CARG official logo CARG
CARG 1-star rating from Upturn Advisory
CarGurus (CARG) company logo

CarGurus (CARG)

CarGurus (CARG) 1-star rating from Upturn Advisory
$38.84
Last Close (24-hour delay)
Profit since last BUY0.88%
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Upturn Advisory Summary

01/09/2026: CARG (1-star) has a low Upturn Star Rating. Not recommended to BUY.

Upturn Star Rating

Upturn 1 star rating for performance

Not Recommended Performance

These Stocks/ETFs, based on Upturn Advisory, consistently fall short of market performance, signaling caution before investing.

Number of Analysts

3 star rating from financial analysts

13 Analysts rated it

Moderately tracked stock, growing coverage, gaining market and investor attention.

1 Year Target Price $40.96

1 Year Target Price $40.96

Analysts Price Target For last 52 week
$40.96 Target price
52w Low $24.65
Current$38.84
52w High $41.33

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit -13.2%
Avg. Invested days 47
Today’s Advisory Consider higher Upturn Star rating
Upturn Star Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 2.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 1.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 01/09/2026

Key Highlights

Company Size Mid-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 3.83B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 26.09
1Y Target Price 40.96
Price to earnings Ratio 26.09
1Y Target Price 40.96
Volume (30-day avg) 13
Beta 1.36
52 Weeks Range 24.65 - 41.33
Updated Date 01/8/2026
52 Weeks Range 24.65 - 41.33
Updated Date 01/8/2026
Dividends yield (FY) -
Basic EPS (TTM) 1.48

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Revenue by Geography

Geography revenue - Year on Year

Earnings Date

Report Date -
When -
Estimate -
Actual -

Profitability

Profit Margin 16.41%
Operating Margin (TTM) 24.5%

Management Effectiveness

Return on Assets (TTM) 18.67%
Return on Equity (TTM) 35.39%

Valuation

Trailing PE 26.09
Forward PE 15.65
Enterprise Value 3638785155
Price to Sales(TTM) 4.14
Enterprise Value 3638785155
Price to Sales(TTM) 4.14
Enterprise Value to Revenue 3.93
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 15.43
Shares Outstanding 81236954
Shares Floating 79519201
Shares Outstanding 81236954
Shares Floating 79519201
Percent Insiders 1.84
Percent Institutions 109.29

Icon representing Upturn AI-generated SWOT analysis summary Upturn AI SWOT

CarGurus

CarGurus(CARG) company logo displayed in Upturn AI summary

Company Overview

Company history and background logo History and Background

CarGurus was founded in 2008 by Richard E. Goldberg and Langley Steinlaub. The company launched its website in 2010 and has since become a leading online automotive marketplace. Key milestones include its IPO in 2017 and subsequent international expansion. CarGurus's evolution has focused on leveraging data and technology to provide a more transparent and efficient car shopping experience for consumers and a valuable lead generation tool for dealerships.

Company business area logo Core Business Areas

  • Marketplace Services: CarGurus operates an online marketplace connecting car buyers with sellers (dealerships and private individuals). It provides tools and data to help users research vehicles, compare prices, and find inventory. This is the core of its business, driving traffic and lead generation.
  • Dealer Solutions: Offers a suite of products and services to automotive dealerships, including advertising, lead generation tools, data analytics, and inventory management solutions. These services aim to improve dealership efficiency and sales performance.
  • Consumer-Facing Tools: Provides consumers with features like the 'Great Deal' rating, 'Fair Deal' rating, and 'Good Deal' rating, based on proprietary algorithms analyzing market data. Also offers financing calculators and vehicle history reports.

leadership logo Leadership and Structure

CarGurus is led by a management team including President and CEO Jason Treuchet. The company operates with a functional organizational structure, with departments dedicated to product development, sales, marketing, data science, and operations. Its presence is primarily online, with physical offices supporting its operations.

Top Products and Market Share

Product Key Offerings logo Key Offerings

  • Description: CarGurus's core platform, allowing consumers to search for new and used cars. It uses proprietary algorithms to rate deals ('Great Deal', 'Fair Deal', 'Good Deal'), providing transparency. Competitors include AutoTrader.com, Cars.com, and various OEM websites.
  • Product Name 1: Online Automotive Marketplace
  • Description: A significant revenue driver, providing dealerships with qualified leads and advertising packages. This includes featured listings and analytical tools. Competitors include Dealer.com, CDK Global, and other digital advertising platforms for automotive.
  • Product Name 2: Dealer Lead Generation & Advertising
  • Description: Leverages its vast dataset to offer pricing insights and market intelligence to both consumers and dealerships. These tools help in informed decision-making for pricing and purchasing. Competitors in this space are often more niche, focusing on specific data analytics for the automotive industry.
  • Product Name 3: Data Analytics & Valuation Tools

Market Dynamics

industry overview logo Industry Overview

The automotive retail industry is undergoing significant digital transformation. Consumers are increasingly researching and even purchasing vehicles online. The market is characterized by a mix of large online marketplaces, dealership websites, and emerging direct-to-consumer sales models. Data and transparency are becoming key competitive differentiators.

Positioning

CarGurus positions itself as a transparent and data-driven platform that simplifies the car-buying and selling process. Its proprietary deal ratings and extensive inventory data are key competitive advantages. The company focuses on providing a superior user experience for consumers and efficient lead generation for dealers.

Total Addressable Market (TAM)

The TAM for online automotive marketplaces and dealer solutions is substantial, encompassing billions of dollars in vehicle sales and advertising spend annually. CarGurus is well-positioned to capture a significant portion of this market, especially as digital adoption continues to grow. Their focus on data and transparency allows them to stand out in a crowded market.

Upturn SWOT Analysis

Strengths

  • Strong brand recognition and user trust.
  • Proprietary deal rating algorithm providing unique value.
  • Extensive inventory and user data for insights.
  • Diversified revenue streams (consumer traffic, dealer subscriptions/advertising).
  • International market presence.

Weaknesses

  • Dependence on third-party dealerships for inventory.
  • Competition from established players and new entrants.
  • Potential for reliance on advertising revenue if user conversion slows.
  • Consumer perception of online-only vs. physical dealership experience.

Opportunities

  • Expansion of ancillary services (e.g., financing, insurance, repair).
  • Further international market penetration.
  • Leveraging AI and machine learning for enhanced personalization and efficiency.
  • Partnerships with OEMs and automotive service providers.
  • Growth in online vehicle financing and delivery options.

Threats

  • Economic downturns impacting car sales.
  • Increasing competition and potential price wars.
  • Changes in automotive sales regulations or consumer preferences.
  • Cybersecurity threats and data breaches.
  • Technological disruptions from new players or business models.

Competitors and Market Share

Key competitor logo Key Competitors

  • Cars.com (CARS)
  • AutoTrader.com (Cox Automotive subsidiary)
  • eBay Motors (EBAY)
  • Alphabet Inc. (Google) (GOOGL)

Competitive Landscape

CarGurus's advantage lies in its proprietary deal ratings and focus on transparency, which resonates with consumers. Its platform is designed for efficiency in lead generation for dealers. However, competitors like Cox Automotive (AutoTrader) have a broader ecosystem and longer-standing relationships with dealerships. Cars.com is also a strong competitor with a similar business model. Google's search dominance can also be a factor in directing consumers.

Major Acquisitions

Piston

  • Year: 2021
  • Acquisition Price (USD millions): 80
  • Strategic Rationale: Acquired to enhance CarGurus's technology and data capabilities, particularly in areas of automotive data aggregation and analytics, strengthening their core offering.

Adpearance

  • Year: 2021
  • Acquisition Price (USD millions): 41
  • Strategic Rationale: This acquisition aimed to bolster CarGurus's digital marketing solutions for dealerships, offering them more comprehensive tools for online advertising and customer acquisition.

Growth Trajectory and Initiatives

Historical Growth: CarGurus has experienced robust historical growth since its inception, evolving from a startup to a publicly traded company with a significant market share. This growth has been fueled by its innovative approach to the online automotive marketplace and its expansion into international markets.

Future Projections: Analyst projections for CarGurus generally anticipate continued revenue growth, driven by increasing adoption of online car shopping, expansion of dealer services, and potential new product offerings. Growth is expected to be supported by its strong market position and strategic initiatives.

Recent Initiatives: Recent initiatives include continued investment in technology to enhance user experience and dealer tools, expansion into new geographic markets, and strategic acquisitions to broaden its service offerings. The company is also focused on leveraging data analytics and AI to provide more personalized and efficient solutions.

Summary

CarGurus is a robust online automotive marketplace with a strong brand and a data-driven approach, providing significant value to both consumers and dealerships. Its core marketplace and dealer solutions are performing well, supported by a clear growth trajectory and strategic acquisitions. Key areas to watch include continued international expansion and the ongoing digital transformation of the automotive industry.

Similar Stocks

Sources and Disclaimers

Data Sources:

  • CarGurus Investor Relations
  • Financial News Outlets (e.g., Bloomberg, Reuters)
  • Industry Analysis Reports
  • SEC Filings

Disclaimers:

This information is for analytical purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Financial data and market share percentages are subject to change and may vary based on the reporting period and source. Specific numerical data for financial metrics requires access to real-time financial statements.

Information icon for Upturn AI Summarization accuracy disclaimer AI Summarization is directionally correct and might not be accurate.

Information icon for Upturn AI Summarization data freshness disclaimer Summarized information shown could be a few years old and not current.

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About CarGurus

Exchange NASDAQ
Headquaters Boston, MA, United States
IPO Launch date 2017-10-12
CEO, CFO, Principal Accounting Officer & Director Mr. Jason M. Trevisan
Sector Consumer Cyclical
Industry Auto & Truck Dealerships
Full time employees 1282
Full time employees 1282

CarGurus, Inc. operates an online automotive platform for buying and selling vehicles in the United States and internationally. It operates through two segments, U.S. Marketplace and Digital Wholesale. The company provides an online automotive marketplace that allows customers to search for new and used car listings from its dealers; and connects dealers to a large audience of informed and engaged consumers while providing dealers with actionable data-based insights. It also offers Digital Deal which allows shoppers to start purchase from a VDP on eligible listings that provides them with purchase options; Finance in Advance, where eligible consumers can pre-qualify for financing on cars from dealerships that offer financing from partners; Sell My Car " Top Dealer Offers which allows dealers to make tailored trade-in offers; and Sell My Car " Instant Max Cash Offer which allows consumers to sell vehicles to dealers online. In addition, the company provides dealer listings and data insights products; auto manufacturers and others advertiser products, such as brand reinforcement, category sponsorship, automobile segment exclusivity, and consumer segment exposure; Autolist, an online automotive marketplace through mobile applications and a website; and PistonHeads which is an automotive marketplace, auction platform, and editorial site for automotive enthusiasts. The company was formerly known as CarGurus LLC and changed its name to CarGurus, Inc. in June 2015. CarGurus, Inc. was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.