Cars.com, Inc. (CARS)

Between July 2025 and January 2026, Cars.com, Inc.'s share price experienced a decline. The company reported record total revenue in Q3 2025 and repurchased a significant amount of stock. The Chief Product and Innovation Officer was scheduled to depart. Insider trading activity showed a net of shares bought. The company granted performance-based stock unit awards and is estimated to report its Fourth Quarter 2025 earnings on February 26, 2026.

The automotive industry exhibits seasonal trends, with peak demand in the spring and fall and the lowest sales in January, February, and early March. Demand increases in the spring due to warmer weather and tax refunds, and in the fall, coinciding with the release of new car models. The winter months are generally the slowest for car sales. Recent reports indicate that while new-car inventory has rebounded, affordability concerns persist, and events like hurricanes can temporarily impact demand.

Cars.com, Inc., now operating as Cars Commerce Inc., is an audience-driven technology company focused on simplifying car buying and selling through its platform. The company's major products and solutions include Cars.com Marketplace, Dealer Inspire, AccuTrade, and Cars Commerce Media Network. The company leverages AI technologies like "Carson™" to enhance retail operations and generates revenue through subscription-based digital advertising and solutions.

Cars.com, Inc. primarily operates in the United States and Canada and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The company expanded its presence in Canada through the acquisition of D2C Media Inc. in 2023.

In the past year, Cars.com Inc. rebranded its commercial enterprise as "Cars Commerce" and focused on its role as an audience-driven technology company. The company regularly publishes Industry Insights Reports, contributing to its reputation as a data-driven authority. The launch of its AI engine, "Carson™," has positively contributed to its reputation for innovation.

Cars.com, Inc.'s ownership is predominantly institutional, with institutional investors holding approximately 79.3% of the shares. Other entities hold 12.6% and individuals hold 4.3%. Major institutional owners include Fmr Llc, BlackRock, Inc., The Vanguard Group, Inc., State Street Global Advisors, Inc., iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR), Dimensional Fund Advisors Lp, Fidelity Low-Priced Stock Fund (FLPSX), Hill Path Capital LP, Brown Advisory Inc, Par Capital Management Inc, and JPMorgan Chase & Co.