PHOENIX - Carvana Co. (NYSE: NYSE:CVNA), an e-commerce platform for buying and selling used cars, has announced substantial year-over-year (YoY) growth and financial improvements in its first quarter (Q1) results for 2024, coupled with strategic moves aimed at reducing debt. The company presented these updates at the William Blair 44th Annual Growth Stock Conference.
Carvana's focus on efficiency and profitability has yielded a 16% increase in retail units sold in Q1, with significant improvements in non-GAAP metrics such as a 42% increase in Gross Profit per Unit (GPU), a 17% decrease in non-GAAP Selling, General & Administrative (SG&A) expenses per unit, and an 860 basis points increase in Adjusted EBITDA Margin, which reached a record 7.7%. This marks the company's highest financial performance to date, positioning it as the most profitable auto retailer by this measure for the first time.
The company's Adjusted EBITDA for Q1 stood at $235 million, with capital expenditures and non-Payment in Kind (PIK) interest expense totaling only $48 million. Carvana also anticipates further growth in retail units and an increase in Adjusted EBITDA in the second quarter (Q2).
In terms of capital structure, Carvana's strong Adjusted EBITDA has provided the financial flexibility to initiate de-leveraging efforts. The company has repurchased $250 million, approximately 24%, of its 2028 Senior Secured Notes and has raised $350 million of equity capital through its at-the-market (ATM) program. These actions are expected to result in approximately $55 million in interest expense savings in 2026 and reduce the company's debt by $620 million by the end of 2026.
Carvana is now implementing its next 12-month plan, setting new ambitious targets across the business to drive further material gains.
The company's press release contains forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations and projections about future events. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated.
This article is based on a press release statement from Carvana Co. For more information, visit Carvana's Investor Relations website.
In other recent news, Carvana has been making significant strides in the used car market, with analysts noting a consistent year-over-year growth in U.S. site visits and a robust relationship between site traffic and unit sales. Financially, the company has a substantial debt of approximately $7.4 billion over the next seven years. However, recent improvements in unit economics and cash generation per car suggest that Carvana is well-positioned to handle this debt. The company's revenue trends have seen fluctuations, but a turnaround in EBITDA indicates a positive trajectory.
Carvana's acquisition of ADESA, an automotive auction company, is expected to expand its regional network and potentially decrease transportation expenses. Despite these advancements, vehicle sourcing remains a significant challenge for the company. Analysts from JMP Securities and RBC Capital Markets have provided price targets of $135 and $90 respectively, while Morgan Stanley, Jefferies, Deutsche Bank, and another leading financial firm have set targets at $75, $125, $108, and $110 respectively.
Recent developments also indicate an outperformance in Carvana's first-quarter financial results, with a notable 17.5% year-over-year increase in revenue growth and a substantial 15.9% year-over-year growth in retail unit sales. The company's EBITDA also exceeded predictions, coming in at $235 million. Despite the positive momentum, some firms maintain a Hold rating on Carvana's stock, indicating a degree of caution alongside recognition of the company's recent achievements and improved financial health.
InvestingPro Insights
As Carvana Co. (NYSE: CVNA) touts its impressive first quarter performance in 2024, a closer look at the real-time data from InvestingPro reveals a nuanced picture of the company's financial health and market position. With a market capitalization of $21.39 billion, Carvana is trading at a P/E ratio of 18.38, which might appear compelling when considering near-term earnings growth. However, the company's P/E ratio adjusted for the last twelve months as of Q1 2024 stands at -28.14, reflecting the challenges ahead.
InvestingPro Tips indicate that Carvana's stock has experienced high price volatility, which could be a consideration for investors who prefer stability. Despite a notable revenue growth of 17.46% in Q1 2024, the company's overall revenue has declined by 11.7% over the last twelve months. Gross profit margins remain weak at 17.58%, underscoring some of the operational challenges Carvana faces.
On the upside, Carvana's gross profit for the last twelve months as of Q1 2024 is a substantial $1.974 billion, and the company's liquid assets exceed short term obligations, suggesting a degree of financial resilience. Moreover, nine analysts have revised their earnings upwards for the upcoming period, hinting at potential optimism around Carvana's future performance.
For investors seeking deeper insights, there are over 17 additional InvestingPro Tips available on https://www.investing.com/pro/CVNA, which could provide valuable context to Carvana's current situation and future outlook. To explore these insights, readers can use the coupon code PRONEWS24 to get an additional 10% off a yearly or biyearly Pro and Pro+ subscription, enriching their investment strategy with comprehensive analysis and real-time data.
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