Carvana (CVNA) smashed earnings expectations for the third quarter late Thursday, while a key metric swelled again. Carvana stock jumped in extended trading.
UAW strike appears to be pumping the brakes. The union has reached tentative deals with Detroit Three automakers Ford, General Motors and Stellantis. Next, the UAW may be shifting to organize workers at non-union companies such as Tesla, Toyota and Volkswagen.” data-nosnippet=”true” data-permalink=”https://www.investors.com/ibd-videos/videos/next-uaw-union-eyes-tesla-strike-against-detroit-three-nears-end” jw-video-key=”ZgrY5SnF” vid-authors=”MEREDITH HEYMAN” vid-cat=”Industry Insights” vid-date=”10/31/2023″ vid-date-tmsp=”1698759355″ vid-dom-id=”8745105-65441a846958b” vid-id=”8745105″ vid-image=”https://www.investors.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ZgrY5SnF-640×360.jpg” vid-name=”Next Up For UAW: Union Eyes Tesla As Strike Against Detroit Three Nears End” vid-repeat=”1″ vid-top=”false” vid-url=”https://content.jwplatform.com/manifests/ZgrY5SnF.m3u8″ vid-width=”50″> X
Carvana Earnings
Estimates: Analysts, on average, expected Carvana to narrow its net loss per share to 70 cents from $2.67 a year ago, according to FactSet. Revenue was seen falling 17%, year over year, to $2.807 billion.
Analysts expected 77,474 retail unit sales, the first quarter-over-quarter increase since Q2 2022, FactSet shows.
They forecast gross profit per unit, or GPU, of $5,685. Carvana’s GPU is a closely followed metric.
Results: Carvana swung to earnings of $3.60 per share vs. expectations for a loss. Revenue came in at $2.773 billion, down 18% and below views.
In Q3 2023, Carvana sold 80,987 retail units, above analyst expectations but down 21% year over year.
Its Q3 GPU was $5,952, an increase of 70% vs. a year ago. On a non-GAAP basis, Q3 GPU was $6,396, an increase of 65% vs. a year ago.
“For the second consecutive quarter, we delivered GPUs that far exceed our 2021 high water marks,” CEO Ernie Garcia said in an earnings release. But GPUs fell vs. Q2 2023.
Outlook: For the current fourth quarter, Carvana guided:
- A sequential decline in retail units sold
- GPU above $5,000 for the third consecutive quarter
- Positive adjusted EBITDA for the third consecutive quarter
Ahead of Thursday’s results, analysts expected Carvana to lose $3.41 per share for the full year, a sharp improvement from a loss of $15.74 in 2022, FactSet shows.
Carvana Stock
Shares of Carvana leapt up 5.6% in late Thursday trade. CVNA stock spiked 15.2% to 29.94 on the stock market today. Carvana stock rebound from just above the 200-day moving average, the MarketSmith chart shows.
Amid a broad market decline, CVNA stock failed a September breakout attempt, with shares selling off over several weeks. There is no new buy point.
Brick-and-mortar rival CarMax (KMX) gained 2.8% Thursday and is below key levels of support.
Used-Car Prices Falling
In October, Morgan Stanley analysts wrote that car dealers, including Carvana and CarMax, are exposed to a decline in pricing of new and used vehicles, which would impact their gross profit margins.
The Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index, which tracks wholesale prices, fell 3% in the first half of October.
In September, Carvana closed a debt exchange offer with 96% of noteholders. It had announced a deal in July to reduce its debt by $1.2 billion in a quest for growth and profitability.
In August, Carvana raised Q3 earnings guidance, citing “fundamental progress in key business drivers and momentum early in the quarter.”
Founded in 2012, Carvana disrupted the auto industry by selling used cars online. It’s famous for car vending machines.
The company grew fast during the pandemic used-car boom. Subsequently, when consumers began tightening their belts, Carvana found itself stuck with too many cars for which it had paid too much.
After a collapse in 2022, Carvana stock has surged 525% year to date, amid improving business trends and a possible short squeeze.
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