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Upturn AI SWOT - About
CARS 
Cars.com Inc (CARS)
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Upturn Advisory Summary
09/16/2025: CARS (1-star) has a low Upturn Star Rating. Not recommended to BUY.
Upturn Star Rating
Not Recommended Performance
These Stocks/ETFs, based on Upturn Advisory, consistently fall short of market performance, signaling caution before investing.
Number of Analysts
7 Analysts rated it
Limited analyst coverage, niche firm, research info may be scarce.
1 Year Target Price $16.43
1 Year Target Price $16.43
| 3 | Strong Buy |
| 1 | Buy |
| 2 | Hold |
| 0 | Sell |
| 1 | Strong Sell |
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit 2.52% | Avg. Invested days 29 | Today’s Advisory Consider higher Upturn Star rating |
Upturn Star Rating | Upturn Advisory Performance  3.0 | Stock Returns Performance  1.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 09/16/2025 |
Key Highlights
Company Size Small-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 827.67M USD | Price to earnings Ratio 21.73 | 1Y Target Price 16.43 |
Price to earnings Ratio 21.73 | 1Y Target Price 16.43 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 7 | Beta 1.78 | 52 Weeks Range 9.56 - 20.47 | Updated Date 09/16/2025 |
52 Weeks Range 9.56 - 20.47 | Updated Date 09/16/2025 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) - | Basic EPS (TTM) 0.62 |
Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth
Revenue by Products
Product revenue - Year on Year
Earnings Date
Report Date - | When - | Estimate - | Actual - |
Profitability
Profit Margin 5.71% | Operating Margin (TTM) 8.53% |
Management Effectiveness
Return on Assets (TTM) 3.04% | Return on Equity (TTM) 8.37% |
Valuation
Trailing PE 21.73 | Forward PE 6.41 | Enterprise Value 1257092741 | Price to Sales(TTM) 1.15 |
Enterprise Value 1257092741 | Price to Sales(TTM) 1.15 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 1.75 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA 6.66 | Shares Outstanding 61445500 | Shares Floating 56698217 |
Shares Outstanding 61445500 | Shares Floating 56698217 | ||
Percent Insiders 9.98 | Percent Institutions 96.64 |
Upturn AI SWOT
Cars.com Inc
Company Overview
History and Background
Cars.com Inc. was established in 1998 as a consortium of newspaper companies looking to create a unified online automotive marketplace. It has evolved from a basic classifieds listing site to a comprehensive digital automotive platform offering a range of services for car shoppers and dealers. It went public as a standalone company in 2017 after being spun off from Gannett Co.
Core Business Areas
- Cars.com Marketplace: The core business, connecting car shoppers with dealerships and providing access to vehicle listings, reviews, and research tools.
- Advertising Solutions: Providing advertising products and services to automotive dealers and manufacturers to help them reach a wider audience of potential customers.
- Dealer Inspire: A platform offering website design, digital marketing, and customer relationship management (CRM) solutions for car dealerships.
Leadership and Structure
The leadership team is headed by the CEO, who oversees the overall strategy and operations. The company is structured with various departments responsible for sales, marketing, technology, and finance. Specific names and structures would need real-time updating.
Top Products and Market Share
Key Offerings
- Cars.com Marketplace: The primary platform for connecting car buyers and sellers. Generates revenue through advertising and subscription fees from dealers. Competitors include AutoTrader, TrueCar, and CarGurus. Market share data fluctuates, but Cars.com is a significant player in the online automotive marketplace.
- Dealer Inspire Website Platform: Provides website solutions, SEO, SEM and various other digital solutions for dealerships to manage and market their inventory. Competitors include CDK Global and Reynolds and Reynolds.
- Accu-Trade: A vehicle valuation and appraisal tool for dealers. Competitors include Kelley Blue Book and Black Book.
Market Dynamics
Industry Overview
The online automotive marketplace industry is highly competitive, driven by the increasing shift of car shopping activity online. The industry is characterized by consolidation and innovation as companies seek to provide better experiences for both buyers and sellers.
Positioning
Cars.com is positioned as a comprehensive digital automotive platform that connects car shoppers with dealers, offering a range of services including vehicle listings, reviews, and dealer solutions. Their competitive advantage lies in their brand recognition and comprehensive platform.
Total Addressable Market (TAM)
The TAM for digital automotive advertising and solutions is estimated to be in the billions of dollars annually in the US. Cars.com is positioned to capture a significant share of this market through its marketplace and dealer solutions.
Upturn SWOT Analysis
Strengths
- Established brand recognition
- Comprehensive platform with marketplace and dealer solutions
- Large database of vehicle listings and reviews
- Strong relationships with dealerships
Weaknesses
- High competition from other online automotive marketplaces
- Dependence on advertising revenue from dealers
- Potential for disruption from new technologies and business models
- Fluctuations in the automotive market
Opportunities
- Expanding into new markets and services
- Leveraging data and analytics to improve user experience
- Developing partnerships with automotive manufacturers and technology companies
- Capitalizing on the growth of electric vehicles and online car buying
Threats
- Economic downturns and fluctuations in the automotive market
- Increasing competition from other online automotive marketplaces
- Changes in consumer preferences and car buying habits
- Technological disruptions
Competitors and Market Share
Key Competitors
- KMX
- CVNA
- HOLX
Competitive Landscape
Cars.com's competitive advantage lies in its comprehensive platform and brand recognition. However, it faces intense competition from larger players with deeper pockets.
Major Acquisitions
Accu-Trade
- Year: 2021
- Acquisition Price (USD millions): 43
- Strategic Rationale: Expanded its offerings into vehicle valuation and appraisal services, increasing its value proposition for dealers.
Growth Trajectory and Initiatives
Historical Growth: Past performance is determined by the annual reports. The company has grown through acquisition, strategic partnerships and innovation in their core business. Requires historical annual report reviews for specifics.
Future Projections: Future growth is based on analysts estimates. That data is not current and cannot be provided at this time.
Recent Initiatives: Recent strategic initiatives include platform improvements, acquisitions (such as Accu-Trade), and partnerships to expand their offerings.
Summary
Cars.com is a established player in the online automotive marketplace with a comprehensive platform. While it benefits from brand recognition and dealer relationships, intense competition and fluctuations in the automotive market pose challenges. Recent strategic initiatives and acquisitions demonstrate their commitment to growth and innovation. They must leverage data to improve their user experience.
Peer Comparison
Sources and Disclaimers
Data Sources:
- SEC Filings
- Company Website
- Industry Reports
- Analyst Estimates
Disclaimers:
The data provided is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Market conditions and company performance are subject to change.
AI Summarization is directionally correct and might not be accurate.
Summarized information shown could be a few years old and not current.
Fundamental Rating based on AI could be based on old data.
AI-generated summaries may have inaccuracies (hallucinations). Please verify the information before taking action.
About Cars.com Inc
Exchange NYSE | Headquaters Chicago, IL, United States | ||
IPO Launch date 2017-05-18 | Co-Founder, CEO & Director Mr. T. Alex Vetter | ||
Sector Communication Services | Industry Internet Content & Information | Full time employees 1800 | Website https://www.cars.com |
Full time employees 1800 | Website https://www.cars.com | ||
Cars.com Inc., an audience-driven technology company, provides solutions for the automotive industry in the United States. The company offers cars commerce platforms, such as Marketplace, allowing OEMs and dealers to merchandise their inventory and allowing consumers to add and save vehicles to virtual garage and track the Cars.com market value of current vehicle, as well as provides reputation management technology and digital financing tools and access to in-market consumers who are ready to trade-in its vehicle for a new one. It also provides website creation and platform hosting; digital retailing solutions; and trade and appraisal product, including AccuTrade, uses real-time market data and diagnostic scans to determine the right trade-in offer for every VIN in minutes. In addition, the company offers Cars Commerce Media Network products comprising Cars Social, allows dealers to target and serve native advertisements displaying real-time inventory to in-market car shoppers on Facebook and Instagram; 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 In-Market Display, enable dealers and OEMs to extend reach and access audience of in-market car shoppers. 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.
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