Cars.com (CARS) Stock Price, News & Analysis
What Changed
Price Move History
- Daily moves over 5%
- 18 252 sessions, November 13, 2025 to November 13, 2026
- Largest daily move
- -15.5% close of February 26, 2026
- 1-year change
- +9.9% closing prices, November 13, 2025 to November 13, 2026
- 1-month change
- +29.7% closing prices, October 13, 2026 to November 13, 2026
Company Description
Cars.com Inc. (NYSE: CARS), doing business as Cars Commerce Inc., is described as an audience-driven technology company that empowers the automotive industry. According to the company’s public disclosures, it focuses on simplifying car buying and selling through products, solutions and AI-driven technologies that support activities before, during and after a vehicle sale. These offerings are intended to enable more efficient and profitable retail operations for automotive retailers and related partners.
The company is associated with the software publishers industry within the information sector and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol CARS. Multiple company communications state that Cars Commerce organizes its platform around a set of industry-recognized brands that address different parts of the automotive value chain and different user needs.
Platform and Key Brands
Cars.com Inc. highlights a platform organized around several brands that together form its Cars Commerce ecosystem:
- Cars.com – described as the flagship automotive marketplace and review or dealer reputation site. Company materials characterize Cars.com as a car-shopping marketplace and an automotive marketplace brand that connects in-market consumers with automotive retailers, supported by editorial content, reviews and digital tools.
- Dealer Inspire – described as providing website and digital retail technology and marketing services. Company disclosures refer to Dealer Inspire as a source of digital retail technology and marketing services for automotive retailers.
- AccuTrade – identified as providing essential trade-in and appraisal technology. The company notes that AccuTrade offers trade and appraisal capabilities, including proprietary insights and technology used by dealer groups.
- DealerClub – characterized as a reputation-based dealer-to-dealer wholesale auction. Company statements indicate that DealerClub supports dealer-to-dealer wholesale transactions and vehicle sourcing.
- Cars Commerce Media Network – described as offering exclusive in-market media solutions. These media offerings are presented as part of the broader platform that connects automotive brands and dealers with in-market shoppers.
In addition to these brands, earlier descriptions also reference other brands such as DealerRater, FUEL, PickupTrucks.com, CreditIQ and NewCars.com as websites directed toward different consumer segments. These names appear in prior company descriptions as part of the broader Cars.com Inc. brand family.
Marketplace and Audience Focus
Company communications describe Cars.com as a car-shopping marketplace visited by tens of millions of in-market consumers each month. Cars.com is repeatedly referred to as a highly recognized automotive marketplace brand that empowers shoppers with data, resources and digital tools to make informed buying decisions and connect with automotive retailers. The company emphasizes that many shoppers arrive undecided on make and model, and that its marketplace, tools and content are designed to support research and decision-making.
Cars.com Inc. also reports metrics such as average monthly unique visitors, traffic (visits) and dealer customer counts in its earnings releases and related SEC filings. These metrics are defined by the company as indicators of marketplace reach, consumer engagement and dealer adoption of its products.
AI and Technology Capabilities
Cars.com Inc. publicly highlights the use of AI-driven technologies across its platform. Company descriptions state that its products and technologies span pretail, retail and post-sale activities. Within this context, the company has announced Carson™, described as a multilingual AI-powered search experience on Cars.com that converts conversational queries into targeted search results. According to the company, Carson assists a portion of web and mobile web searches, supports undecided shoppers, and is associated with higher engagement metrics such as repeat visitation, vehicle saves, conversion from search results to vehicle detail pages and lead generation, based on Cars.com data cited in its communications.
Cars.com Inc. also notes that Carson is part of a broader set of AI-powered offerings from Cars.com and its parent, Cars Commerce, and that these offerings are intended to simplify complex processes in automotive shopping and selling. The company’s statements describe an ongoing focus on AI integration across its marketplace and related products.
Dealer and Wholesale Solutions
In its earnings releases, Cars.com Inc. reports on Dealer Customers, defined as dealerships using the company’s products. The company describes subscription-based dealer revenue and references products such as marketplace subscriptions, websites and appraisal technology. It also highlights AccuTrade and DealerClub as tools that help address vehicle sourcing challenges, with AccuTrade appraisals and DealerClub transaction volume and user growth cited as operational metrics.
The company’s disclosures indicate that dealer revenue and dealer customer growth are important elements of its business, and that product adoption across marketplace, websites, appraisal technology and wholesale auction services contributes to its performance. The company also discusses OEM and national revenue associated with media and advertising products in its financial communications.
Editorial Content and Media Partnerships
Cars.com Inc. emphasizes the role of editorial content and research in the car shopping journey. Company statements describe Cars.com’s editorial content as extensive and developed by in-house automotive experts, covering topics such as affordability, family vehicles, electric vehicles, used car shopping tips and other car-shopping themes. The company notes that this content is designed for real, ready-to-buy shoppers and is connected to its marketplace experience.
In one partnership announcement, Cars.com is identified as the first automotive content partner in Uber Advertising’s "JourneyTV Presents" in-ride entertainment experience. The company explains that this partnership allows it to deliver curated car-shopping content to Uber riders, with functionality that can direct interested viewers to Cars.com for a more seamless shopping path.
Financial Reporting and Capital Allocation
Cars.com Inc. regularly issues earnings releases and files related Form 8-K reports describing its financial results, including total revenue, net income, adjusted net income, adjusted EBITDA, free cash flow and adjusted operating expenses. The company defines these non-GAAP financial measures in its communications and explains how they relate to its operating performance and credit agreements.
The company also reports on capital allocation decisions, including share repurchases and leverage metrics. In its earnings releases, Cars.com Inc. discusses total debt, total net leverage as defined in its credit facility, and liquidity, as well as its share repurchase activity and stated repurchase targets for specified fiscal periods.
Leadership and Governance Developments
According to a Form 8-K filed in December 2025, Cars.com Inc. reported that its then Chief Executive Officer and Director, Alex Vetter, agreed to cease serving as CEO and Director effective January 15, 2026, and to depart from the company effective March 31, 2026, after a transition period as Special Advisor. The same filing reports that the Board approved the appointment of Tobias "Tobi" Hartmann as Chief Executive Officer-Designate, with an expected start date in December 2025 and a planned elevation to Chief Executive Officer on or before January 15, 2026, along with his appointment to the Board.
The company also disclosed the adoption of the Cars.com Inc. 2025 Inducement Equity Plan, reserving shares of common stock for issuance as inducement awards to certain new or returning employees in accordance with NYSE rules. Additional Form 8-K filings report other executive transitions, such as the resignation of the Chief Product and Innovation Officer, and the company’s issuance of press releases announcing quarterly financial results.
Business Model and Sector Context
Based on the company’s own descriptions, Cars.com Inc. operates as a technology and marketplace business serving the automotive sector. It characterizes itself as audience-driven, with a focus on connecting in-market car shoppers, automotive retailers, and automotive brands through its marketplace, technology products, appraisal tools, wholesale auction platform and media solutions. The company’s communications highlight the integration of AI, data and digital tools across its offerings, as well as the importance of editorial content and consumer reviews in supporting high-consideration vehicle purchases.
Stock Performance
Cars.com (CARS) closed at $12.71 on November 13, 2026. Over the past 12 months, the price has gained 9.9%.
CARS Metrics & Rankings
Price returns through November 13, 2026. Month and year figures include the first trading day. Ranking links may use different dates.
Latest News
Cars.com has 10 recent news articles, with the latest published 7 days ago. Of the recent coverage, 8 articles coincided with positive price movement and 2 with negative movement. Key topics include earnings, earnings date. View all CARS news →
SEC Filings
Cars.com has filed 10 recent SEC filings, including 3 Form 4, 2 Form SCHEDULE 13G/A, 2 Form 8-K, 1 Form 3. The most recent filing was submitted on . SEC filings provide transparency into a company's financial condition, material events, and regulatory compliance. View all CARS SEC filings →
Insider Radar
Insider selling at Cars.com over the past 90 days can reflect routine portfolio management, scheduled trading plans (Rule 10b5-1), tax planning, or compensation-related dispositions rather than a directional view on the stock.
Financial Highlights
Cars.com generated $723.2M in revenue in FY2025, operating income reached $60.3M (8.3% operating margin), and net income was $20.1M, reflecting a 2.8% net profit margin. Diluted earnings per share stood at $0.32. The company generated $151.6M in operating cash flow. The current ratio was 1.87, measuring current assets divided by current liabilities.
Upcoming Events
Cost-reduction target
Executive advisor end
RSU vesting installment
RSU vesting 2027
RSU vesting installment
RSU vesting 2028
RSU final vesting
PSU performance period end
RSU vesting installment
RSU vesting 2029
Cars.com has 10 upcoming scheduled events. The next event, "Cost-reduction target", is expected in Q1 2027. Investors can track these dates to stay informed about potential catalysts that may affect the CARS stock price.
Short Interest History
Short interest in Cars.com (CARS) currently stands at 8.1 million shares, down 2.0% from the previous reporting period, representing 21.0% of the float. Since November 2025, short interest has increased by 18.5%.
Days to Cover History
Days to cover for Cars.com (CARS) currently stands at 12.3 days, up 33% from the previous period. The ratio is the reported short interest divided by the average daily trading volume. Since November 2025, the figure has increased by 25.5%. Across the settlements charted above, it has ranged from 2.9 to 14.6 days.
CARS Company Profile & Sector Positioning
Cars.com (CARS) operates in the Internet Content & Information industry within the broader Communication Services sector and is listed on the NYSE.
Investors comparing CARS often look at related companies in the same sector, including Hello Group Inc. (MOMO), Nextdoor Holdings, Inc. (NXDR), Taboola.com Ltd. (TBLA), MediaAlpha, Inc. (MAX), and NerdWallet, Inc. (NRDS). Comparing financial metrics, valuation ratios, and stock performance across these peers can help investors evaluate CARS's relative position within its industry.