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

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TRUE

TrueCar

(NASDAQ:TRUE)

Rating:53Neutral
Price Target:
$2.00
▼(-7.41% Downside)
TrueCar's overall stock score reflects significant financial challenges, including negative profitability and cash flow issues, despite some revenue growth and a stable balance sheet. Technical indicators suggest positive momentum, but valuation concerns and mixed earnings call results temper the outlook.
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.
Revenue Growth
Dealer revenue grew 13% year-over-year in Q1, driven by increases in franchise dealer revenue and growth from TrueCar Wholesale Solutions.
Sales Effectiveness
Prospect closing rates reached the highest level since 1Q21, indicating improved sales effectiveness.
Negative Factors
Growth Challenges
TrueCar Inc has not yet been able to consistently grow units per franchise dealer, which is a concern for top line improvement.
Investment Pauses
TrueCar is pausing certain growth-acceleration investments, including the hiring of additional dealer sales headcount, due to market uncertainty.
Market Uncertainty
The company is withdrawing its outlook for accelerated growth and margin expansion due to uncertainty from newly implemented automotive sector tariffs.

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: |
Next Earnings Date:Nov 10, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call presented several positive developments, including revenue growth, reduced net loss, and strategic advancements in product offerings and technology integrations. However, the company faces ongoing challenges with adjusted EBITDA, dealer turnover, and macroeconomic uncertainties affecting revenue projections. The positive aspects slightly outweigh the negatives, indicating a cautiously optimistic outlook.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Revenue Growth
Total revenue of $47 million grew by $5.2 million, up 12.4% year-over-year, marking the highest quarterly revenue since Q3 2021.
Reduction in Net Loss
Net loss decreased to negative $7.6 million from negative $13.5 million in the same period last year.
OEM Revenue Increase
OEM revenue of $3.6 million grew by $0.6 million or 19.7% year-over-year.
New Unit Sales Growth
New unit sales volume grew 6.2% year-over-year, outperforming the industry's 2.8% growth in new vehicle retail sales.
Product Enhancements and Launches
Launch of Actionable Insights and motivated buyer badging features to improve lead quality and engagement. Redesign of the consumer experience, including the search results page and vehicle detail page, to enhance usability.
TC+ Advancements
Progress towards commercializing TrueCar+ by year-end, including completion of CDK's DMS integration and redesigned consumer checkout flow, leading to a 115% increase in add-to-cart rate.
Strategic Initiatives
Focus on expanding dealer network, growing OEM partnerships, and commercializing TrueCar+ to drive future growth.
Negative Updates
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA came in at negative $1.2 million, indicating ongoing operational challenges.
Franchise Dealer Turnover
44 franchise dealers turned over in the quarter, raising concerns about network stability.
Challenges with Dealer Engagement
Dealer engagement with new features requires a significant education process, indicating a gap in adoption and utilization.
Uncertainty in Revenue Trajectory
Macroeconomic uncertainty and auto tariffs present challenges to predicting revenue growth.
Company Guidance
During TrueCar's Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results Conference Call, several key metrics and strategic initiatives were highlighted. Total revenue for the quarter was reported at $47 million, representing a 12.4% increase year-over-year, marking the highest quarterly revenue since Q3 2021. The company's net loss decreased to $7.6 million, down from $13.5 million the previous year. Additionally, adjusted EBITDA stood at negative $1.2 million. OEM revenue grew by 19.7% year-over-year to $3.6 million, while new unit sales volume increased by 6.2%, outpacing the industry's growth of 2.8% in new vehicle retail sales. The prospect close rate reached its highest level since Q2 2021, attributed to a nearly 30% year-over-year improvement in average cost per sale for non-affinity partner units due to restructured performance marketing campaigns. The company emphasized its focus on enhancing the TrueCar+ platform, with significant advancements such as the launch of Actionable Insights and motivated buyer badging to improve dealer and consumer experiences. TrueCar also reported a 115% increase in add-to-cart rates and a 40% lift in daily credit application submissions following the rollout of TC+ enhancements. Looking ahead, TrueCar aims to commercialize TrueCar+ by year-end and expects to achieve adjusted EBITDA profitability and positive free cash flow over 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
Positive
Last Price2.16
Price Trends
50DMA
1.94
Positive
100DMA
1.73
Positive
200DMA
2.40
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
0.07
Negative
RSI
59.95
Neutral
STOCH
53.25
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For TRUE, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 2.16 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 2.00, above the 50-day MA of 1.94, and below the 200-day MA of 2.40, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.07 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 59.95 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 53.25 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive 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
$3.45B16.816.05%6.01%-7.06%-20.71%
75
Outperform
$1.60B22.168.57%4.38%29.62%-19.65%
74
Outperform
$859.51M18.9634.34%92.91%
73
Outperform
$3.59B29.1329.24%4.80%
60
Neutral
$46.60B4.09-11.41%4.12%1.85%-42.71%
60
Neutral
$3.41B-12.24%25.76%27.05%
53
Neutral
$191.03M-23.53%11.66%-4.69%
* Communication Services Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
TRUE
TrueCar
2.16
-0.91
-29.64%
ATHM
AutoHome
28.61
2.25
8.54%
CARG
CarGurus
36.16
8.96
32.94%
EVER
EverQuote
23.54
1.23
5.51%
OPRA
Opera
17.82
4.47
33.48%
GENI
Genius Sports Limited
13.50
5.89
77.40%

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.

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 28, 2025