NYSE$CARS
Cars.com Inc · Q4 2024 earnings
Q4 2024 earnings · · Before market open · Investor relations
Briefing
Reported solid growth and consistent profitability improvement, driven by strong OEM and National revenue.
Cars.com reported a slight increase in Q4 revenue to $180.4 million, with a significant 15% year-over-year growth in OEM and National revenue. Adjusted EBITDA margin reached nearly 31%. The company also announced a $250 million share repurchase authorization.
- OEM and National revenue increased by 15% year-over-year.
- Adjusted EBITDA margin was nearly 31%.
- Organic traffic accounted for 61% of the total traffic share, an increase from 58% in the prior year period.
- AccuTrade Connected expanded to approximately 1,000 subscribers.
Headline financials
Revenue & EPS history
Cars.com · Revenue · Quarterly
$180M
Revenue by segment
Cars.com · $174M total across 3 segments · Q3 2023
- Dealer$157M+8.1%90.1%
- OEM and National$14.5M-2.4%8.3%
- Other$2.67M-37.8%1.5%
Forward guidance
First quarter revenue is expected to be between $178 million and $181 million. For the full year, the Company anticipates revenue of $745 million to $755 million. Adjusted EBITDA margin for the first quarter of 2025 is expected to be between 25.5% and 27%. For the full year, the Company expects to deliver Adjusted EBITDA margin between 29% to 31%.
Tailwinds
- Ongoing growth initiatives related to improved adoption of AccuTrade.
- Broad-based repackaging across multiple product lines.
- New product launches, including DealerClub.
- Increased marketing and advertising activity by automakers.
- Leverageable revenue growth and sustained cost discipline.
Headwinds
- Dealer revenue reflects the fourth quarter exit rate for the Company’s subscription products, which was negatively impacted by pressure on dealer spending at year end.
- Seasonally higher Marketing and sales investments for large-scale industry events in the first quarter.
- Investing to accelerate integration of DealerClub following the close of that acquisition in January 2025.
- Pressure on dealer spending at year end
- Modest revenue growth
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 Q4 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
| Quarter | Report date | Reaction (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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