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Cars.com Reports Second Quarter 2024 Results

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Cars.com Inc. (NYSE: CARS) reported strong Q2 2024 results with revenue growing 6.4% year-over-year to $178.9 million. The company saw record 28% year-over-year growth in OEM and National revenue. Net income was $11.4 million, or $0.17 per diluted share. Adjusted EBITDA increased 10% to $50.4 million, representing 28% of revenue. The dealer customer base grew to 19,390, with Average Revenue Per Dealer (ARPD) slightly up at $2,474. The company generated $69 million in year-to-date cash flows from operating activities and aims to return 50% of second-half 2024 free cash flow to shareholders through share repurchases. Cars.com reaffirmed its full-year Adjusted EBITDA outlook but updated its revenue growth forecast to 4.5-5.5%, down from the previous 6-8% range.

Cars.com Inc. (NYSE: CARS) ha riportato risultati forti per il Q2 2024, con un incremento del fatturato del 6.4% rispetto all'anno precedente, raggiungendo $178.9 milioni. L'azienda ha registrato una crescita record del 28% nelle entrate OEM e nazionali rispetto all'anno precedente. L'utile netto è stato di $11.4 milioni, ovvero $0.17 per azione diluita. L'EBITDA rettificato è aumentato del 10% a $50.4 milioni, rappresentando il 28% del fatturato. Il numero di clienti concessionari è cresciuto fino a 19.390, con un Ricavo Medio per Concessionario (ARPD) leggermente aumentato a $2.474. L'azienda ha generato $69 milioni in flussi di cassa da attività operative da inizio anno e punta a restituire il 50% del flusso di cassa libero del secondo semestre del 2024 agli azionisti attraverso riacquisti di azioni. Cars.com ha ribadito le sue previsioni sull'EBITDA rettificato per l'intero anno, ma ha aggiornato la previsione di crescita del fatturato al 4.5-5.5%, in calo rispetto alla precedente fascia del 6-8%.

Cars.com Inc. (NYSE: CARS) reportó sólidos resultados para el segundo trimestre de 2024, con un aumento de ingresos del 6.4% en comparación con el año anterior, alcanzando $178.9 millones. La compañía experimentó un crecimiento récord del 28% en ingresos OEM y nacionales en comparación con el año anterior. La utilidad neta fue de $11.4 millones, o $0.17 por acción diluida. El EBITDA ajustado aumentó un 10% a $50.4 millones, representando el 28% de los ingresos. La base de clientes concesionarios creció a 19,390, con un ingreso promedio por concesionario (ARPD) ligeramente aumentando a $2,474. La compañía generó $69 millones en flujos de efectivo de actividades operativas en lo que va del año y tiene como objetivo devolver el 50% del flujo de efectivo libre de la segunda mitad de 2024 a los accionistas a través de la recompra de acciones. Cars.com reafirmó su perspectiva de EBITDA ajustado para todo el año, pero actualizó su pronóstico de crecimiento de ingresos al 4.5-5.5%, disminuyendo desde el rango anterior del 6-8%.

Cars.com Inc. (NYSE: CARS)는 2024년 2분기에 전년 대비 6.4% 성장하여 $178.9백만에 이르는 강력한 실적을 보고했습니다. 이 회사는 OEM 및 국가 매출에서 전년 대비 28%의 기록적인 성장을 보였습니다. 순이익은 $11.4백만, 즉 희석주당 $0.17이었습니다. 조정 EBITDA는 10% 증가하여 $50.4백만에 달하며, 이는 매출의 28%에 해당합니다. 딜러 고객 수는 19,390으로 증가하였고, 딜러당 평균 수익(ARPD)은 $2,474로 소폭 상승했습니다. 회사는 연초부터 운영 활동에서 $69백만의 현금 흐름을 생성하였으며, 2024년 하반기 자유 현금 흐름의 50%를 주식 매입을 통해 주주에게 반환할 계획입니다. Cars.com은 연간 조정 EBITDA 전망을 재확인했지만, 매출 성장 예측을 이전의 6-8% 범위에서 4.5-5.5%로 업데이트했습니다.

Cars.com Inc. (NYSE: CARS) a annoncé des résultats solides pour le deuxième trimestre de 2024, avec une croissance du chiffre d'affaires de 6,4% par rapport à l'année précédente, atteignant 178,9 millions de dollars. L'entreprise a connu une croissance record de 28% des revenus OEM et nationaux par rapport à l'année précédente. Le bénéfice net s'élevait à 11,4 millions de dollars, soit 0,17 dollar par action diluée. L'EBITDA ajusté a augmenté de 10% pour atteindre 50,4 millions de dollars, représentant 28% du chiffre d'affaires. La base de clients concessionnaires a augmenté à 19 390, avec un Revenu Moyen par Concessionnaire (ARPD) légèrement en hausse à 2 474 dollars. L'entreprise a généré 69 millions de dollars de flux de trésorerie d'activités opérationnelles depuis le début de l'année et vise à retourner 50% du flux de trésorerie libre du deuxième semestre 2024 aux actionnaires par le biais de rachats d'actions. Cars.com a réaffirmé ses perspectives d'EBITDA ajusté pour l'année complète mais a mis à jour ses prévisions de croissance du chiffre d'affaires entre 4,5 et 5,5%, en baisse par rapport à l'ancienne fourchette de 6 à 8%.

Cars.com Inc. (NYSE: CARS) berichtete über starke Ergebnisse im 2. Quartal 2024 mit einem Umsatzwachstum von 6,4% im Vergleich zum Vorjahr, das $178,9 Millionen erreichte. Das Unternehmen verzeichnete ein Rekordwachstum von 28% im OEM- und Nationalumsatz im Vergleich zum Vorjahr. Der Nettoertrag betrug $11,4 Millionen oder $0,17 pro verwässerter Aktie. Das bereinigte EBITDA stieg um 10% auf $50,4 Millionen, was 28% des Umsatzes entspricht. Die Anzahl der Händlerkunden wuchs auf 19.390, während der durchschnittliche Umsatz pro Händler (ARPD) leicht auf $2.474 anstieg. Das Unternehmen generierte $69 Millionen an Cashflows aus operativen Tätigkeiten im bisherigen Jahresverlauf und plant, 50% des freien Cashflows im zweiten Halbjahr 2024 an die Aktionäre durch Aktienrückkäufe zurückzugeben. Cars.com bestätigte seine Jahresprognose für das bereinigte EBITDA, aktualisierte jedoch seine Prognose für das Umsatzwachstum auf 4,5-5,5%, nach unten von der vorherigen Bandbreite von 6-8%.

Positive
  • Revenue grew 6.4% year-over-year to $178.9 million
  • OEM and National revenue achieved record 28% year-over-year growth
  • Adjusted EBITDA increased 10% to $50.4 million, representing 28% of revenue
  • Dealer customer base grew to 19,390
  • Generated $69 million in year-to-date cash flows from operating activities
  • Targeting 50% of second-half 2024 free cash flow for share repurchases
  • Reaffirmed full-year Adjusted EBITDA margin outlook of 28-30%
Negative
  • Revised full-year 2024 revenue growth outlook to 4.5-5.5%, down from previous 6-8% range
  • Slower anticipated pace of subscription adoption for AccuTrade Connected product
  • Negative impact from delayed subscription revenues and product launches due to industry-wide CDK cyber incident
  • Average Monthly Unique Visitors decreased to 26.1 million from 26.9 million a year ago

Insights

Cars.com's Q2 2024 results show positive momentum with 6.4% year-over-year revenue growth to $178.9 million. The standout performer was OEM and National revenue, achieving a record 28% year-over-year growth. This indicates strong demand from automakers for advertising solutions as vehicle production recovers.

The company's profitability metrics are solid, with Adjusted EBITDA up 10% to $50.4 million, representing a healthy 28% margin. However, net income decreased significantly year-over-year due to a one-time tax benefit in the previous year.

Cars.com's focus on shareholder returns is noteworthy, with plans to return 50% of second-half free cash flow through share repurchases. This, combined with the reduced total net leverage of 2.1x, suggests a strong financial position and confidence in future cash generation.

The slight growth in dealer customers to 19,390 and the marginal increase in Monthly Average Revenue Per Dealer (ARPD) to $2,474 indicate a stable but competitive market. The company's ability to maintain and slightly grow its dealer base is positive, especially considering the industry-wide CDK cyber incident that disrupted operations.

However, the revision of the full-year revenue growth outlook from 6-8% to 4.5-5.5% suggests some headwinds in the near term. This is primarily due to slower adoption of the AccuTrade Connected product and the impact of the CDK incident on subscription revenues and product launches.

The strong growth in OEM and National revenue (28% YoY) is a bright spot, indicating increased marketing activity from automakers as inventory levels normalize. This trend could continue as new model launches accelerate.

Cars.com's strategic focus on technology-driven solutions is evident in its product portfolio. The AccuTrade product, now certified by multiple OEMs, demonstrates the company's commitment to innovative digital solutions for the automotive industry. However, the slower-than-expected adoption of AccuTrade Connected subscriptions highlights the challenges in rolling out new tech products in a traditional industry.

The company's investment in Product and technology, including increased spending on compensation and third-party licenses, indicates a continued focus on platform development. This could potentially lead to more robust offerings and increased differentiation in the future.

The impact of the CDK cyber incident on Cars.com's operations underscores the importance of cybersecurity in the digital automotive ecosystem. As the industry becomes more reliant on digital platforms, addressing these vulnerabilities will be important for maintaining customer trust and operational stability.

Revenue Grew 6% Year-over-Year and OEM and National Revenue Achieved Record 28% Year-Over-Year Growth

Dealer Base Grew to 19,390 Customers While Sustaining Robust Average Revenue Per Dealer

Generated $69MM of Year-To-Date Cash Flows From Operating Activities

Targets Returning 50% of Second Half 2024 Free Cash Flow to Shareholders Through Share Repurchases

Reaffirms Full Year Adjusted EBITDA Outlook and Updates Revenue Outlook

CHICAGO, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cars.com Inc. (NYSE: CARS) (d/b/a "Cars Commerce Inc." or the "Company"), an audience-driven technology company empowering the automotive industry, today released its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024.

Q2 2024 Financial Highlights

  • Revenue of $178.9 million, up $10.7 million and up 6.4% year-over-year
  • Net income of $11.4 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, compared to prior year's Net income of $94.1 million, or $1.37 per diluted share, which also included a significant release of valuation allowance for deferred tax assets
  • Adjusted net income of $26.0 million, or $0.38 per diluted share, compared to Adjusted net income of $22.5 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, in the prior year
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $50.4 million, or 28% of revenue, up $4.8 million and up 10% year-over-year

Q2 2024 Key Metrics and Operational Highlights

  • Average Monthly Unique Visitors ("UVs") of 26.1 million, compared to 26.9 million a year ago
  • Traffic ("Visits") of 158.1 million, up 1% year-over-year
  • Monthly Average Revenue Per Dealer ("ARPD") of $2,474, up slightly from the year-ago period
  • Dealer Customers totaled 19,390 as of June 30, 2024, compared to 19,381 as of March 31, 2024
  • AccuTrade certified by multiple OEMs as a Trade & Appraisal solution for OEM and dealer websites

"We drove disciplined growth and strong profitability during the second quarter on top of returning to sequential expansion in our dealer customer base," said Alex Vetter, Chief Executive Officer of Cars Commerce. "Our strength is underscored by positive AccuTrade utilization, healthy adoption of website solutions, and accelerating OEM and National revenue. Looking ahead, as we navigate through industry disruption in the third quarter, we continue to be focused on deepening our platform differentiation in support of growth and margin expansion in the second half of the year."

Q2 2024 Results

Revenue for the second quarter totaled $178.9 million, an increase of $10.7 million and up over 6%, compared to the prior year period. Subscription-based Dealer revenue grew over 4% year-over-year, driven by incremental revenue from the D2C Media acquisition, and increased adoption of digital experience and AccuTrade products. OEM and National revenue grew 28% year-over-year, reflecting increased OEM demand for media and advertising solutions to reach consumers as vehicle production recovers and on-the-lot inventory levels build. Approximately two-thirds of OEM customers raised their spending during the second quarter.

Second quarter ARPD grew slightly year-over-year to $2,474, benefiting from increased product adoption and partially offset by lower ARPD customers acquired through the D2C Media acquisition. As of June 30, 2024, Dealer Customers totaled 19,390, growing quarter-over-quarter from 19,381 as of March 31, 2024.

Total operating expenses for the second quarter were $169.4 million, compared to $155.8 million for the prior year period. The earnout associated with D2C Media is classified as compensation expense and is reflected primarily in General and administrative expense. This quarter the Company expensed $2.7 million associated with the D2C earnout. Adjusted operating expenses for the quarter were $156.0 million, an $8.9 million increase compared to the prior year period. The change in Adjusted operating expenses included additional investments in Product and technology for compensation and third party licenses.

Net income for the second quarter was $11.4 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, compared to Net income of $94.1 million, or $1.37 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2023. Net income in the year-ago period reflected the release of a significant portion of the Company's valuation allowance for deferred tax assets. Adjusted Net income for the quarter was $26.0 million, or $0.38 per diluted share, compared to $22.5 million, or $0.33 per diluted share a year ago.

Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter totaled $50.4 million, or 28% of revenue, compared to $45.6 million, or 27% of revenue, for the prior year period. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily driven by revenue growth.

The Company's consumer scale and engagement remained strong in the second quarter. Total Traffic reached 158.1 million and Average Monthly Unique Visitors were 26.1 million for the quarter.

Cash Flow and Balance Sheet

Net cash provided by operating activities for the six-month period ended June 30, 2024 was $68.7 million, compared to $56.2 million in the prior year. Free cash flow in the first six months totaled $56.4 million, compared to $45.6 million in 2023. The increase is primarily due to higher Adjusted EBITDA and lower cash taxes, partially offset by higher cash paid for interest and increased capital expenditures.

The Company repaid $15.0 million of debt during the first six months of 2024, reducing total debt outstanding to $475.0 million, as of June 30, 2024. The Company's total net leverage (as defined in the Company's credit facility) remained within its target total net leverage range of 2.0x to 2.5x, improving to 2.1x as of June 30, 2024, compared to 2.3x as of June 30, 2023. Total liquidity as of June 30, 2024 was $304.1 million, which is defined as Cash and cash equivalents of $29.1 million and revolver capacity of $275.0 million.

The Company continues to execute on its capital allocation strategy and year-to-date has repurchased 0.8 million shares of common stock for $14.4 million. The Company's cumulative repurchases have been $95 million since 2022, with $105 million remaining under its current repurchase authorization. In recognition of the Company's commitment to returning capital to shareholders, it is now targeting 50% of second half free cash flow for share repurchases.

"We demonstrated robust operating leverage and free cash flow generation in the second quarter. Despite revisions to our revenue outlook, our business is strong and our platform advantage is clear. We intend to return 50% of second half free cash flow to shareholders through share repurchases, reflecting strong conviction in our long-term growth strategy while reinforcing our disciplined and thoughtful approach to capital allocation," said Sonia Jain, Chief Financial Officer of Cars Commerce.

Third Quarter and 2024 Outlook

Third quarter revenue is expected to be between $178.0 million and $181.0 million, representing year-over-year growth of 2% to 4%. Dealer revenue is expected to grow year-over-year, reflecting greater adoption of the Cars Commerce suite of products, including D2C. Dealer revenue assumptions also include the disruptive impact to June and July sales and product launches from the industry-wide CDK cyber incident, as well as lower than expected AccuTrade Connected subscriptions. OEM and National revenue is expected to grow year-over-year, reflecting increased OEM demand for marketing and advertising solutions to raise consumer awareness amid growing vehicle inventory levels and new model launches.

Adjusted EBITDA margin for the third quarter is expected to be between 26.5% and 28.5%. This range reflects third quarter revenue guidance and continuing investments in support of product-led growth.

The Company is revising its fiscal year 2024 revenue growth outlook to a range of 4.5% to 5.5%, compared to the previous range of 6.0% to 8.0% that was initially provided in its earnings release on February 22, 2024. This updated range reflects year-to-date performance and current business trends, including a slower anticipated pace of subscription adoption for the AccuTrade Connected product, and negative impact from delayed subscription revenues and product launches following the industry-wide CDK cyber incident.

For fiscal year 2024, the Company is reaffirming Adjusted EBITDA margin outlook of 28.0% to 30.0%, and expects disciplined cost management to continue delivering strong operating leverage for the remainder of the year.

Q2 2024 Earnings Call

As previously announced, management will hold a conference call and webcast today at 8:00 a.m. CT. This webcast may be accessed at the Cars Commerce Investor Relations website, investor.cars.com. An archive of the webcast will be available at investor.cars.com following the conclusion of the call.

About Cars Commerce
Cars Commerce is an audience-driven technology company empowering the automotive industry. The Company simplifies everything about car buying and selling with powerful products, solutions and AI-driven technologies that span pretail, retail and post-sale activities – enabling more efficient and profitable retail operations. The Cars Commerce platform is organized around four industry-leading brands: the flagship automotive marketplace and dealer reputation site Cars.com, award-winning technology and digital retail technology and marketing services from Dealer Inspire, essential trade-in and appraisal technology from AccuTrade, and exclusive in-market media solutions from the Cars Commerce Media Network. Learn more at www.carscommerce.inc.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This earnings release discusses Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Adjusted net income, Free Cash Flow and Adjusted Operating Expenses. These financial measures are not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"). These financial measures are presented as supplemental measures of operating performance because the Company believes they provide meaningful information regarding the Company's performance and provide a basis to compare operating results between periods. In addition, the Company uses Adjusted EBITDA as a measure for determining incentive compensation targets. Adjusted EBITDA also is used as a performance measure under the Company's credit agreement and includes adjustments such as the items defined below and other further adjustments, which are defined in the credit agreement. These non-GAAP financial measures are frequently used by the Company's lenders, securities analysts, investors and other interested parties to evaluate companies in the Company's industry.

While a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to corresponding GAAP measures is not available on a forward-looking basis without unreasonable effort due to, as applicable, the timing, amount, valuation and number of future employee equity awards and the uncertainty relating to the timing, frequency, and effect of acquisitions and the significance of the resulting transaction-related expenses, the Company has provided a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable financial measure prepared in accordance with GAAP in this earnings release, see "Non-GAAP Reconciliations" below.

Other companies may define or calculate these measures differently, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures. Because of these limitations, non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for performance measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Definitions of these non-GAAP financial measures and reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are presented in the tables below.

The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) before (1) interest expense, net, (2) income tax (benefit) expense, (3) depreciation, (4) amortization of intangible assets, (5) stock-based compensation expense, (6) unrealized mark-to-market adjustments and cash transactions related to derivative instruments, (7) unrealized foreign currency exchange gains and losses, and (8) certain other items, such as transaction-related items, severance, transformation and other exit costs and write-off and impairments of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets.

Transaction-related items result from actual or potential transactions such as business combinations, mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, spin-offs, financing transactions, and other strategic transactions, including, without limitation, (1) transaction-related bonuses and (2) expenses for advisors and representatives such as investment bankers, consultants, attorneys and accounting firms. Transaction-related items may also include, without limitation, transition and integration costs such as retention bonuses and acquisition-related milestone payments to acquired employees, consulting, compensation and other incremental costs associated with integration projects, fair value changes to contingent considerations and amortization of deferred revenue related to the AccuTrade acquisition.

The Company defines Adjusted Net Income as GAAP net income (loss) excluding, net of their related tax effects: (1) amortization of intangible assets, (2) stock-based compensation expense, (3) unrealized mark-to-market adjustments and cash transactions related to derivative instruments, (4) unrealized foreign currency exchange gains and losses, and (5) certain other items, such as transaction-related costs, severance, transformation and other exit costs and write-off and impairments of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets.

The Company defines Free Cash Flow as net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures, including purchases of property and equipment and capitalization of internally developed technology.

The Company defines Adjusted Operating Expenses as total operating expenses adjusted to exclude stock-based compensation, write-off and impairments of goodwill, intangible assets, long-lived assets, severance, transformation and other exit costs and transaction-related items.

Key Metric Definitions

Average Monthly Unique Visitors ("UVs") and Traffic ("Visits"). The Company defines UVs in a given month as the number of distinct visitors that engage with its platform during that month. Visitors are identified when a user first visits an individual Cars.com property on an individual device/browser combination or installs one of its mobile apps on an individual device. If a visitor accesses more than one of its web properties or apps or uses more than one device or browser, each of those unique property/browser/app/device combinations counts toward the number of UVs. Traffic is defined as the number of visits to Cars.com desktop and mobile properties (responsive sites and mobile apps). The Company measured UVs and Traffic via Adobe Analytics through the year ended December 31, 2023. As of January 1, 2024, the Company now measures UVs and Traffic via RudderStack, which better aligns to the Company's product and technology platform and provides improved visibility into its UVs and Traffic. Prior period UVs and Traffic information has not been recast, as it is impracticable to do so. These metrics do not include traffic to Dealer Inspire or D2C Media websites.

Monthly Average Revenue Per Dealer ("ARPD"). The Company believes that its ability to grow ARPD is an indicator of the value proposition of its platform. The Company defines ARPD as Dealer revenue, excluding digital advertising services, during the period divided by the monthly average number of Dealer Customers during the same period. Beginning December 31, 2023, this key operating metric includes D2C Media.

Dealer Customers. Dealer Customers represent dealerships using our products as of the end of each reporting period. Each physical or virtual dealership location is counted separately, whether it is a single-location proprietorship or part of a large, consolidated dealer group. Multi-franchise dealerships at a single location are counted as one dealer. Beginning December 31, 2023, this key operating metric includes D2C Media.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements. These statements often use words such as "believe," "expect," "project," "anticipate," "outlook," "intend," "strategy," "plan," "estimate," "target," "seek," "will," "may," "would," "should," "could," "forecasts," "mission," "strive," "more," "goal" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, beliefs, strategies, estimates, projections and assumptions, experience in the industry as well as our perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments, and other factors we think are appropriate. Such forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Cars Commerce and its management based on their knowledge and understanding of the business and industry, are inherently uncertain. While Cars Commerce and its management make such statements in good faith and believe such judgments are reasonable, you should understand that these statements are not guarantees of future strategic action, performance or results. Our actual results, performance, achievements, strategic actions or prospects could differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Given these uncertainties, you should not rely on forward-looking statements in making investment decisions. When we make comparisons of results between current and prior periods, we do not intend to express any future trends, or indications of future performance, unless expressed as such, and you should view such comparisons as historical data. Whether or not any such forward-looking statement is in fact achieved will depend on future events, some of which are beyond our control.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors, many of which are beyond our control, that could cause our actual results and strategic actions to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. For a detailed discussion of many of these and other risks and uncertainties, see "Part I, Item 1A., Risk Factors" and "Part II, Item 7., Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on February 22, 2024 and our other filings filed with the SEC and available on our website at investor.cars.com or via EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

You should evaluate all forward-looking statements made in this press release in the context of these risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based only on information currently available to us and speak only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation, other than as may be required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking or cautionary statements to reflect changes in assumptions, the occurrence of events, unanticipated or otherwise, or changes in future operating results over time or otherwise. The forward-looking statements in this report are intended to be subject to the safe harbor protection provided by the federal securities laws.

Cars Commerce Investor Relations Contact:
Katherine Chen
ir@carscommerce.inc
408.768.6847

Cars Commerce Media Contact:
Marita Thomas
mthomas@carscommerce.inc
312.601.5692

Cars.com Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Income

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)








Three Months Ended June 30,


Six Months Ended June 30,



2024


2023


2024


2023

Revenue:









  Dealer


$             159,843


$             153,309


$             321,658


$             303,152

  OEM and National


15,828


12,402


31,135


25,945

  Other 


3,223


2,465


6,277


6,147

       Total revenue


178,894


168,176


359,070


335,244

Operating expenses:









  Cost of revenue and operations


31,030


30,415


60,992


60,210

  Product and technology


27,583


24,956


55,668


49,057

  Marketing and sales


60,213


58,153


119,376


116,450

  General and administrative


22,980


17,649


45,837


35,953

  Depreciation and amortization


27,571


24,669


54,936


48,711

       Total operating expenses


169,377


155,842


336,809


310,381

         Operating income


9,517


12,334


22,261


24,863

Nonoperating expenses:









  Interest expense, net


(8,109)


(8,150)


(16,430)


(16,394)

  Other income (expense), net


14,990


(3,133)


11,387


5,106

       Total nonoperating income (expense), net


6,881


(11,283)


(5,043)


(11,288)

       Income before income taxes


16,398


1,051


17,218


13,575

       Income tax expense (benefit)


5,017


(93,075)


5,053


(92,030)

          Net income


$               11,381


$               94,126


$               12,165


$             105,605

Weighted-average common shares outstanding:









Basic


66,534


66,762


66,426


66,646

Diluted


67,821


68,493


67,514


68,118

Earnings per share:









Basic


$                   0.17


$                   1.41


$                   0.18


$                   1.58

Diluted


0.17


1.37


0.18


1.55

 

Cars.com Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except per share data)








June 30, 2024


December 31, 2023



(unaudited)



Assets:





Current assets:





Cash and cash equivalents


$                     29,071


$                     39,198

Accounts receivable, net


128,532


125,373

Prepaid expenses


10,135


12,553

Other current assets


10,321


1,314

Total current assets


178,059


178,438

Property and equipment, net


42,978


43,853

Goodwill


145,360


147,058

Intangible assets, net 


625,700


669,167

Deferred tax assets, net


105,228


112,953

Investments and other assets, net


23,217


20,980

Total assets


$                1,120,542


$                1,172,449

Liabilities and stockholders' equity:





Current liabilities:





Accounts payable


$                     29,570


$                     22,259

Accrued compensation


22,703


31,669

Current portion of long-term debt, net



23,129

Other accrued liabilities


64,312


68,691

Total current liabilities


116,585


145,748

Noncurrent liabilities:





Long-term debt, net


469,670


460,119

Deferred tax liabilities, net


8,222


8,757

Other noncurrent liabilities


29,174


65,717

Total noncurrent liabilities


507,066


534,593

Total liabilities


623,651


680,341

Commitments and contingencies





Stockholders' equity:





Preferred Stock at par, $0.01 par value; 5,000 shares authorized; no shares
   issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively



Common Stock at par, $0.01 par value; 300,000 shares authorized; 66,169 and
   65,929 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2024 and
   December 31, 2023, respectively


662


659

Additional paid-in capital


1,493,923


1,500,232

Accumulated deficit


(997,569)


(1,009,734)

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income


(125)


951

Total stockholders' equity


496,891


492,108

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity


$                1,120,542


$                1,172,449

 

Cars.com Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)








Six Months Ended June 30,



2024


2023

Cash flows from operating activities:





Net income


$               12,165


$             105,605

Adjustments to reconcile Net income to Net cash provided by operating activities:





Depreciation


12,722


10,394

Amortization of intangible assets


42,214


38,317

Changes in fair value of contingent consideration


(12,834)


(5,182)

Stock-based compensation


15,541


13,520

Deferred income taxes


7,798


(92,587)

Provision for doubtful accounts


1,753


1,319

Amortization of debt issuance costs


1,289


1,549

Unrealized loss on foreign currency denominated transactions


1,480


Amortization of deferred revenue related to AccuTrade acquisition



(883)

Other, net


578


330

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:





Accounts receivable


(5,090)


(4,626)

Prepaid expenses and other assets


(6,869)


(8,065)

Accounts payable


7,282


1,658

Accrued compensation


(8,834)


(2,973)

Other liabilities


(473)


(2,194)

Net cash provided by operating activities


68,722


56,182

Cash flows from investing activities:





     Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired


(218)


-

     Capitalization of internally developed technology


(11,176)


(10,061)

     Purchase of property and equipment


(1,099)


(508)

Net cash used in investing activities


(12,493)


(10,569)

Cash flows from financing activities:





     Payments of Revolving Loan borrowings and long-term debt


(15,000)


(22,500)

     Payments for stock-based compensation plans, net


(7,557)


(9,069)

     Repurchases of common stock


(14,362)


(17,154)

     Payments of contingent consideration


(27,435)


     Payments of debt issuance costs and other fees


(1,869)


Net cash used in financing activities


(66,223)


(48,723)

Effect of exchange rate changes on Cash and cash equivalents


(133)


Net decrease in Cash and cash equivalents


(10,127)


(3,110)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period


39,198


31,715

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period


$               29,071


$               28,605

Supplemental cash flow information:





Cash paid for income taxes


$                 4,639


$               12,282

Cash paid for interest


16,893


15,541

 

Cars.com Inc.

Non-GAAP Reconciliations

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)












Three Months Ended June 30,


Six Months Ended June 30,



2024


2023


2024


2023

Reconciliation of Net income to Adjusted EBITDA


















Net income


$               11,381


$               94,126


$               12,165


$             105,605

Interest expense, net


8,109


8,150


16,430


16,394

Income tax expense


5,017


(93,075)


5,053


(92,030)

Depreciation and amortization


27,571


24,669


54,936


48,711

Stock-based compensation, including related payroll tax expense


8,813


7,720


16,763


14,672

Transaction-related and other one-time items


(10,853)


4,059


(3,684)


(3,366)

Non-operating foreign exchange expense


387



1,435


Adjusted EBITDA


$               50,425


$               45,649


$             103,098


$               89,986





















Three Months Ended June 30,


Six Months Ended June 30,



2024


2023


2024


2023

Reconciliation of Net income to Adjusted Net income


















Net income


$               11,381


$               94,126


$               12,165


$             105,605

Stock-based compensation, including related payroll tax expense


8,813


7,720


16,763


14,672

Amortization of intangible assets


21,209


19,159


42,214


38,317

Transaction-related items


(12,668)


3,203


(6,525)


(5,574)

Non-operating foreign exchange expense


387



1,435


Other one-time items


1,815


856


2,841


2,208

Valuation allowance



(94,851)



(94,137)

Income tax impact of adjustments


(4,889)


(7,735)


(14,182)


(12,406)

Adjusted net income


$               26,048


$               22,478


$               54,711


$               48,685










Adjusted net income per share, diluted


$                   0.38


$                   0.33


$                   0.81


$                   0.71

Weighted-average common shares outstanding, diluted


67,821


68,493


67,514


68,118





















Three Months Ended June 30,


Six Months Ended June 30,



2024


2023


2024


2023

Reconciliation of Net cash provided by operating activities to Free cash flow










Net cash provided by operating activities


$               35,254


$               28,041


$               68,722


$               56,182

Capitalization of internally developed technology


(5,871)


(4,889)


(11,176)


(10,061)

Purchase of property and equipment


(391)


(309)


(1,099)


(508)

Free cash flow


$               28,992


$               22,843


$               56,447


$               45,613



















Reconciliation of Operating expenses to Adjusted operating expenses for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2024:












As Reported


Adjustments (1)


Stock-Based
Compensation


As Adjusted

Cost of revenue and operations


$               31,030


$                      —


$                  (229)


$               30,801

Product and technology


27,583



(3,009)


24,574

Marketing and sales


60,213


(44)


(1,672)


58,497

General and administrative


22,980


(4,480)


(3,903)


14,597

Depreciation and amortization


27,571




27,571

Total operating expenses


$             169,377


$               (4,524)


$               (8,813)


$             156,040










Total nonoperating expense, net


$                 6,881


$             (14,990)


$                      —


$               (8,109)










(1) Includes transaction related items, unrealized gain/loss on foreign currency denominated transactions, severance, transformation and other exit costs, and write-off of long-lived assets and other.



















Reconciliation of Operating expenses to Adjusted operating expenses for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2023:












As Reported


Adjustments (1)


Stock-Based
Compensation


As Adjusted

Cost of revenue and operations


$               30,415


$                      —


$                  (443)


$               29,972

Product and technology


24,956



(2,372)


22,584

Marketing and sales


58,153



(1,531)


56,622

General and administrative


17,649


(982)


(3,374)


13,293

Depreciation and amortization


24,669




24,669

Total operating expenses


$             155,842


$                  (982)


$               (7,720)


$             147,140










Total nonoperating expense, net


$             (11,283)


$                 3,077


$                      —


$               (8,206)










(1) Includes transaction related items, severance, transformation and other exit costs, and write-off of long-lived assets and other.



















Reconciliation of Operating expenses to Adjusted operating expenses for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2024:












As Reported


Adjustments (1)


Stock-Based
Compensation


As Adjusted

Cost of revenue and operations


$               60,992


$                      —


$                  (558)


$               60,434

Product and technology


55,668



(5,790)


49,878

Marketing and sales


119,376


(88)


(2,893)


116,395

General and administrative


45,837


(9,051)


(7,522)


29,264

Depreciation and amortization


54,936




54,936

Total operating expenses


$             336,809


$               (9,139)


$             (16,763)


$             310,907










Total nonoperating expense, net


$               (5,043)


$             (11,388)


$                      —


$             (16,431)










(1) Includes transaction related items, unrealized gain/loss on foreign currency denominated transactions, severance, transformation and other exit costs, and write-off of long-lived assets and other.



















Reconciliation of Operating expenses to Adjusted operating expenses for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2023:












As Reported


Adjustments (1)


Stock-Based
Compensation


As Adjusted

Cost of revenue and operations


$               60,210


$                      —


$                  (750)


$               59,460

Product and technology


49,057



(4,429)


44,628

Marketing and sales


116,450



(2,964)


113,486

General and administrative


35,953


(2,899)


(6,529)


26,525

Depreciation and amortization


48,711




48,711

Total operating expenses


$             310,381


$               (2,899)


$             (14,672)


$             292,810










Total nonoperating expense, net


$             (11,288)


$               (5,182)


$                      —


$             (16,470)










(1) Includes transaction related items, severance, transformation and other exit costs, and write-off of long-lived assets and other.

 

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/carscom-reports-second-quarter-2024-results-302217563.html

SOURCE Cars Commerce

FAQ

What was Cars.com's (CARS) revenue growth in Q2 2024?

Cars.com reported revenue growth of 6.4% year-over-year, reaching $178.9 million in Q2 2024.

How much did Cars.com's (CARS) OEM and National revenue grow in Q2 2024?

Cars.com's OEM and National revenue achieved record 28% year-over-year growth in Q2 2024.

What is Cars.com's (CARS) updated revenue growth outlook for 2024?

Cars.com revised its fiscal year 2024 revenue growth outlook to a range of 4.5% to 5.5%, down from the previous range of 6.0% to 8.0%.

How many dealer customers did Cars.com (CARS) have as of June 30, 2024?

Cars.com reported 19,390 dealer customers as of June 30, 2024, up from 19,381 as of March 31, 2024.

What is Cars.com's (CARS) target for returning cash to shareholders in the second half of 2024?

Cars.com is targeting to return 50% of its second half 2024 free cash flow to shareholders through share repurchases.

Cars.com Inc.

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