Cars.com (CARS) Stock Fundamentals, Analysis & Risk Signals

Health score, price, valuation, risk signals, and key metrics at a glance.

Cars.com

NYSE•Communication Services•Internet Content & Information

$11.73-0.06(-0.01%)Market closed

Market Cap

$654.25M

P/E

19.1x

P/S

0.9x

P/B

1.5x

Cars.com Inc., an audience-driven technology company, provides solutions for the automotive industry in the United States. The company offers marketplace through Cars.com that allows OEMs and dealers to merchandise their inventory, as well as provides reputation management technology and digital financing tools. It also operates dealer websites to transform automotive retail processes; and trade and appraisal product, including AccuTrade, which uses demand data and diagnostic scans to determine the right trade-in offer for every VIN in minutes. In addition, the company offers media solution, such as Cars Social, allows dealers to target and serve native advertisements displaying real-time inventory to in-market car shoppers on Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platform; 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 proprietary in-market media solutions. 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.

How this company scores

AverageMetricSide Score: 59/100

Strongest: Cash & Earnings Quality (23/25); weakest: Growth (11/25).

Profitability13/25

Growth11/25

Balance Sheet & Red Flags12/25

Cash & Earnings Quality23/25

Strengths

Cash-backed earningsConsistent free cash flowConsistent growthImproving margins

No red flags in the last 8 quarters.

Valuation vs. 5-year range

Today's multiple positioned against its own trailing range — a visual premium/discount check.

P/E · 19.1x5y range 9.8x – 1215.2x

Currently below its 20-quarter median.

P/S · 0.9x5y range 0.7x – 2.0x

Currently below its 20-quarter median.

P/B · 1.5x5y range 1.0x – 3.3x

Price & Volume

Market Cap $654.25M

Metrics at a Glance

as of June 2026

Revenue & Profit

Revenue, EBITDA, operating income, net income, EPS, and shares

TTM Revenue: $725.63M
Q. Revenue: $179.93M
TTM EBITDA: $157.04M
TTM Op. Income: $83.05M
Q. Op. Income: $27.88M
TTM Net Income: $34.30M
Q. Net Income: $14.26M
EPS: $0.26
Shares Out.: $55.87M

$725.63M in TTM revenue grew 1.1% YoY, reaching $179.93M last quarter. TTM EBITDA of $157.04M and TTM operating income of $83.05M show growth is flowing through to the bottom line. TTM net income of $34.30M means revenue is converting into profit. Across the last 8 quarters, TTM revenue has risen for 4 consecutive quarters — an improving trend.

Margins

Gross, EBITDA, operating, and net margin trends

Gross Margin: 83.2%
EBITDA Margin: 25.1%
Op. Margin: 15.5%
Net Margin: 7.9%

Op. margin of 15.5% is up 7.0% YoY — cost efficiency is improving. Net margin at 7.9% and gross margin of 83.2% show how much of each revenue dollar survives to profit. Over the past year, operating margin is up 82% — an improving trend.

Price Ratios

P/E, P/S, P/B, EV/EBITDA, FCF yield, and earnings yield

P/E Ratio: 19.1x
P/S Ratio: 0.9x
P/B Ratio: 1.5x

At 19.1x P/E, the stock trades within typical market levels. P/S of 0.9x and P/B of 1.5x provide additional context. Use the growth and margin sections to judge whether the multiple is justified. Over the past year, P/E is up 5% — a weakening trend.

Assets & Liabilities

Total assets, cash, debt, book value, and leverage

Total Assets: $1.01B
Cash: $33.29M
Long-Term Debt: $447.13M
Book Value: $443.61M
D/E Ratio: 1.0
Debt/EBITDA: 9.9

With $1.01B in assets and $447.13M in long-term debt, D/E is 1.0and book value is $443.61M — moderate leverage. Across the last 8 quarters, debt/equity has risen for 6 consecutive quarters — a weakening trend.

Cash Flow

Operating cash flow, free cash flow, FCF margin, and earnings quality

Op. Cash Flow: $15.81M
TTM Free Cash Flow: $149.82M
FCF Margin: 20.6%
FCF / Net Income: 4.4

TTM FCF of $149.82M on $15.81M in operating cash flow. The FCF / Net Income ratio of 4.4x means free cash flow covers net income — earnings are backed by cash. Over the past year, free cash flow is up 12% — a weakening trend.