NYSE$CARS

Cars.com Inc · Q2 2024 earnings

Q2 2024 earnings · · Investor relations

Briefing

Cars.com's Q2 2024 performance reflected revenue growth and strategic advancements.

Cars.com Inc. reported a 6.4% year-over-year increase in revenue, reaching $178.9 million in Q2 2024. The company's net income was $11.4 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, while adjusted EBITDA reached $50.4 million, representing 28% of revenue. The dealer base grew to 19,390 customers, and the company is targeting the return of 50% of second-half 2024 free cash flow to shareholders through share repurchases.

  • Revenue increased by 6.4% year-over-year, totaling $178.9 million.
  • Net income was reported at $11.4 million, or $0.17 per diluted share.
  • Adjusted EBITDA grew to $50.4 million, representing 28% of revenue, a 10% increase year-over-year.
  • The dealer customer base expanded to 19,390 as of June 30, 2024.

Headline financials

Total Revenue

$179M

Previous: $168M+6.4%
EPS

$0.17

Previous: $1.37-87.6%
Average Monthly Unique Visitors

26.1M

Previous: 26.9M-3.0%
Traffic (Visits)

158.1M

Previous: 156.0M+1.3%
Monthly ARPD

$2.47K

Previous: $2.47K+0.1%
Dealer Customers

19.4K

Previous: 18.8K+3.2%
Capital Expenditures

-$1.1M

Previous: -$508K-116.3%
Free Cash Flow

$10.3M

Previous: $93.6M-89.0%
Net Income

$11.4M

Previous: $94.1M-87.9%
Operating Income

$9.52M

Previous: $12.3M-22.8%
Cash & Equivalents

$29.1M

Previous: $28.6M+1.6%
Total Assets

$1.12B

Previous: $1.09B+3.2%
Stock-Based Comp

$8.47M

Previous: $7.54M+12.3%

Revenue & EPS history

Cars.com · Revenue · Quarterly

$179M

Q2 2024+6.4%vs Q2 2023
Beat estimate in 6 of 15 quarters(40%)
ActualEstimate

Revenue by segment

Cars.com · $174M total across 3 segments · Q3 2023

  • Dealer
    $157M+8.1%
  • OEM and National
    $14.5M-2.4%
  • Other
    $2.67M-37.8%

Forward guidance

Third quarter revenue is expected to be between $178.0 million and $181.0 million, representing year-over-year growth of 2% to 4%. Adjusted EBITDA margin for the third quarter is expected to be between 26.5% and 28.5%. The Company is revising its fiscal year 2024 revenue growth outlook to a range of 4.5% to 5.5%. For fiscal year 2024, the Company is reaffirming Adjusted EBITDA margin outlook of 28.0% to 30.0%.

Tailwinds

  • Dealer revenue is expected to grow year-over-year, reflecting greater adoption of the Cars Commerce suite of products, including D2C.
  • OEM and National revenue is expected to grow year-over-year, reflecting increased OEM demand for marketing and advertising solutions.
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin for the third quarter is expected to be between 26.5% and 28.5%.
  • Company is reaffirming Adjusted EBITDA margin outlook of 28.0% to 30.0% for fiscal year 2024.
  • Disciplined cost management to continue delivering strong operating leverage for the remainder of the year.

Headwinds

  • Dealer revenue assumptions also include the disruptive impact to June and July sales and product launches from the industry-wide CDK cyber incident.
  • Dealer revenue assumptions also include lower than expected AccuTrade Connected subscriptions.
  • The Company is revising its fiscal year 2024 revenue growth outlook to a range of 4.5% to 5.5%.
  • Updated range reflects year-to-date performance and current business trends, including a slower anticipated pace of subscription adoption for the AccuTrade Connected product.
  • Updated range reflects negative impact from delayed subscription revenues and product launches following the industry-wide CDK cyber incident.

Historical earnings impact

How earnings announcements have historically affected this stock's price.

Avg. return before/after earnings

Based on 20 quarterly earnings reports · overlaid with Q2 2024

Historical avgQ2 2024

-0.3%

Avg return

Earnings day

+0.6%

Avg return

5 days after

+0.5%

Avg return

30 days after

55%

22 / 40 earnings

Positive

+23.2%

Q1 2020

Best reaction

-42.4%

Q2 2019

Worst reaction

Earnings price reactions
QuarterReport dateReaction (Day 0)+5 days+30 days
Q1 2026+10.1%-5.8%-18.3%
Q4 2025-15.4%-23.3%-25.9%
Q3 2025+6.9%+9.3%+16.3%
Q1 2025-11.2%+0.3%-8.3%
Q4 2024-21.4%-19.9%-26.1%
Q3 2024+10.1%+15.1%+11.7%
Q2 2024-5.8%-0.8%-2.9%
Q1 2024+3.1%+5.5%+19.3%
Q4 2023-2.9%+2.5%-6.1%
Q3 2023+20.4%+24.8%+22.7%
Q2 2023-7.9%-6.9%-16.5%
Q1 2023-9.0%-6.4%-3.5%
Q4 2022+13.1%+10.4%+4.9%
Q3 2022+15.3%+16.3%+15.0%
Q2 2022+5.6%+10.2%+3.9%
Q1 2022-15.0%-22.2%-11.5%
Q4 2021+12.7%+13.1%+5.0%
Q3 2021+2.9%+2.5%+22.2%
Q2 2021+11.0%+14.8%+7.1%
Q1 2021+6.7%+2.1%+10.7%
Q4 2020-18.4%-1.0%-11.1%
Q3 2020-4.6%-5.5%+26.5%
Q2 2020+17.9%+27.1%+33.1%
Q1 2020+23.2%+28.3%+69.7%
Q4 2019-22.3%-25.2%-65.0%
Q3 2019+7.5%+6.2%+4.9%
Q2 2019-42.4%-49.9%-50.3%
Q1 2019+5.2%+9.3%-1.1%
Q4 2018-2.8%-6.5%-7.7%
Q3 2018-2.3%-2.5%-7.7%
Q2 2018-0.4%-2.8%-6.7%
Q1 2018-5.5%-7.0%-0.5%
Q4 2015+2.3%+5.3%+0.9%
Q3 2016-2.3%-1.1%+16.4%
Q3 2017-2.3%-1.1%+16.4%
Q2 2016+2.0%+2.2%+11.0%
Q2 2017+2.0%+2.2%+11.0%
Q4 2016+0.2%-5.6%-12.2%
Q1 2016+0.2%+4.4%-14.4%
Q1 2017+0.2%+4.4%-14.4%
Q3 2015
Q2 2015
Q1 2015
Q4 2014

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