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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% | - | - |
Income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow as reported
Consolidated Figures in USD Millions.
| Metric | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Revenue | 653.88 | 689.18 | 719.15 | 723.24 |
| 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 |
| Operating Income | 66.04 | 54.12 | 53.50 | 60.25 |
| EBITDA | 152.29 | 151.53 | 201.24 | 156.53 |
| EBIT | 57.90 | 50.53 | 94.06 | 64.69 |
| Pretax Income | 22.58 | 18.11 | 61.86 | 34.31 |
| Tax Provision | 5.37 | -100.34 | 13.68 | 14.25 |
| Net Income | 17.21 | 118.44 | 48.19 | 20.05 |
| Net Income Common Stockholders | 17.21 | 118.44 | 48.19 | 20.05 |
| Total Expenses | 587.84 | 635.07 | 665.65 | 662.99 |
| Interest Expense | 35.32 | 32.42 | 32.20 | 30.38 |
| Research And Development | 89.02 | 102.03 | 117.88 | 117.33 |
| Selling General And Administration | 289.47 | 309.84 | 316.26 | 330.49 |
| Normalized EBITDA | 152.29 | 151.53 | 201.24 | 156.53 |
| Normalized Income | 17.21 | 118.44 | 48.19 | 20.05 |
| Basic EPS | 0.25 | 1.77 | 0.73 | 0.32 |
| Diluted EPS | 0.25 | 1.74 | 0.72 | 0.32 |
| Tax Effect Of Unusual Items | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tax Rate For Calcs | 0.24 | 0.21 | 0.22 | 0.21 |
| Total Unusual Items | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total Unusual Items Excluding Goodwill | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Net Income From Continuing Operation Net Minority Interest | 17.21 | 118.44 | 48.19 | 20.05 |
| Reconciled Depreciation | 94.39 | 101 | 107.18 | 91.84 |
| Reconciled Cost Of Revenue | 114.96 | 122.20 | 124.33 | 123.33 |
| Net Interest Income | -35.32 | -32.42 | -32.20 | -30.38 |
| Net Income From Continuing And Discontinued Operation | 17.21 | 118.44 | 48.19 | 20.05 |
| Total Operating Income As Reported | 66.04 | 54.12 | 53.50 | 60.25 |
| Diluted Average Shares | 69.65 | 68.23 | 67.39 | 63.26 |
| Basic Average Shares | 68.22 | 66.74 | 66.01 | 62.39 |
| Diluted NI Availto Com Stockholders | 17.21 | 118.44 | 48.19 | 20.05 |
| Net Income Including Noncontrolling Interests | 17.21 | 118.44 | 48.19 | 20.05 |
| Net Income Continuous Operations | 17.21 | 118.44 | 48.19 | 20.05 |
| Other Income Expense | -8.14 | -3.59 | 40.56 | 4.44 |
| Other Non Operating Income Expenses | -8.14 | -3.59 | 40.56 | 4.44 |
| Special Income Charges | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Impairment Of Capital Assets | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Earnings From Equity Interest | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Net Non Operating Interest Income Expense | -35.32 | -32.42 | -32.20 | -30.38 |
| Interest Expense Non Operating | 35.32 | 32.42 | 32.20 | 30.38 |
| 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 |
| Selling And Marketing Expense | 221.88 | 236.82 | 232.28 | 239.37 |
| General And Administrative Expense | 67.59 | 73.02 | 83.98 | 91.12 |
| Other Gand A | 67.59 | 73.02 | 83.98 | 91.12 |
| Operating Revenue | 637.78 | 677.57 | 706.62 | 709.36 |
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 | $626M | 34.28↑ premium | 1.36 | 4.2% | 6.92 |
| Reservoir Media, Inc. | RSVR | $644M | 98.10 | 1.72 | 2.1% | 16.35 |
| Bumble Inc. | BMBL | $639M | - | 0.96 | -101.8% | 3.98 |
| Shutterstock, Inc. | SSTK | $617M | 13.66 | 1.07 | 7.8% | 4.02 |
| NXDR | NXDR | $600M | - | 1.44 |
| -12.6% |
| -3.74 |
| The Marcus Corporation | MCS | $583M | 46.29 | 1.27 | 2.8% | 9.95 |
| Gray Media, Inc. | GTN | $568M | - | 0.25 | -3.0% | 10.25 |
| EverQuote, Inc. | EVER | $557M | 5.99 | 2.40 | 41.7% | 5.91 |
| Groupon, Inc. | GRPN | $552M | - | -13.63 | 197.0% | 41.82 |
| Peer Median | - | 29.98 | 1.17 | 2.4% | 7.93 | |