April 22, 2025, OPENLANE, Inc. announced the appointment of Bradley Herring as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective May 27, 2025. Herring, who brings over 30 years of experience in financial operations and investor relations, will lead all financial and investor-facing functions at OPENLANE. His appointment is expected to enhance the company’s financial strategy and support its vision to lead the digital transformation of the wholesale used vehicle market. This strategic move is anticipated to strengthen OPENLANE’s market position and deliver growth and value to its customers and shareholders.