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Cars.com Inc., an audience-driven technology company, provides solutions for the automotive industry in the United States. The company offers marketplace through Cars.com that allows OEMs and dealers to merchandise their inventory, as well as provides reputation management technology and digital financing tools. It also operates dealer websites to transform automotive retail processes; and trade and appraisal product, including AccuTrade, which uses demand data and diagnostic scans to determine the right trade-in offer for every VIN in minutes. In addition, the company offers media solution, such as Cars Social, allows dealers to target and serve native advertisements displaying real-time inventory to in-market car shoppers on Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platform; VIN Performance Media, a machine-learning for media campaign, including audience targeting, real-time inventory, and ad placement across search, social, and display; In-Market Video, provides OEMs and dealers to pinpoint serious, ready-to-buy shoppers geographically; and proprietary in-market media solutions. The company serves local dealers, OEMs, dealer groups, and auto-adjacent companies. Cars.com Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
5-year financial trends. Figures in USD millions.
Latest fiscal year: 2025
Year-by-year revenue, profitability, and cash flow (USD millions, last 10 years)
| Year | Revenue | EBITDA | Net Profit | FCF | ROE | Rev Growth 1Y | NP Growth 1Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $723M | $157M | $20M | $126M | 4.2% | 0.6% | -58.4% |
| 2024 | $719M | $201M | $48M | $128M | 9.4% | 4.3% | -59.3% |
| 2023 | $689M | $152M | $118M | $116M | 24.1% | 5.4% | 588.4% |
| 2022 | $654M | $152M | $17M | $109M | 4.5% | - | - |
| 2021 | - | - | - |
Income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow as reported
Consolidated Figures in USD Millions.
| Metric | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Revenue | - | 653.88 | 689.18 | 719.15 | 723.24 |
| Operating Revenue | - | 637.78 | 677.56 | 706.62 | 709.36 |
| Cost Of Revenue | - | 114.96 | 122.20 | 124.33 | 123.33 |
| Gross Profit | - | 538.92 | 566.98 | 594.82 | 599.91 |
| Operating Expense | - | 472.88 | 512.86 | 541.32 | 539.66 |
| Research And Development | - | 89.02 | 102.03 | 117.88 | 117.33 |
| Selling General And Administration | - | 289.47 | 309.84 | 316.26 | 330.49 |
| Total Expenses | - | 587.84 | 635.07 | 665.65 | 662.99 |
| Operating Income | - | 66.04 | 54.12 | 53.50 | 60.25 |
| Total Operating Income As Reported | - | 66.04 | 54.12 | 53.50 | 60.25 |
| EBITDA | - | 152.29 | 151.53 | 201.24 | 156.53 |
| Normalized EBITDA | - | 152.29 | 151.53 | 201.24 | 156.53 |
| EBIT | - | 57.90 | 50.53 | 94.06 | 64.69 |
| Interest Expense | - | 35.32 | 32.42 | 32.20 | 30.38 |
| Net Interest Income | - | -35.32 | -32.42 | -32.20 | -30.38 |
| Other Non Operating Income Expenses | - | -8.14 | -3.59 | 40.56 | 4.44 |
| Other Income Expense | - | -8.14 | -3.59 | 40.56 | 4.44 |
| Interest Expense Non Operating | - | 35.32 | 32.42 | 32.20 | 30.38 |
| Net Non Operating Interest Income Expense | - | -35.32 | -32.42 | -32.20 | -30.38 |
| Pretax Income | - | 22.58 | 18.10 | 61.86 | 34.31 |
| Tax Provision | - | 5.37 | -100.34 | 13.68 | 14.25 |
| Tax Rate For Calcs | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tax Effect Of Unusual Items | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Net Income Continuous Operations | - | 17.21 | 118.44 | 48.19 | 20.05 |
| Net Income From Continuing And Discontinued Operation | - | 17.21 | 118.44 | 48.19 | 20.05 |
| Net Income From Continuing Operation Net Minority Interest | - | 17.21 | 118.44 | 48.19 | 20.05 |
| Net Income | - | 17.21 | 118.44 | 48.19 | 20.05 |
| Net Income Common Stockholders | - | 17.21 | 118.44 | 48.19 | 20.05 |
| Net Income Including Noncontrolling Interests | - | 17.21 | 118.44 | 48.19 | 20.05 |
| Normalized Income | - | 17.21 | 118.44 | 48.19 | 20.05 |
| Diluted NI Availto Com Stockholders | - | 17.21 | 118.44 | 48.19 | 20.05 |
| Basic Average Shares | - | 68.22 | 66.74 | 66.01 | 62.39 |
| Diluted Average Shares | - | 69.65 | 68.23 | 67.39 | 63.26 |
| Reconciled Depreciation | - | 94.39 | 101 | 107.18 | 91.84 |
| Reconciled Cost Of Revenue | - | 114.96 | 122.20 | 124.33 | 123.33 |
| Total Unusual Items | 0 | 0 | - | - | - |
| Total Unusual Items Excluding Goodwill | 0 | 0 | - | - | - |
| Special Income Charges | 0 | 0 | - | - | - |
| Impairment Of Capital Assets | 0 | 0 | - | - | - |
| Depreciation Amortization Depletion Income Statement | - | 94.39 | 101 | 107.18 | 91.84 |
| Depreciation And Amortization In Income Statement | - | 94.39 | 101 | 107.18 | 91.84 |
| General And Administrative Expense | - | 67.59 | 73.02 | 83.98 | 91.12 |
| Other Gand A | - | 67.59 | 73.02 | 83.98 | 91.12 |
| Selling And Marketing Expense | - | 221.88 | 236.82 | 232.28 | 239.36 |
| Earnings From Equity Interest | 0 | 0 | - | - | - |
Communication Services sector peers, ranked by market cap
| Company | Ticker | Market Cap | P/E | P/B | ROE | EV/EBITDA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cars.com Inc.this co. | CARS | $522M | 26.04↑ premium | 1.10 | 4.2% | 5.86 |
| Gogo Inc. | GOGO | $557M | 43.12 | 5.51 | 12.8% | 8.31 |
| NerdWallet, Inc. | NRDS | $536M | 11.00 | 1.43 | 13.0% | 3.93 |
| Advantage Solutions Inc. | ADV | $509M | - | 0.92 | -41.1% | 26.01 |
| Shutterstock, Inc. | SSTK | $485M | 10.65 |
| - |
| - |
| - |
| - |
| 0.83 |
| 7.8% |
| 3.27 |
| Nexxen International Ltd. | NEXN | $477M | 19.05 | 1.00 | 5.3% | 3.66 |
| Starz Entertainment Corp. | STRZ | $470M | -2.23 | 0.61 | -27.6% | 1.81 |
| MediaAlpha, Inc. | MAX | $468M | 18.25 | 112.41 | 615.9% | -5.95 |
| Bumble Inc. | BMBL | $454M | -0.65 | 0.80 | -121.6% | -1.11 |
| Peer Median | - | 11.00 | 0.96 | 6.6% | 3.46 | |