Cars.com Inc. (CARS) Financials
A multiple compares the market's price with a filed figure; it says what the market pays, not how the business is doing. The market capitalization is the vendor's as of Oct 3, 2026; every other figure is from the SEC filings on this page. Not financial advice.
Newest figures come from the 10-Q for Q2 FY2026, filed Aug 6, 2026. Each column of the statement tables below links to the filing it was taken from, and every filing is listed on the CARS SEC filings page.
Cars.com Inc. (CARS) reported $725.6M in revenue over the twelve months to Jun 30, 2026, up 1.1% from the prior twelve months. This page shows its income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement, and key financial ratios. View 11 years of annual fundamentals and quarterly data, with year-over-year growth rates and compound annual growth rates (CAGR). All figures are derived from SEC filings (10-K and 10-Q reports).
Cars.com is a cash-generative, lightly reinvesting platform whose operating improvement is steadier than its reported earnings.
In FY2025, operating cash flow of$151.6M was more than seven times net income of$20.1M , showing that cash economics were far stronger than bottom-line earnings. By contrast, FY2023 net income was lifted by a reported$100.3M tax benefit, so the later earnings drop says less about the core operation than a headline comparison suggests.
The near-flat top line still produced operating-margin expansion from
FY2025 free cash flow was
Financial Health Signals
Scored against operating companies for FY2025. Each of the six dimensions is a percentile rank within that peer group; the overall is their average, with missing dimensions counted as zero out of six. A high score means strong standing among peers, not absolute cross-industry strength. How this score is calculated →
Health score ≠ stock price. This rates the quality of Cars.com Inc.'s business: profitability, growth, balance sheet strength. It doesn't tell you whether the stock is a good buy at today's price. Not financial advice. Use it alongside valuation analysis and your own research.
Cars.com Inc. has an operating margin of 8.3%, meaning the company retains $8 of operating profit per $100 of revenue. This strong profitability earns a score of 69/100, reflecting efficient cost management and pricing power. This is up from 7.4% the prior year.
Cars.com Inc.'s revenue grew a modest 0.6% year-over-year to $723.2M. This slow but positive growth earns a score of 39/100.
Cars.com Inc. has elevated debt relative to equity (D/E of 0.96), meaning the company relies heavily on borrowed funds. This high leverage results in a low score of 25/100, reflecting increased financial risk.
Cars.com Inc.'s current ratio of 1.87 indicates adequate short-term liquidity, earning a score of 55/100. The company can meet its near-term obligations, though with limited headroom.
Cars.com Inc. converts 20.4% of revenue into free cash flow ($147.4M). This strong cash generation earns a score of 86/100.
Cars.com Inc.'s ROE of 4.3% shows moderate profitability relative to equity, earning a score of 63/100. This is down from 9.4% the prior year.
Cars.com Inc. scores 0.28, below the 1.81 distress threshold. The score is driven primarily by a large market capitalization ($536.9M) relative to total liabilities ($589.9M). This indicates elevated financial distress risk and warrants close attention to liquidity and debt levels.
Distress-screening estimate for non-financial companies. Not computed for banks or insurers, where the Altman model does not apply.
Cars.com Inc. passes 6 of 8 computable financial strength tests (1 of the nine could not be computed from available data). 3 of 4 profitability signals pass, 2 of 3 leverage/liquidity signals pass, both operating efficiency signals pass.
For every $1 of reported earnings, Cars.com Inc. generates $7.54 in operating cash flow ($151.6M OCF vs $20.1M net income). This indicates profits are well-supported by actual cash generation, not accounting adjustments.
Cars.com Inc. earns $1.98 in operating income for every $1 of interest expense ($60.3M vs $30.4M). This narrow margin raises concern about the company's ability to service its debt if operating income declines.
Key Financial Metrics
Earnings & Revenue
Cars.com Inc. generated $179.9M in revenue in Q2 2026. This represents an increase of 0.7% from the same quarter a year earlier. Against the prior quarter it is down 0.2%.
Cars.com Inc.'s EBITDA was $45.2M in Q2 2026, measuring earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. This represents an increase of 12.7% from the same quarter a year earlier. Against the prior quarter it is up 35.6%.
Cars.com Inc. reported $14.3M in net income in Q2 2026. This represents an increase of 103.5% from the same quarter a year earlier. Against the prior quarter it is up 186.5%.
Cars.com Inc. earned $0.25 per diluted share (EPS) in Q2 2026. This represents an increase of 127.3% from the same quarter a year earlier. Against the prior quarter it is up 212.5%.
Cash & Balance Sheet
Cars.com Inc. generated $15.3M in free cash flow in Q2 2026, representing cash available after capex. This represents a decrease of 35.6% from the same quarter a year earlier. Against the prior quarter it is down 61.4%.
Cars.com Inc. held $33.3M in cash against $447.1M in long-term debt as of Q2 2026.
Not reported for Q2 2026.
Margins & Returns
Cars.com Inc.'s operating margin was 15.5% in Q2 2026, reflecting core business profitability. This is up 7.0 percentage points from the same quarter a year earlier. Against the prior quarter it is up 6.3 percentage points.
Cars.com Inc.'s net profit margin was 7.9% in Q2 2026, showing the share of revenue converted to profit. This is up 4.0 percentage points from the same quarter a year earlier. Against the prior quarter it is up 5.2 percentage points.
Cars.com Inc.'s ROE was 3.2% in Q2 2026, measuring profit generated per dollar of shareholder equity. This is up 1.8 percentage points from the same quarter a year earlier. Against the prior quarter it is up 2.1 percentage points.
Not reported for Q2 2026.
Capital Allocation
Cars.com Inc. spent $37.0M on share buybacks in Q2 2026, returning capital to shareholders by reducing shares outstanding. This represents an increase of 60.2% from the same quarter a year earlier. Against the prior quarter it is up 81.0%.
Cars.com Inc. invested $547K in capex in Q2 2026, funding long-term assets and infrastructure. This represents a decrease of 78.4% from the same quarter a year earlier. Against the prior quarter it is up 108.8%.
Not reported for Q2 2026.
CARS Income Statement
Figures in USD, abbreviated K (thousand), M (million), B (billion), T (trillion). Negative values carry a minus sign and red type. Each change compares the year with the year before it, and each quarter with the same quarter a year earlier.
| Metric | Q2'2610-Q | Q1'2610-Q | Q4'2510-Q | Q3'2510-Q | Q2'2510-Q | Q1'2510-Q | Q4'2410-K | Q3'2410-Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $179.9M+0.7% | $180.2M+0.7% | $183.9M+1.9% | $181.6M+1.1% | $178.7M-0.1% | $179.0M-0.6% | $180.4M+0.5% | $179.7M+3.1% |
| SG&A Expenses | $17.0M-17.2% | $21.8M+4.5% | $25.4M+52.6% | $24.3M+13.1% | $20.5M-10.7% | $20.9M-8.6% | $16.6M-13.7% | $21.5M+21.0% |
| Operating Income | $27.9M+82.8% | $16.6M+157.5% | $21.7M+9.9% | $16.8M+46.7% | $15.2M+60.2% | $6.5M-49.3% | $19.8M+32.4% | $11.5M-20.0% |
| EBITDA | $45.2M+12.7% | $33.4M-0.4% | $38.2M-14.1% | $40.3M+3.2% | $40.1M+8.2% | $33.5M-16.5% | $44.5M+7.0% | $39.0M-2.4% |
| Interest Expense | -$7.4M+3.2% | -$7.2M+5.7% | -$7.4M+3.9% | -$7.6M+4.9% | -$7.6M+5.7% | -$7.7M+7.8% | -$7.7M+6.2% | -$8.0M-3.2% |
| Income Tax | $5.3M+77.9% | $3.7M+379.2% | $7.5M+166.6% | $3.0M-47.7% | $3.0M-41.0% | $780K+2066.7% | $2.8M+143.4% | $5.8M+414.3% |
| Net Income | $14.3M+103.5% | $5.0M+347.3% | $7.4M-57.0% | $7.7M-59.1% | $7.0M-38.4% | -$2.0M-356.8% | $17.3M+108.5% | $18.7M+316.8% |
| EPS (Basic) | $0.26+136.4% | $0.08+366.7% | $0.12-53.8% | $0.12-57.1% | $0.11-35.3% | -$0.03-400.0% | $0.26+116.7% | $0.28+300.0% |
| EPS (Diluted) | $0.25+127.3% | $0.08+366.7% | $0.12-53.8% | $0.12-57.1% | $0.11-35.3% | -$0.03-400.0% | $0.26+100.0% | $0.28+300.0% |
| Diluted Shares (Avg) | 57M-11.3% | 60M-7.6% | N/A | 63M-6.8% | 64M-5.9% | 64M-4.2% | N/A | 68M-1.2% |
Not reported in any period shown, so not listed: Cost of Revenue, Gross Profit, R&D Expenses.
CARS Balance Sheet
Figures in USD, abbreviated K (thousand), M (million), B (billion), T (trillion). Negative values carry a minus sign and red type. Each change compares the year with the year before it, and each quarter with the same quarter a year earlier.
| Metric | Q2'2610-Q | Q1'2610-Q | Q4'2510-Q | Q3'2510-Q | Q2'2510-Q | Q1'2510-Q | Q4'2410-K | Q3'2410-Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1.0B-4.9% | $1.1B-2.8% | $1.1B-4.4% | $1.1B-4.2% | $1.1B-5.0% | $1.1B-5.2% | $1.1B-5.2% | $1.1B+1.4% |
| Current Assets | $195.0M+8.5% | $218.0M+19.3% | $211.6M-1.3% | $212.4M+6.2% | $179.6M+0.9% | $182.7M+3.1% | $214.3M+20.1% | $199.9M+5.6% |
| Cash & Equivalents | $33.3M+20.2% | $64.6M+105.5% | $56.2M+11.0% | $55.1M+11.1% | $27.7M-4.7% | $31.4M+0.2% | $50.7M+29.3% | $49.6M+1.0% |
| Short-Term Investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Accounts Receivable | $143.1M+7.7% | $135.0M+3.1% | $131.9M-1.3% | $128.8M+2.9% | $132.9M+3.4% | $131.0M+4.2% | $133.7M+6.7% | $125.2M+5.9% |
| Long-Term Investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Goodwill | $165.8M-1.1% | $166.6M+0.8% | $167.2M+16.7% | $166.6M+14.2% | $167.6M+15.3% | $165.2M+13.1% | $143.3M-2.6% | $145.8M+41.8% |
| Total Liabilities | $568.8M-2.2% | $592.7M-0.2% | $589.9M-1.7% | $593.8M-3.6% | $581.4M-6.8% | $593.8M-10.3% | $600.4M-11.8% | $616.1M-0.7% |
| Current Liabilities | $97.6M-1.3% | $116.5M+5.0% | $113.4M-3.0% | $116.8M+4.9% | $98.9M-15.1% | $111.0M+1.5% | $116.9M-19.8% | $111.4M-14.9% |
| Non-Current Liabilities | $471.2M-2.3% | $476.1M-1.4% | $476.5M-1.4% | $477.0M-5.5% | $482.5M-4.8% | $482.8M-12.6% | $483.5M-9.6% | $504.7M+3.2% |
| Long-Term Debt | $447.1M-1.9% | $451.8M-0.8% | $451.5M-0.8% | $451.2M-3.0% | $455.9M-2.9% | $455.6M-3.8% | $455.3M-1.0% | $465.0M+8.2% |
| Total Equity | $443.6M-8.2% | $460.7M-6.0% | $472.5M-7.6% | $477.6M-4.9% | $483.2M-2.8% | $489.9M+1.8% | $511.5M+3.9% | $502.4M+4.0% |
| Retained Earnings | -$922.3M+3.6% | -$936.5M+2.8% | -$941.5M+2.1% | -$948.9M+3.1% | -$956.5M+4.1% | -$963.6M+4.5% | -$961.5M+4.8% | -$978.9M+3.9% |
Not reported in any period shown, so not listed: Inventory.
CARS Cash Flow Statement
Figures in USD, abbreviated K (thousand), M (million), B (billion), T (trillion). Negative values carry a minus sign and red type. Each change compares the year with the year before it, and each quarter with the same quarter a year earlier.
| Metric | Q2'2610-Q | Q1'2610-Q | Q4'2510-Q | Q3'2510-Q | Q2'2510-Q | Q1'2510-Q | Q4'2410-K | Q3'2410-Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating Cash Flow | $15.8M-39.7% | $39.8M+35.1% | $37.1M+23.7% | $58.8M+9.4% | $26.2M-25.6% | $29.5M-12.0% | $30.0M-33.5% | $53.8M+52.0% |
| Depreciation & Amortization | $17.3M-30.3% | $16.7M-38.2% | $16.5M-33.3% | $23.5M-14.9% | $24.9M-9.8% | $27.0M-1.2% | $24.7M-7.3% | $27.6M+7.4% |
| Stock-Based Compensation | N/A | $8.6M+2.8% | N/A | N/A | N/A | $8.3M+17.8% | N/A | N/A |
| Capital Expenditures | $547K-78.4% | $262K-67.7% | $385K-59.6% | $559K-41.0% | $2.5M+547.3% | $811K+14.5% | $954K+75.7% | $947K+313.5% |
| Free Cash Flow | $15.3M-35.6% | $39.5M+38.1% | $36.7M+26.4% | $58.3M+10.3% | $23.7M-32.0% | $28.6M-12.6% | $29.1M-34.9% | $52.8M+50.3% |
| Investing Cash Flow | -$5.9M+30.1% | -$6.3M+69.8% | -$14.1M-153.1% | -$6.2M+5.3% | -$8.4M-29.4% | -$20.7M-244.9% | -$5.6M+93.2% | -$6.5M-30.7% |
| Financing Cash Flow | -$41.3M-87.9% | -$25.0M+8.7% | -$22.1M+3.7% | -$25.2M+6.0% | -$22.0M+29.2% | -$27.4M+22.2% | -$22.9M-185.2% | -$26.8M-170.7% |
| Share Buybacks | $37.0M+60.2% | $20.5M-5.0% | $22.6M+67.3% | $19.7M-7.6% | $23.1M+338.8% | $21.5M+136.8% | $13.5M+69.1% | $21.3M+246.1% |
Not reported in any period shown, so not listed: Dividends Paid.
CARS Financial Ratios
Margins and returns are percentages; the remaining ratios are unitless multiples. Each change compares the year with the year before it, and each quarter with the same quarter a year earlier.
| Metric | Q2'2610-Q | Q1'2610-Q | Q4'2510-Q | Q3'2510-Q | Q2'2510-Q | Q1'2510-Q | Q4'2410-K | Q3'2410-Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating Margin | 15.5%+7.0pp | 9.2%+5.6pp | 11.8%+0.9pp | 9.3%+2.9pp | 8.5%+3.2pp | 3.6%-3.5pp | 11.0%+2.6pp | 6.4%-1.8pp |
| Net Margin | 7.9%+4.0pp | 2.8%+3.9pp | 4.0%-5.5pp | 4.2%-6.2pp | 3.9%-2.4pp | -1.1%-1.6pp | 9.6%+5.0pp | 10.4%+7.8pp |
| Return on Equity | 3.2%+1.8pp | 1.1%+1.5pp | 1.6%-1.8pp | 1.6%-2.1pp | 1.5%-0.8pp | -0.4%-0.6pp | 3.4%+1.7pp | 3.7%+2.8pp |
| Return on Assets | 1.4%+0.8pp | 0.5%+0.7pp | 0.7%-0.9pp | 0.7%-1.0pp | 0.7%-0.4pp | -0.2%-0.3pp | 1.6%+0.8pp | 1.7%+1.3pp |
| Current Ratio | 2.00+0.2x | 1.87+0.2x | 1.870.0x | 1.820.0x | 1.82+0.3x | 1.650.0x | 1.83+0.6x | 1.79+0.3x |
| Debt-to-Equity | 1.01+0.1x | 0.98+0.1x | 0.96+0.1x | 0.940.0x | 0.940.0x | 0.93-0.1x | 0.890.0x | 0.930.0x |
| Asset Turnover | 0.180.0x | 0.170.0x | 0.170.0x | 0.170.0x | 0.170.0x | 0.170.0x | 0.160.0x | 0.160.0x |
| FCF Margin | 8.5%-4.8pp | 21.9%+5.9pp | 20.0%+3.9pp | 32.1%+2.7pp | 13.3%-6.2pp | 16.0%-2.2pp | 16.1%-8.7pp | 29.4%+9.3pp |
Not reported in any period shown, so not listed: Gross Margin.
Similar Companies
Newest fiscal year on record for each company. The health score is the peer-relative Financial Health Score for that year; a dash means no score is published for it.
| Company | Fiscal year | Revenue | Net income | Net margin | Market cap | Health score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cars.com Inc. CARS | FY2025 | $723.2M | $20.1M | 2.8% | $536.9M | 56/100 |
| Groupon, Inc. GRPN | FY2025 | $498.4M | -$83.3M | -16.7% | $785.2M | 36/100 |
| EverQuote, Inc. EVER | FY2025 | $692.5M | $99.3M | 14.3% | $687.2M | 63/100 |
| Fiverr International Ltd. FVRR | FY2025 | $430.9M | $21.0M | 4.9% | $307.0M | 55/100 |
| MediaAlpha, Inc. MAX | FY2025 | $1.1B | $25.6M | 2.3% | $509.6M | 42/100 |
| GETTY IMAGES HLDGS INC A GETY | FY2025 | $981.3M | -$206.2M | -21.0% | $34.4M | 38/100 |
Where Cars.com Inc. Ranks
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cars.com Inc.'s annual revenue?
Cars.com Inc. (CARS) reported $723.2M in total revenue for fiscal year 2025. This represents a 0.6% change compared to the previous fiscal year. Revenue measures the total income earned from the company's primary business operations before any expenses are deducted.
How fast is Cars.com Inc.'s revenue growing?
Cars.com Inc. (CARS) revenue grew by 0.6% year-over-year, from $719.2M to $723.2M in fiscal year 2025.
Is Cars.com Inc. profitable?
Yes, Cars.com Inc. (CARS) reported a net income of $20.1M in fiscal year 2025, with a net profit margin of 2.8%.
What is Cars.com Inc.'s EBITDA?
Cars.com Inc. (CARS) had EBITDA of $152.1M in fiscal year 2025, measuring earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization.
How much debt does Cars.com Inc. have?
As of fiscal year 2025, Cars.com Inc. (CARS) had $56.2M in cash and equivalents against $451.5M in long-term debt.
What is Cars.com Inc.'s operating margin?
Cars.com Inc. (CARS) had an operating margin of 8.3% in fiscal year 2025, reflecting the profitability of core business operations before interest and taxes.
What is Cars.com Inc.'s net profit margin?
Cars.com Inc. (CARS) had a net profit margin of 2.8% in fiscal year 2025, representing the share of revenue converted into profit after all expenses.
What is Cars.com Inc.'s return on equity (ROE)?
Cars.com Inc. (CARS) has a return on equity of 4.3% for fiscal year 2025, measuring how efficiently the company generates profit from shareholder equity.
What is Cars.com Inc.'s free cash flow?
Cars.com Inc. (CARS) generated $147.4M in free cash flow during fiscal year 2025. This represents a -1.5% change compared to the previous fiscal year. Free cash flow represents the cash a company generates after accounting for capital expenditures, and is widely used to assess financial flexibility and shareholder value.
What is Cars.com Inc.'s operating cash flow?
Cars.com Inc. (CARS) generated $151.6M in operating cash flow during fiscal year 2025, representing cash generated from core business activities.
What are Cars.com Inc.'s total assets?
Cars.com Inc. (CARS) had $1.1B in total assets as of fiscal year 2025, including both current and long-term assets.
What are Cars.com Inc.'s capital expenditures?
Cars.com Inc. (CARS) invested $4.3M in capital expenditures during fiscal year 2025, funding long-term assets and infrastructure.
What is Cars.com Inc.'s current ratio?
Cars.com Inc. (CARS) had a current ratio of 1.87 as of fiscal year 2025, which is generally considered healthy.
What is Cars.com Inc.'s debt-to-equity ratio?
Cars.com Inc. (CARS) had a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96 as of fiscal year 2025, measuring the company's financial leverage by comparing total debt to shareholder equity.
What is Cars.com Inc.'s return on assets (ROA)?
Cars.com Inc. (CARS) had a return on assets of 1.9% for fiscal year 2025, measuring how efficiently the company uses its assets to generate profit.
What is Cars.com Inc.'s P/E ratio?
Cars.com Inc. (CARS) trades at 15.6x earnings, its market capitalization divided by net income of $34.3M net income, trailing 12 months to June 30, 2026. The market capitalization is $536.9M as of Oct 3, 2026; a multiple compares that price with a filed figure and says nothing about the quality of the business.
What is Cars.com Inc.'s price-to-sales ratio?
Cars.com Inc. (CARS) trades at 0.7x sales, its market capitalization divided by revenue of $725.6M revenue, trailing 12 months to June 30, 2026. The market capitalization is $536.9M as of Oct 3, 2026; a multiple compares that price with a filed figure and says nothing about the quality of the business.
What is Cars.com Inc.'s Altman Z-Score?
Cars.com Inc. (CARS) has an Altman Z-Score of 0.28, placing it in the Distress Zone (elevated bankruptcy risk). The Z-Score combines five financial ratios (working capital, retained earnings, EBIT, market capitalization, and revenue relative to total assets) to predict the likelihood of bankruptcy. Scores above 2.99 indicate financial safety while scores below 1.81 suggest financial distress. Learn more in our complete guide to financial health indicators.
What is Cars.com Inc.'s Piotroski F-Score?
Cars.com Inc. (CARS) has a Piotroski F-Score of 6 out of 8 computable signals; 1 of the nine could not be computed from available data, so the full-scale strength rating is not shown. The F-Score evaluates nine binary signals across profitability (positive ROA, positive cash flow, improving ROA, earnings quality), leverage (decreasing debt, improving liquidity, no share dilution), and operating efficiency (improving gross margin, improving asset turnover). Scores of 7 to 9 indicate strong and improving fundamentals. Learn more in our complete guide to financial health indicators.
Are Cars.com Inc.'s earnings high quality?
Cars.com Inc. (CARS) has an earnings quality ratio of 7.54x, considered cash-backed (high quality). This ratio compares operating cash flow to net income. A ratio above 1.0x means the company generates more cash than its reported earnings, indicating sustainable, cash-backed profits. Ratios below 1.0x suggest earnings rely on accounting accruals rather than actual cash generation. Learn more in our complete guide to financial health indicators.
Can Cars.com Inc. cover its interest payments?
Cars.com Inc. (CARS) has an interest coverage ratio of 1.98x, meaning it can struggle to cover its interest obligations. This ratio divides operating income by interest expense. Ratios above 5x indicate strong debt-servicing ability, while ratios below 2x suggest the company may face difficulty meeting interest payments if earnings decline. Learn more in our complete guide to financial health indicators.
How financially healthy is Cars.com Inc.?
Cars.com Inc. (CARS) scores 56 out of 100 on our Financial Health Score, indicating moderate standing within its operating companies peer group. The score is a 0-100 composite of six dimensions (Profitability, Growth, Leverage, Liquidity, Cash Flow, Returns), each ranked as a percentile relative to companies in the same scoring family (banks against banks, REITs against REITs, and so on) rather than across all industries. It rates the quality of the business, not whether the stock is fairly priced, and is not financial advice. Learn more in our complete guide to financial health indicators.