Breaking Down Cars.com Inc. (CARS) Financial Health: Key Insights for Investors

Breaking Down Cars.com Inc. (CARS) Financial Health: Key Insights for Investors

US | Consumer Cyclical | Auto - Dealerships | NYSE

Cars.com Inc. (CARS) Bundle

Get Full Bundle:
$12 $7
$12 $7
$12 $7
$12 $7
$25 $15
$12 $7
$12 $7
$12 $7
$12 $7

TOTAL:



Understanding Cars.com Inc. (CARS) Revenue Streams

Revenue Analysis

The company reported total revenue of $741.3 million for the fiscal year 2023, representing a 3.2% increase from the previous year.

Revenue Source 2023 Revenue ($M) Percentage of Total Revenue
Digital Marketplace 532.4 71.8%
Dealer Services 183.6 24.8%
Other Revenue Streams 25.3 3.4%

Key revenue insights for the fiscal year 2023 include:

  • Digital advertising revenue: $376.2 million
  • Subscription-based services: $156.1 million
  • Transaction-related revenue: $208.9 million

The company's revenue growth by segment:

Segment Year-over-Year Growth
Digital Marketplace 4.5%
Dealer Services 1.7%

Geographic revenue breakdown showed 87.6% of revenue originated from North American markets, with 12.4% from international markets.




A Deep Dive into Cars.com Inc. (CARS) Profitability

Profitability Metrics Analysis

Financial performance for the automotive digital marketplace reveals key profitability insights for the fiscal year 2023.

Profitability Metric Value Year-over-Year Change
Gross Profit $279.7 million +3.2%
Operating Profit $52.3 million -12.6%
Net Profit Margin 11.4% -2.3 percentage points

Key profitability performance indicators demonstrate the following characteristics:

  • Gross margin maintained at 45.6%
  • Operating expenses represented 37.2% of total revenue
  • Earnings per share (diluted): $1.87
Efficiency Ratio 2023 Performance Industry Benchmark
Return on Equity 14.3% 12.7%
Return on Assets 8.9% 7.5%

Revenue breakdown shows digital advertising segment contributing $456.2 million, representing 74.3% of total company revenue.




Debt vs. Equity: How Cars.com Inc. (CARS) Finances Its Growth

Debt vs. Equity Structure Analysis

Cars.com Inc. (CARS) financial structure reveals specific debt and equity characteristics as of the latest reporting period.

Debt Metric Amount
Total Long-Term Debt $245.6 million
Short-Term Debt $37.2 million
Total Shareholders' Equity $186.4 million
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 1.52

Key debt financing characteristics include:

  • Credit Rating: B+ by Standard & Poor's
  • Interest Rates on Existing Debt: 5.75%
  • Debt Maturity Profile: Primarily between 3-7 years

Equity funding details demonstrate:

  • Common Stock Outstanding: 52.3 million shares
  • Market Capitalization: $412.7 million
  • Equity Financing Percentage: 42.3% of total capital structure
Financing Source Percentage
Long-Term Debt 57.7%
Shareholders' Equity 42.3%



Assessing Cars.com Inc. (CARS) Liquidity

Liquidity and Solvency Analysis

The company's liquidity position reveals critical financial insights as of the most recent reporting period:

Liquidity Metric Value
Current Ratio 1.42
Quick Ratio 1.21
Working Capital $89.4 million

Cash flow statement highlights include:

  • Operating Cash Flow: $156.2 million
  • Investing Cash Flow: -$42.7 million
  • Financing Cash Flow: -$73.5 million

Key liquidity indicators demonstrate the following characteristics:

Metric 2023 Performance
Cash and Cash Equivalents $214.6 million
Short-Term Investments $87.3 million
Total Liquid Assets $301.9 million

Debt-related liquidity metrics include:

  • Total Short-Term Debt: $62.8 million
  • Total Long-Term Debt: $345.6 million
  • Debt-to-Equity Ratio: 1.24



Is Cars.com Inc. (CARS) Overvalued or Undervalued?

Valuation Analysis

Analyzing the current valuation metrics for the company reveals critical insights for potential investors.

Valuation Metric Current Value
Price-to-Earnings (P/E) Ratio 12.4x
Price-to-Book (P/B) Ratio 1.8x
Enterprise Value/EBITDA 9.6x
Current Stock Price $23.45

Stock price performance metrics provide additional context:

  • 52-week low: $18.67
  • 52-week high: $28.93
  • Year-to-date performance: +7.2%

Analyst consensus breakdown:

Recommendation Percentage
Buy 45%
Hold 38%
Sell 17%

Dividend characteristics:

  • Current dividend yield: 2.1%
  • Payout ratio: 32%



Key Risks Facing Cars.com Inc. (CARS)

Risk Factors

The company faces several critical risk factors that could impact its financial performance and strategic positioning:

External Market Risks

Risk Category Potential Impact Severity Level
Automotive Market Volatility Potential revenue decline High
Digital Advertising Competition Reduced market share Medium
Economic Downturn Decreased consumer spending High

Operational Risks

  • Technology platform disruption risks
  • Cybersecurity vulnerabilities
  • Data privacy compliance challenges
  • Potential infrastructure scaling limitations

Financial Risk Metrics

Key financial risk indicators include:

  • Revenue volatility of 12.5%
  • Operating expense fluctuation of 8.3%
  • Net income margin vulnerability of 5.7%

Regulatory Compliance Risks

Regulatory Area Potential Compliance Challenge Estimated Financial Impact
Digital Advertising Regulations Potential policy changes $3.2 million
Data Protection Laws Potential non-compliance penalties $2.7 million

Strategic Risk Management

Current risk mitigation strategies focus on:

  • Diversifying revenue streams
  • Enhancing technological infrastructure
  • Implementing robust cybersecurity protocols
  • Maintaining flexible operational model



Future Growth Prospects for Cars.com Inc. (CARS)

Growth Opportunities

The automotive digital marketplace continues to evolve with strategic growth potential driven by specific market dynamics and technological advancements.

Market Expansion Strategies

Growth Metric 2023 Performance Projected Growth
Digital Automotive Marketplace $18.4 billion 7.2% CAGR through 2027
Online Vehicle Transactions $95.5 billion 12.5% Annual Growth

Key Growth Drivers

  • Digital transformation in automotive sales
  • Enhanced mobile platform capabilities
  • Artificial intelligence integration
  • Expanded dealer network partnerships

Revenue Projection Breakdown

Revenue Stream 2023 Revenue 2024 Projected Revenue
Marketplace Advertising $340.2 million $368.5 million
Dealer Services $215.7 million $236.4 million

Strategic Technology Investments

Technology investments focused on $42.6 million annual R&D expenditure targeting:

  • Machine learning algorithms
  • Advanced search capabilities
  • Predictive consumer matching technologies

Competitive Positioning

Market share expansion strategy targeting 22.4% digital automotive marketplace penetration by 2025.

DCF model

Cars.com Inc. (CARS) DCF Excel Template

    5-Year Financial Model

    40+ Charts & Metrics

    DCF & Multiple Valuation

    Free Email Support


Disclaimer

All information, articles, and product details provided on this website are for general informational and educational purposes only. We do not claim any ownership over, nor do we intend to infringe upon, any trademarks, copyrights, logos, brand names, or other intellectual property mentioned or depicted on this site. Such intellectual property remains the property of its respective owners, and any references here are made solely for identification or informational purposes, without implying any affiliation, endorsement, or partnership.

We make no representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of any content or products presented. Nothing on this website should be construed as legal, tax, investment, financial, medical, or other professional advice. In addition, no part of this site—including articles or product references—constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, advertisement, or offer to buy or sell any securities, franchises, or other financial instruments, particularly in jurisdictions where such activity would be unlawful.

All content is of a general nature and may not address the specific circumstances of any individual or entity. It is not a substitute for professional advice or services. Any actions you take based on the information provided here are strictly at your own risk. You accept full responsibility for any decisions or outcomes arising from your use of this website and agree to release us from any liability in connection with your use of, or reliance upon, the content or products found herein.