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TrueCar (TRUE)
NASDAQ:TRUE

TrueCar (TRUE) AI Stock Analysis

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TRUE

TrueCar

(NASDAQ:TRUE)

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Neutral 46 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:46Neutral
Price Target:
$2.00
▼(-6.54% Downside)
TrueCar's overall stock score reflects significant financial challenges, particularly in profitability and cash flow generation. While technical analysis provides some positive signals, the negative valuation metrics and lack of earnings call data further weigh down the score. The company needs to address its operational inefficiencies and improve its financial health to enhance its stock performance.
Positive Factors
Revenue Growth
The 12.4% YoY revenue growth indicates strong market demand and effective business strategies, supporting long-term growth potential.
Product Enhancements
Product enhancements like Actionable Insights improve user engagement and dealer satisfaction, strengthening competitive advantage.
OEM Revenue Increase
A 19.7% increase in OEM revenue highlights successful partnerships and diversification, enhancing revenue stability.
Negative Factors
Adjusted EBITDA
Negative adjusted EBITDA reflects ongoing operational inefficiencies, posing challenges to achieving profitability.
Franchise Dealer Turnover
High dealer turnover can disrupt network stability and affect revenue consistency, challenging long-term growth.
Macroeconomic Uncertainty
Economic uncertainties and tariffs can impact market conditions, affecting revenue forecasts and strategic planning.

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 primarily through its partnerships with automotive dealers and manufacturers. The company earns transaction fees from dealerships when a vehicle is sold through its platform, which is its main revenue stream. Additionally, TrueCar offers subscription-based services to dealerships, providing them with access to its platform and the ability to showcase their inventory. The company also benefits from strategic partnerships with other automotive companies and financial institutions, which can lead to additional revenue opportunities through advertising, lead generation, and co-marketing initiatives.

TrueCar Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 06, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Feb 24, 2026
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 significant financial challenges, with declining revenue growth, negative profitability, and weak cash flow generation. While the company maintains a strong gross profit margin and low leverage, it must address operational inefficiencies and improve cash flow to enhance its financial position and support future growth.
Income Statement
45
Neutral
TrueCar's income statement reveals challenges with profitability and growth. The company has experienced declining revenue growth, with a negative growth rate in the TTM period. Margins are under pressure, with a negative net profit margin and EBIT margin, indicating operational inefficiencies. However, the gross profit margin remains strong, suggesting the company can generate revenue efficiently, but struggles to control costs.
Balance Sheet
50
Neutral
The balance sheet shows a relatively low debt-to-equity ratio, indicating conservative leverage. However, the return on equity is negative, reflecting ongoing losses and inefficiencies in generating shareholder returns. The equity ratio is stable, but the company needs to improve profitability to enhance financial stability.
Cash Flow
40
Negative
Cash flow analysis highlights significant challenges, with negative free cash flow and a declining free cash flow growth rate. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is positive but low, indicating limited cash generation from operations. The company needs to improve cash flow management to support its financial health.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue181.22M175.60M158.71M161.52M231.70M278.68M
Gross Profit143.47M149.21M142.85M145.31M209.46M257.13M
EBITDA-5.69M-18.17M-35.79M-45.46M-12.90M15.53M
Net Income-18.61M-31.05M-49.77M-118.69M-38.33M76.54M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets148.69M159.69M204.32M251.53M387.67M458.06M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments103.19M111.83M135.11M175.52M245.22M273.31M
Total Debt9.88M11.28M14.41M23.01M31.55M36.74M
Total Liabilities34.51M41.55M44.10M54.26M57.88M75.28M
Stockholders Equity114.18M118.14M160.22M197.27M329.79M382.78M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-19.00K-159.00K-34.22M-40.82M3.50M28.84M
Operating Cash Flow7.86M7.70M-22.41M-29.14M14.19M39.12M
Investing Cash Flow-7.87M-7.86M-11.81M-8.03M-4.21M101.90M
Financing Cash Flow-11.30M-24.97M-4.33M-32.53M-38.09M-49.24M

TrueCar Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price2.14
Price Trends
50DMA
2.19
Negative
100DMA
2.09
Positive
200DMA
1.88
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
<0.01
Negative
RSI
46.35
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 2.14 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 2.16, below the 50-day MA of 2.19, and above the 200-day MA of 1.88, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of <0.01 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 46.35 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
$964.70M18.7536.81%57.83%293.63%
68
Neutral
$3.69B26.1835.39%4.21%
68
Neutral
$2.98B13.465.87%0.00%-5.54%-14.30%
61
Neutral
$834.20M-592.5964.86%-112.92%
60
Neutral
$48.67B4.58-11.27%4.14%2.83%-41.78%
58
Neutral
$854.80M-13.44-14.07%6.65%50.32%
46
Neutral
$190.33M-10.01-15.37%6.18%28.04%
* Communication Services Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
TRUE
TrueCar
2.14
-1.65
-43.54%
ATHM
AutoHome
23.06
-1.67
-6.75%
CARG
CarGurus
38.62
2.70
7.52%
EVER
EverQuote
26.83
9.13
51.58%
MAX
MediaAlpha
12.80
2.09
19.51%
NXDR
Nextdoor Holdings
2.18
-0.24
-9.92%

TrueCar Corporate Events

Delistings and Listing ChangesM&A Transactions
TrueCar Announces Merger Agreement with Fair Holdings
Neutral
Oct 15, 2025

On October 14, 2025, TrueCar, Inc. announced its entry into a merger agreement with Fair Holdings, Inc., led by TrueCar founder Scott Painter. This all-cash transaction, valued at approximately $227 million, will result in TrueCar becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fair Holdings. The merger aims to enhance TrueCar’s operations by leveraging the expertise of a syndicate of investors from automotive retail, finance, and technology sectors. The transaction is expected to close by early 2026, pending stockholder and regulatory approvals, and will result in TrueCar’s delisting from Nasdaq.

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: Dec 07, 2025