Loading…
MARKETS
TOOLS
LEARN
Equiscale · Syntellia LLC
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.
Rule-based from financial data. Not advice.
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 | |
Historically, Nov has averaged the highest return (+17.8%); Mar the lowest (-7.2%).
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | -6.9%Negative MonthJan 2026: -6.89% | -24.8%Negative MonthFeb 2026: -24.82% | -4.9%Negative MonthMar 2026: -4.92% | +35.3%Positive MonthApr 2026: +35.34% | -6.5%Negative MonthMay 2026: -6.46% | +6.4%Positive MonthJun 2026: +6.42% | +8.3%Positive MonthJul 2026: +8.32% | +5.0%*Positive MonthAug 2026: +4.98% | — | — | — | — |
| 2025 | +3.4%Positive MonthJan 2025: +3.40% | -26.3%Negative MonthFeb 2025: -26.34% | -14.6%Negative MonthMar 2025: -14.62% | +3.3%Positive MonthApr 2025: +3.28% | -11.9%Negative MonthMay 2025: -11.94% | +15.6%Positive MonthJun 2025: +15.61% | +8.6%Positive MonthJul 2025: +8.61% | +1.4%Neutral MonthAug 2025: +1.40% | -6.4%Negative MonthSep 2025: -6.36% | -12.1%Negative MonthOct 2025: -12.11% | +8.0%Positive MonthNov 2025: +8.01% | +5.2%Positive MonthDec 2025: +5.17% |
| 2024 | -8.1%Negative MonthJan 2024: -8.12% | +5.2%Positive MonthFeb 2024: +5.22% | -6.3%Negative MonthMar 2024: -6.32% | -2.7%Negative MonthApr 2024: -2.74% | +21.1%Positive MonthMay 2024: +21.07% | -2.6%Negative MonthJun 2024: -2.62% | +4.7%Positive MonthJul 2024: +4.67% | -13.5%Negative MonthAug 2024: -13.48% | -6.1%Negative MonthSep 2024: -6.05% | -4.6%Negative MonthOct 2024: -4.59% | +24.3%Positive MonthNov 2024: +24.27% | -12.8%Negative MonthDec 2024: -12.78% |
| 2023 | +24.2%Positive MonthJan 2023: +24.18% | +12.3%Positive MonthFeb 2023: +12.28% | +0.5%Neutral MonthMar 2023: +0.52% | +1.4%Neutral MonthApr 2023: +1.40% | -9.8%Negative MonthMay 2023: -9.81% | +12.3%Positive MonthJun 2023: +12.29% | +15.1%Positive MonthJul 2023: +15.09% | -18.1%Negative MonthAug 2023: -18.06% | -9.8%Negative MonthSep 2023: -9.79% | -9.7%Negative MonthOct 2023: -9.67% | +22.3%Positive MonthNov 2023: +22.26% | +1.9%Neutral MonthDec 2023: +1.88% |
| 2022 | -3.2%Negative MonthJan 2022: -3.17% | +3.9%Positive MonthFeb 2022: +3.85% | -10.8%Negative MonthMar 2022: -10.82% | -22.9%Negative MonthApr 2022: -22.94% | -6.9%Negative MonthMay 2022: -6.92% | -8.9%Negative MonthJun 2022: -8.89% | +24.7%Positive MonthJul 2022: +24.71% | +8.4%Positive MonthAug 2022: +8.42% | -9.8%Negative MonthSep 2022: -9.80% | +20.7%Positive MonthOct 2022: +20.70% | +6.5%Positive MonthNov 2022: +6.48% | -6.8%Negative MonthDec 2022: -6.83% |
| 2021 | — | — | — | — | +10.6%Positive MonthMay 2021: +10.60% | -1.9%Neutral MonthJun 2021: -1.92% | -15.7%Negative MonthJul 2021: -15.70% | +5.3%Positive MonthAug 2021: +5.30% | -0.6%Neutral MonthSep 2021: -0.55% | +2.9%Positive MonthOct 2021: +2.92% | +28.1%Positive MonthNov 2021: +28.11% | -3.5%Negative MonthDec 2021: -3.54% |
| Avg±SD |
Each cell is the percentage change in closing price from the end of the prior month to the end of this month. The bottom row shows the average return for that calendar month across the selected years, plus or minus one standard deviation — the range that historically contained roughly two-thirds of outcomes. Past monthly patterns are not a forecast of future returns.
This aggregates every month by calendar position — all Januaries together, all Februaries together, and so on — to show whether a given month has leaned positive or negative historically. ‘Simple’ counts each month as +1 or −1. ‘Weighted’ gives larger moves more influence: +2 above +10%, −2 below −10%. With only 6 years of history for this asset, each month’s score reflects a small number of observations — read it as a historical tendency, not a reliable seasonal pattern.
This tracks a running tally across the asset’s full price history: each month adds or subtracts based on whether it was positive or negative. A rising line means more positive months than negative so far; a flattening or falling line means recent months have leaned negative. This measures historical month-to-month consistency, not expected future performance.
Year-to-date return is calculated by dividing each day’s closing price by the price on January 1st of that year (or the asset’s first available price if it began trading mid-year). The custom average line shows the mean YTD return at each calendar day across the selected years. The standard deviation band shows the range within which returns have historically fallen — at 1 SD, roughly two-thirds of years; at 2 SD, roughly 95%. Past year-to-date patterns do not predict future returns. The average and standard deviation band are computed from the year set chosen in “Average from”, which is independent of which year lines are displayed. The current in-progress year is excluded from these calculations, since a partial year is not comparable to complete ones. Election-cycle groupings follow the US presidential calendar and are offered only for US and crypto assets.
