CAR Group delivered a robust financial performance for the full year ended 30 June 2026, posting net profit of A$313.7 million after tax and declaring a final dividend of 43.50 cents per share. The global online vehicle marketplace operator’s results demonstrate strong earnings generation across its portfolio of brands and geographies. Combined with the interim dividend of 42.50 cents paid during the year, total FY26 dividends of 86 cents per share reflect management confidence in the sustainability of the business’s earnings base.
Revenue for the year reached A$1.253 billion, supporting adjusted net profit of A$407.2 million before accounting for integration-related and non-cash items. The gap between adjusted profit and the reported statutory profit of A$313.7 million, representing approximately A$93.5 million in adjustments, reflects the integration costs and fair value adjustments associated with two significant acquisitions completed during the financial year: DP360, acquired on 12 March 2025, and Pop Sells, acquired on 1 May 2025. These transactions expand CAR Group’s portfolio within the online vehicle marketplace sector, particularly in niche and specialist segments.
One aspect of the results that may catch investor interest is the negative net tangible assets backing per share of 378.28 cents as at 30 June 2026, compared to a negative backing of 325.71 cents the prior year. This deterioration reflects the balance sheet impact of recent acquisitions, which inherently result in goodwill and intangible asset recognition. For digital marketplace businesses built through strategic acquisition, negative tangible asset backing is not uncommon, as value resides in customer bases, technology, market position and earnings power rather than in physical tangible assets. The metric matters less when a company generates strong operational cash flows to service debt and fund dividends, as CAR Group has demonstrated.
The substantial dividend payout underscores management’s confidence in the group’s cash generation capability and financial position. The final dividend of 43.50 cents per share carries 13.05 cents fully franked, providing Australian shareholders with tax credits on approximately 30% of the distribution. Supporting this dividend are annual revenues of A$1.253 billion and after-tax profit of A$313.7 million, generated across the group’s global operations employing more than 2,900 people.
Investors should monitor the earnings accretion from DP360 and Pop Sells integration, including whether management delivers the synergies anticipated at acquisition. The trajectory of adjusted profit relative to dividends will signal the underlying cash generation capability of the enlarged group. Continued tracking of competitive pressures within online vehicle marketplaces, both in Australia and internationally, remains prudent as advertiser demand and user engagement directly influence future profitability. This announcement has been classified as price sensitive and flagged as material by the ASX.
View the full ASX announcement (PDF)
About CAR Group Limited (ASX: CAR)
CAR Group Limited is an ASX-listed digital marketplace operator specializing in online vehicle sales across multiple countries including Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Chile, China, and North America. The company’s flagship platform, carsales.com.au, is the dominant online automotive marketplace in Australia. The group generates revenue from its global digital marketplace operations and is classified within the Communication Services sector of the S&P/ASX 200 index.
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