greeksoup/ stock research

CarGurus, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 7 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue grew 15 percent: Revenue was $243.6 million, up 15% from $212.2 million, at the midpoint of the first-quarter guidance range of $240.5 million to $245.5 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA above guidance high end: Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations was $80.2 million, up 17% from $68.7 million, above the top of the $72.0 million to $80.0 million guidance range. Source
  • GAAP net income fell 23 percent: GAAP net income from continuing operations was $32.2 million against $42.1 million; diluted EPS was $0.34 against $0.40 a year earlier. Source
  • Impairments recorded this quarter: Impairments totaled $19.7 million, with $0.5 million in cost of revenue and $19.2 million in operating expenses; none were recorded in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Repurchases of $175 million in quarter: Repurchases totaled $175 million in the first quarter; repurchases since December 2022 equal 29% of shares outstanding. Source
  • Cash balance fell to $72.0 million: Cash and cash equivalents were $72.0 million at March 31, 2026, against $190.5 million at December 31, 2025. Source

“We are pleased with our first quarter results, as we sustained our momentum with revenue growing 15% year-over-year as we continued to invest in AI-led product innovation across dealer pillars and the consumer journey”

Jason Trevisan, Chief Executive Officer at CarGurus

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total revenue SourceSecond quarter 2026$247.0 million to $252.0 millionNew
Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations SourceSecond quarter 2026$77.5 million to $85.5 millionNew
Non-GAAP earnings per share from continuing operations SourceSecond quarter 2026$0.57 to $0.64New
Diluted weighted-average common shares SourceSecond quarter 202691.0 millionNew
Revenue change year over year SourceFull year 202610% to 13%Kept
Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations margin change year over year SourceFull year 2026(1.5)% to (2.5)%Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Second-quarter 2026 guidance issued for total revenue, Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA and non-GAAP EPS; the prior release gave first-quarter ranges. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year 2026 revenue change and Adjusted EBITDA margin change ranges match the February release. Source
  • New: Impairments of $19.7 million recorded this quarter, after no impairment in the fourth quarter of 2025. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue grew 15 percent: Revenue was $243.6 million, up 15% from $212.2 million, at the midpoint of the first-quarter guidance range of $240.5 million to $245.5 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA above guidance high end: Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations was $80.2 million, up 17% from $68.7 million, above the top of the $72.0 million to $80.0 million guidance range. Source
  • GAAP net income fell 23 percent: GAAP net income from continuing operations was $32.2 million against $42.1 million; diluted EPS was $0.34 against $0.40 a year earlier. Source

Segments and regions

  • Single reportable segment reported: The company reports one reportable segment, a presentation adopted in the fourth quarter of 2025.
  • International revenue rose faster: U.S. revenue was $220.0 million, up 13%; international revenue was $23.6 million, up 39% from $17.0 million. Source
  • Paying dealers up in both regions: Total paying dealers reached 34,596, up 7%: U.S. 26,116 (up 4%) and international 8,480 (up 17%). Source

“We believe that our product innovation engine positions us well to extend our leadership and sustain long-term growth.”

Jason Trevisan, Chief Executive Officer at CarGurus

Products and customers

  • Consolidated revenue per dealer up 8%: Consolidated QARSD was $6,647, up 8% year over year, measured on subscription revenue per average paying dealer. Source
  • International revenue per dealer up 19%: International QARSD was $2,468, up 19%; U.S. QARSD was $7,996, up 9%. Source
  • No. 1 traffic position claimed: The company describes itself as the No. 1 visited automotive shopping site in the U.S., citing Similarweb Q1 2026 traffic data. Source

Costs and operating expenses

  • Operating expenses rose 25 percent: Total operating expenses were $184.5 million against $147.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • Sales and marketing largest expense: Sales and marketing expense was $97.5 million, up from $83.7 million; product, technology and development was $37.7 million. Source
  • Gross margin down 102 basis points: Gross margin was 92%, down 102 basis points; cost of revenue was $18.9 million against $14.3 million. Source
  • Impairments recorded this quarter: Impairments totaled $19.7 million, with $0.5 million in cost of revenue and $19.2 million in operating expenses; none were recorded in the prior-year quarter. Source

Margins and profit

  • Adjusted EBITDA margin rose 56 bps: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 33%, against 32% a year earlier, an increase of 56 basis points. Source
  • GAAP net margin fell 659 bps: GAAP net income margin was 13% against 20%, a decline of 659 basis points. Source
  • Non-GAAP diluted EPS rose: Non-GAAP diluted EPS from continuing operations was $0.58, against $0.48; basic was $0.59 against $0.49. Source

Cash, capital and returns

  • Free cash flow rose to $63.2 million: Operating cash flow was $69.8 million; non-GAAP free cash flow was $63.2 million compared with $60.2 million. Source
  • Repurchases of $175 million in quarter: Repurchases totaled $175 million in the first quarter; repurchases since December 2022 equal 29% of shares outstanding. Source
  • Cash balance fell to $72.0 million: Cash and cash equivalents were $72.0 million at March 31, 2026, against $190.5 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Class A shares outstanding declined: Class A shares outstanding fell to 75,673,609 from 80,667,475; Class B shares were unchanged at 14,216,250. Source
  • Website development spend rose: Capitalized website development costs were $6.3 million against $5.4 million; property and equipment purchases were $0.4 million against $2.2 million. Source
  • 2026 repurchase program announced: The February release announced a new $250.0 million share repurchase program for 2026, following about $350 million repurchased in 2025.

Strategy and product investment

  • Predictive tools embedded in dealer workflows: Management said data and predictive intelligence are being embedded into dealer decisions on inventory, marketing and lead conversion. Source
  • AI-powered tools for consumer shopping: The consumer experience is being transformed with AI-powered solutions meant to help consumers shop with greater confidence. Source
  • Dealer platform described as predictive intelligence: The company describes its dealer software as a predictive intelligence platform covering inventory acquisition, pricing, marketing and conversion to sale. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total paying dealers Source34,596
U.S. paying dealers Source26,116
International paying dealers Source8,480
Consolidated QARSD Source$6,647
U.S. QARSD Source$7,996
International QARSD Source$2,468

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Guidance rests on assumptions about dealer acquisition, churn and expansion following recent market trends. Source
  • External: Guidance excludes macro-level industry issues that could change dealer and consumer trends or prompt measures to assist dealers. Source
  • Financial: Guidance excludes the potential impact of future foreign currency exchange gains or losses. Source
  • Financial: Reconciling items between GAAP and non-GAAP guidance could significantly affect future reported GAAP results. Source
  • Operational: Charges, gains, losses or other events in 2026 could change the guidance assumptions and cause results to vary. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Revenue came in at the midpoint of the first-quarter guidance range. Source
  • Ahead: Adjusted EBITDA came in above the high end of the first-quarter guidance range. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.