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Cars.com Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 new, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 1% to $179.9 million: Revenue was $179.9 million, up 1% year-over-year, and in line with the guidance given for the quarter. Source
  • Marketplace revenue growth fastest since 2021: Marketplace revenue grew over 7% year-over-year, the fastest quarterly growth rate since 2021. Source
  • OEM and National revenue down 18%: OEM and National revenue was $13.6 million, down 18%, which management said was consistent with previously communicated expectations for OEM advertising. Source
  • Traffic and visitors fell: Average monthly unique visitors were 22.8 million, down 14% year-over-year, and visits were 143.0 million, down 12%. Management also said year-to-date lead volume grew. Source
  • Operating expenses down 7%: Total operating expenses were $152.1 million, down 7%. Adjusted operating expenses were $144.3 million, down 6% year-over-year. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin at 29.4%: Adjusted EBITDA was $53.0 million, or 29.4% of revenue, against 28.5% a year earlier. The release said the margin was above the 28% to 29% guidance range. Source
  • Second-quarter buybacks of $37 million: The company repurchased 3.7 million shares for $37 million in the quarter, and 6.2 million shares for $57 million year-to-date. Source

“We delivered revenue and profitability growth in the second quarter while making steady progress on our Marketplace-focused strategy.”

Tobias Hartmann, Chief Executive Officer of Cars.com, Inc.

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceThird quarter 2026flat to up 2% year-over-yearNew
Adjusted EBITDA margin SourceThird quarter 202628.5% to 29.5%New
Revenue SourceFull year 2026flat to up 2% year-over-yearKept
Adjusted EBITDA margin SourceFull year 202629.0% to 30.0%Kept
Share repurchases SourceFull year 2026$90 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Third-quarter 2026 revenue and Adjusted EBITDA margin ranges were given in this release. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year 2026 revenue and Adjusted EBITDA margin guidance is reaffirmed without change. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 1% to $179.9 million: Revenue was $179.9 million, up 1% year-over-year, and in line with the guidance given for the quarter. Source
  • Net income up 103% year-over-year: Net income was $14.3 million, or $0.25 per diluted share, against $7.0 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, a year earlier. Management attributed the change mainly to improved operating income. Source
  • Marketplace revenue growth fastest since 2021: Marketplace revenue grew over 7% year-over-year, the fastest quarterly growth rate since 2021. Source

Segments and revenue mix

  • Dealer subscription revenue up 3%: Subscription-based Dealer revenue was $163.3 million, up 3%, with Marketplace value and dealer count gains partly offset by lower media products. Source
  • OEM and National revenue down 18%: OEM and National revenue was $13.6 million, down 18%, which management said was consistent with previously communicated expectations for OEM advertising. Source
  • Dealer count slipped on lower Solutions use: Dealer count declined slightly year-over-year as lower Solutions adoption was partly offset by Marketplace strength. Source

“Deliberate prioritization of Marketplace product, processes, and organizational improvements drove Marketplace revenue growth to its highest level since 2021, more than offsetting the expected decline in OEM revenue.”

Tobias Hartmann, Chief Executive Officer of Cars.com, Inc.

Products, customers and traffic

  • Marketplace dealer customers up 2%: Marketplace dealer customers grew 2% year-over-year, the fourth consecutive quarter of year-over-year subscriber growth. Source
  • Dealer Verified Listings launched: The new feature adds inspection and pricing insights to vehicle listings on the marketplace. Source
  • Traffic and visitors fell: Average monthly unique visitors were 22.8 million, down 14% year-over-year, and visits were 143.0 million, down 12%. Management also said year-to-date lead volume grew. Source
  • Revenue per dealer rose to $2,500: Monthly average revenue per dealer was $2,500, up 3% year-over-year and 1% from March 31, 2026. Source

Costs and operating expenses

  • Operating expenses down 7%: Total operating expenses were $152.1 million, down 7%. Adjusted operating expenses were $144.3 million, down 6% year-over-year. Source
  • Lower depreciation and amortization led decline: Management named lower depreciation and amortization as the largest driver, with expenses broadly down as operating leverage improved. Source
  • Partial benefit from April cost actions: Management said the quarter reflected only a partial period of efficiencies from the April cost reduction activities. Source

“Looking ahead, we remain focused on efficient and disciplined growth to create long-term value for stakeholders,”

Sonia Jain, Chief Financial Officer of Cars.com, Inc.

Margins and profitability

  • Adjusted EBITDA margin at 29.4%: Adjusted EBITDA was $53.0 million, or 29.4% of revenue, against 28.5% a year earlier. The release said the margin was above the 28% to 29% guidance range. Source
  • Adjusted net income per share rose to $0.51: Adjusted net income was $28.7 million, or $0.51 per diluted share, against $0.41 a year earlier. Source
  • Operating leverage against revenue growth: Management said adjusted EBITDA growth of 4% showed operating leverage against revenue growth of 1%. Source

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Six-month free cash flow rose to $43.5 million: Six-month free cash flow was $43.5 million, against $41.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • Operating cash flow flat year-over-year: Six-month operating cash flow was $55.6 million, compared with $55.7 million a year earlier. Source
  • Total debt at $450.0 million: Total debt outstanding was $450.0 million at June 30, 2026. Source
  • Liquidity of $333.3 million: Liquidity was $333.3 million, made up of $33.3 million of cash and $300.0 million of revolver capacity. Source

Share repurchases and capital return

  • Second-quarter buybacks of $37 million: The company repurchased 3.7 million shares for $37 million in the quarter, and 6.2 million shares for $57 million year-to-date. Source
  • Repurchases exceed 10% of shares: Year-to-date repurchases and retirements represent over 10% of shares outstanding at prior year end. Source
  • Authorization balance $116.6 million: About $116.6 million remained under the authorization at June 30, down from about $141 million at April 30, and it expires in February 2028. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 August 2026

  • Learnings applied across ecosystem: Management said it will deploy the learnings and operational drivers across its ecosystem to support long-term growth. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Dealer customers Source19,343
Marketplace dealer customer growth Source2% year-over-year
Subscription-based Dealer revenue Source$163.3 million

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: OEM and National advertising spending remains under pressure, and the company expects that pressure to continue into the third quarter. Source
  • Demand: Dealer count fell year-over-year as lower Solutions adoption weighed on the total. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Second-quarter revenue was reported as in line with guidance. Source
  • Ahead: Second-quarter Adjusted EBITDA margin was reported above the 28% to 29% guidance range. Source
  • On track: Management said the company is pacing comfortably to the $90 million target for 2026. 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.