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TrueCar Inc (TRUE)
:TRUE
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TrueCar (TRUE) AI Stock Analysis

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TRUE

TrueCar

(NASDAQ:TRUE)

Rating:54Neutral
Price Target:
$2.00
▲(6.95% Upside)
TrueCar's overall stock score is primarily impacted by its challenging financial performance, with ongoing profitability and cash flow issues. Technical analysis provides some positive short-term signals, but valuation remains unattractive due to negative earnings. The earnings call offers some optimism for future improvements, but current financial challenges weigh heavily on the score.
Positive Factors
Financial Performance
Shares traded up after better-than-expected Adjusted EBITDA and guidance for positive EBITDA and FCF in the second half of the year.
Innovation
TRUE launched generative AI and machine learning models that will enhance insights TRUE can provide dealers and improve the consumer shopper experience.
Sales Effectiveness
Prospect closing rates reached the highest level since 1Q21, indicating improved sales effectiveness.
Negative Factors
Growth Uncertainty
Overall, a disappointing quarter and guide with a big cloud on ultimate recovery in growth and profitability at a time when the cycle tailwinds from rising inventory on new vehicles are slowing.
Market Uncertainty
The company is withdrawing its outlook for accelerated growth and margin expansion due to uncertainty from newly implemented automotive sector tariffs.
Revenue Expectations
TRUE shares were under pressure primarily due to 1Q25 revenue guidance that was light on the top-line and also called for an unexpected Adjusted EBITDA loss of $5MM.

TrueCar (TRUE) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

TrueCar Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionTrueCar, Inc. operates as an internet-based information, technology, and communication services company in the United States. It operates its platform on the TrueCar website and mobile applications. Its platform enables users to obtain market-based pricing data on new and used cars, and to connect with its network of TrueCar certified dealers. The company also offers forecast and consulting services regarding determination of the residual value of an automobile at given future points in time, which are used to underwrite automotive loans and leases, and by financial institutions to measure exposure and risk across loan, lease, and fleet portfolios. In addition, it provides accurate, geographically specific, and real-time pricing information for consumers and dealers; TrueCar Trade, which gives consumers information on the value of their trade-in vehicles and enables them to obtain a guaranteed trade-in price before setting foot in the dealership; and DealerScience that provides dealers with advanced digital retailing software tools. The company was formerly known as Zag.com Inc. TrueCar, Inc. was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Santa Monica, California.
How the Company Makes MoneyTrueCar generates revenue mainly through its subscription and transaction-based models. The company earns money by charging automotive dealers a subscription fee for access to its platform, where they can gain leads and potential sales from customers. Additionally, TrueCar earns transaction fees when a vehicle is sold through its platform, which is typically a percentage of the sale price. The company also collaborates with various automotive manufacturers and financial institutions, which can provide additional revenue streams through partnerships and advertising arrangements. These relationships enhance TrueCar's market presence and contribute to its overall earnings.

TrueCar Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 06, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: -5.08%|
Next Earnings Date:Nov 10, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call highlighted significant revenue growth and product enhancements, notably in the OEM segment and digital retail advancements with TrueCar+. However, challenges persist with negative adjusted EBITDA and dealer network optimization. The company remains optimistic about long-term growth despite macroeconomic uncertainties.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Revenue Growth and Reduced Net Loss
Total revenue increased to $47 million, marking a 12.4% year-over-year growth, the highest quarterly revenue since Q3 2021. Net loss decreased significantly from $13.5 million to $7.6 million.
OEM Revenue Growth
OEM revenue grew by 19.7% year-over-year to $3.6 million.
Product Enhancements and Improved Metrics
Launch of Actionable Insights and Motivated Buyer Badging features, leading to improved dealer engagement. Highest prospect close rate since Q2 2021 and a 30% year-over-year improvement in average cost per sale for non-affinity partner units.
Progress in Commercializing TrueCar+
Significant advancements towards the end-to-end digital retailing experience, including increased add-to-cart rates by 115% and a 40% lift in daily credit application submissions.
Dealer Network Optimization
Focused on adding the right dealers, improving network efficiency, and increasing dealer retention by enhancing partnerships and improving dealer experience.
Negative Updates
Adjusted EBITDA Still Negative
Adjusted EBITDA was negative at $1.2 million, indicating the company is still not profitable on an adjusted EBITDA basis.
Challenges in Dealer Engagement
The decline of 44 franchise dealers in the quarter, despite efforts to improve dealer network efficiency.
Uncertainty in Revenue Growth
Acknowledged uncertainty in revenue growth due to macroeconomic factors and the evolving tariff landscape.
Company Guidance
During TrueCar's Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results Conference Call, the company reported a total revenue of $47 million, marking a 12.4% year-over-year increase and the highest quarterly revenue since Q3 2021. The net loss decreased to $7.6 million from $13.5 million the previous year, while adjusted EBITDA was negative $1.2 million. The company experienced a 19.7% year-over-year growth in OEM revenue, reaching $3.6 million. New unit sales volume increased by 6.2%, outpacing the industry's 2.8% growth in new vehicle retail sales. TrueCar's prospect close rate was the highest since Q2 2021, and the restructured performance marketing campaigns improved the average cost per sale for non-affinity partner units by nearly 30% year-over-year. Additionally, the TC+ digital retailing experience reported a 115% increase in add-to-cart rates, a 40% lift in daily credit application submissions, and a 2x improvement in F&I attachment rates. The company is optimistic about achieving adjusted EBITDA profitability and positive free cash flow in the second half of 2025.

TrueCar Financial Statement Overview

Summary
TrueCar faces financial pressure with ongoing losses and modest revenue growth. The balance sheet is stable with low leverage, but negative cash flow trends highlight liquidity issues. Improvements in operational efficiencies and revenue growth are critical for future financial health.
Income Statement
50
Neutral
TrueCar's TTM data shows a slight revenue increase to $179M but remains unprofitable with a net loss of $35M, reflecting a challenging margin environment. The TTM gross profit margin is strong at 85.3%, but negative EBIT and EBITDA margins indicate significant operational challenges. Revenue growth over the past year is modest at 2.1%, showing slight recovery but not enough to offset persistent losses.
Balance Sheet
65
Positive
The balance sheet shows a stable equity position with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10, indicating low leverage and financial flexibility. The equity ratio of 76.6% suggests a strong capital structure. However, declining stockholders' equity and total assets over recent years pose potential risks to long-term stability.
Cash Flow
40
Negative
Cash flow analysis reveals negative operating cash flow and free cash flow in TTM, indicating liquidity issues. Free cash flow declined significantly, and the company faces challenges in converting operational performance into cash. The free cash flow to net income ratio is negative, reflecting difficulties in generating cash from operations.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue184.56M175.60M158.71M161.52M231.70M278.68M
Gross Profit157.15M149.21M142.85M145.31M209.46M257.13M
EBITDA-15.90M-18.17M-35.79M-45.46M-17.59M6.11M
Net Income-29.44M-31.05M-49.77M-118.69M-38.37M76.54M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets139.82M159.69M204.32M251.53M387.67M458.06M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments92.52M111.83M136.96M175.52M245.22M273.31M
Total Debt10.39M11.28M14.41M23.01M31.55M36.74M
Total Liabilities33.46M41.55M44.10M54.26M57.88M75.28M
Stockholders Equity106.36M118.14M160.22M197.27M329.79M383.93M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-11.39M-159.00K-34.22M-40.82M3.50M28.84M
Operating Cash Flow-3.07M7.70M-22.41M-29.14M14.19M39.12M
Investing Cash Flow-8.32M-7.86M-11.81M-8.03M-4.21M101.90M
Financing Cash Flow-24.05M-24.97M-4.33M-32.53M-38.09M-49.24M

TrueCar Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price1.87
Price Trends
50DMA
1.82
Positive
100DMA
1.66
Positive
200DMA
2.54
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
0.01
Positive
RSI
49.27
Neutral
STOCH
48.57
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For TRUE, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 1.87 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 1.91, above the 50-day MA of 1.82, and below the 200-day MA of 2.54, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.01 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 49.27 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 48.57 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for TRUE.

TrueCar Risk Analysis

TrueCar disclosed 58 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. TrueCar 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

TrueCar Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (60)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
77
Outperform
$3.57B16.706.05%6.05%-7.06%-20.71%
74
Outperform
$3.20B26.0929.24%4.80%
73
Outperform
$1.46B22.149.18%4.59%26.71%-23.67%
71
Outperform
$855.50M18.8734.34%92.91%
60
Neutral
$44.03B1.71-11.99%3.98%2.32%-37.93%
60
Neutral
$3.27B-12.24%25.76%27.05%
54
Neutral
$165.39M-23.53%11.66%-4.69%
* Communication Services Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
TRUE
TrueCar
1.87
-1.06
-36.18%
ATHM
AutoHome
28.39
5.80
25.68%
CARG
CarGurus
32.39
4.18
14.82%
EVER
EverQuote
23.26
0.86
3.84%
OPRA
Opera
17.01
4.58
36.85%
GENI
Genius Sports Limited
12.93
5.41
71.94%

TrueCar Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
TrueCar Elects New Director at Annual Meeting
Neutral
May 23, 2025

On May 22, 2025, TrueCar held its 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, where proxies representing approximately 79% of the shares entitled to vote were present. During the meeting, Faye M. Iosotaluno was elected as a Class II director, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP was ratified as the independent public accounting firm for 2025, and the executive officer compensation was approved.

The most recent analyst rating on (TRUE) stock is a Buy with a $5.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on TrueCar stock, see the TRUE Stock Forecast page.

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: Aug 15, 2025