America’s Car-Mart Advances SG&A Cost Control Strategy With Phase 2 Store Consolidations
Rhea-AI Summary
America’s Car-Mart (NASDAQ: CRMT) completed Phase 2 of its SG&A Cost Control Strategy on Jan. 13, 2026 by consolidating 13 additional locations into nearby higher-performing dealerships, bringing the total consolidated locations to 18 after Phase 1 in Nov 2025.
The company said the realignment aims to modernize operations, better utilize inventory and teams, strengthen performance at remaining locations, and maintain customer access to sales, service, and collections. Management cited increased operational flexibility from the company’s new capital structure and said it will continue evaluating further footprint optimization to support long-term profitability and growth.
Positive
- 13 locations consolidated in Phase 2 (18 total across both phases)
- Focused resources into higher-performing markets to improve returns
- Management cites capital-structure flexibility to execute strategy
- Company maintains customer access to sales, service, and collections
Negative
- Store footprint reduced by 18 locations after Phases 1 and 2
- Consolidations may cause local disruption for associates and customers during transition
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
CRMT was down 1.74% while key peers like RMBL (+38.96%), VRM (+3.63%) and others traded higher, indicating stock-specific dynamics rather than a sector-wide move.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 18 | Term securitization | Positive | -2.9% | Completed $161.3M asset-backed securitization aimed at boosting capital efficiency. |
| Dec 04 | Earnings update | Positive | +9.4% | Reported Q2 FY2026 results, higher cash balance and modest revenue growth. |
| Nov 20 | Earnings call notice | Neutral | +1.0% | Announced date and access details for Q2 FY2026 results conference call. |
| Oct 30 | Term loan financing | Positive | -3.0% | Closed new $300M secured term loan and issued equity warrants to lender. |
| Sep 04 | Earnings update | Negative | -18.2% | Q1 FY2026 loss widened with lower revenue and declining unit sales volumes. |
Recent news tied to funding and capital structure has sometimes seen negative price reactions, while mixed or modestly positive earnings updates have produced stronger upside moves.
Over the last few months, America’s Car-Mart has focused on capital structure and liquidity, including a $300 million term loan (news Oct 30, 2025) and a $161.3 million securitization on Dec 18, 2025. Earnings on Dec 4, 2025 showed modest revenue growth and prior store closures for cost savings. Today’s footprint optimization and additional 18 total consolidations extend that cost-control theme, following earlier disclosures that consolidation was expected to generate savings and support long-term profitability.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement extends America’s Car-Mart’s SG&A Cost Control Strategy by consolidating 18 locations across two phases into higher-performing dealerships. It follows prior disclosures that store closures were part of a broader efficiency plan alongside new financing arrangements. Key considerations include how effectively customer service is maintained during the transition and whether cost savings translate into improved profitability. Future earnings updates and additional network optimization decisions will be important markers of progress.
Key Terms
sg&a financial
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Consolidates 13 additional locations to continue modernizing the business, better utilize inventory and teams, and strengthen performance at remaining locations.
ROGERS, Ark., Jan. 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- America’s Car-Mart, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRMT) (“Car-Mart” or the “Company”) today announced the completion of Phase 2 of its previously announced SG&A Cost Control Strategy through footprint optimization, which includes the consolidation of 13 locations into higher-performing nearby dealerships. This realignment follows five store consolidations that were completed in November 2025 as part of Phase 1, for a total of 18 locations across both phases.
“Our footprint optimization strategy reflects our commitment to operational excellence and disciplined capital allocation,” said Doug Campbell, President and Chief Executive Officer. “By concentrating resources in our highest-performing markets, we are positioning Car-Mart to deliver improved returns while maintaining the exceptional customer experience that defines our brand. The flexibility provided by our new capital structure enables us to make these strategic decisions with confidence.”
Customers previously served by consolidated locations will continue to receive service at nearby dealerships, ensuring uninterrupted access to sales, service, and collections related activities. These actions are part of the Company’s ongoing efforts to evolve its operating model to better serve customers and communities over the long term.
“These decisions are never easy, and we approach them with deep respect for our associates, our customers, and the communities we serve,” continued Campbell. “By realigning our footprint, we can operate more efficiently while continuing to provide the high level of service our customers expect. These actions allow us to continue modernizing our business, better utilize our inventory and teams, and strengthen performance at our remaining locations. We believe this approach positions Car-Mart to remain a strong, dependable presence in the communities we serve for years to come.”
Consolidated Locations
| Phase | Consolidated Location | Customers Now Served By |
| Phase 1 | Decatur, AL | Athens, AL |
| Phase 1 | Henderson, KY | Evansville, IN |
| Phase 1 | Miami, OK | Grove, OK |
| Phase 1 | Tulsa North, OK | Broken Arrow, OK / Tulsa South, OK |
| Phase 1 | Hixson, TN | Chattanooga, TN |
| Phase 2 | Gadsden, AL | Anniston, AL |
| Phase 2 | Montgomery, AL | Prattville, AL |
| Phase 2 | Hope, AR | Texarkana, TX |
| Phase 2 | Malvern, AR | Benton, AR |
| Phase 2 | Russellville South, AR | Russellville, AR |
| Phase 2 | Springdale East, AR | Fayetteville, AR |
| Phase 2 | Van Buren, AR | Fort Smith, AR |
| Phase 2 | Macon, GA | Milledgeville, GA |
| Phase 2 | Hopkinsville, KY | Clarksville, TN / Madisonville, KY |
| Phase 2 | Winchester, KY | Lexington, KY / Richmond, KY |
| Phase 2 | Ada, OK | Ardmore, OK |
| Phase 2 | Nacogdoches, TX | Lufkin, TX |
| Phase 2 | Paris, TX | Greenville, TX |
Car-Mart remains committed to serving customers across its footprint and will continue to evaluate opportunities to optimize its store network in support of long-term profitability and growth.
About America’s Car-Mart, Inc.
America’s Car-Mart, Inc. (the “Company”) operates automotive dealerships in 12 states and is one of the largest publicly held automotive retailers in the United States focused exclusively on the “Integrated Auto Sales and Finance” segment of the used car market. The Company emphasizes superior customer service and the building of strong personal relationships with its customers. The Company operates its dealerships primarily in smaller cities throughout the South-Central United States, selling quality used vehicles and providing financing for substantially all of its customers. For more information about America’s Car-Mart, including investor presentations, please visit our website at www.car-mart.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements. Words such as “expects,” “believes,” “will,” “would,” “plans,” “intends,” “continue,” “remain,” and other similar words and expressions are intended to signify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the Company’s footprint optimization strategy and related actions, expected operational efficiencies, store-level productivity, customer service benefits, the Company’s long-term positioning and market presence, and expectations regarding the Company’s future business and operations. Actual results and the timing of such results could materially differ from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including the ability to successfully transition customers and inventory from underperforming dealerships to nearby more productive dealerships; general economic conditions in the markets in which the Company operates, including but not limited to fluctuations in gas prices, grocery prices and employment levels and inflationary pressure on operating costs; the availability of quality used vehicles at prices that will be affordable to our customers, including the impacts of changes in new vehicle production and sales; the ability to leverage the Cox Automotive services agreement to perform reconditioning and improve vehicle quality to reduce the average vehicle cost, improve gross margins, reduce credit loss, and enhance cash flow; the availability of credit facilities and access to capital through securitization financings or other sources on terms acceptable to us, and any increase in the cost of capital, to support the Company’s business; the Company’s ability to underwrite and collect its contracts effectively, including whether anticipated benefits from recent upgrades to the Company’s loan origination system, recently implemented digital payment platform and anticipated upgrades to the Company’s collections management software are achieved as expected or at all; competition; dependence on existing management; ability to attract, develop, and retain qualified general managers; changes in consumer finance laws or regulations, including but not limited to rules and regulations that have recently been enacted or could be enacted by federal and state governments; future shutdowns of the federal government or changes to federal or state government assistance programs impacting the Company’s customers; the ability to keep pace with technological advances and changes in consumer behavior affecting our business; security breaches, cyber-attacks, or fraudulent activity; the ability to identify and obtain favorable locations for new or relocated dealerships at reasonable cost; the ability to successfully identify, complete and integrate new acquisitions; the occurrence and impact of any adverse weather events or other natural disasters affecting the Company’s dealerships or customers; and additional risks described in more detail in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2025 and other documents on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, each of which can be found on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov, or the investor relations section of the Company’s website. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the dates on which they are made.
Contacts:
Jonathan Collins
Chief Financial Officer
(479) 464-9944
investorrelations@car-mart.com
or
SM Berger & Company
Andrew Berger, Managing Director
andrew@smberger.com
(216) 464-6400
FAQ
What did America’s Car-Mart (CRMT) announce on Jan. 13, 2026?
How many stores did CRMT consolidate in total after Phase 2?
What is the intended investor impact of CRMT’s footprint optimization?
Will customers still have access to service after the CRMT consolidations?
Which CRMT locations were consolidated in Phase 2?
