CarGurus Inc
For the period ended Dec 31, 2024. Filed Feb 20, 2025.
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FY2024 · Filed Feb 20, 2025
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(dollars in thousands, except share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
- Organization and Business Description
CarGurus, Inc, (the “Company”) is a multinational, online automotive platform for buying and selling vehicles that is building upon its industry-leading listings marketplace with both digital retail solutions and the CarOffer, LLC (“CarOffer”) online wholesale platform. The CarGurus platform gives consumers the confidence to purchase and/or sell a vehicle either online or in person, and it gives dealerships the power to accurately price, effectively market, instantly acquire, and quickly sell vehicles, all with a nationwide reach. The Company uses proprietary technology, search algorithms, and data analytics to bring trust, transparency, and competitive pricing to the automotive shopping experience.
The Company operates principally in the United States (the “U.S.”). In the U.S., it also operates as independent brands the Autolist online marketplace and the CarOffer online wholesale platform. In addition to the U.S., the Company operates online marketplaces under the CarGurus brand in Canada and the United Kingdom (the “U.K.”). In the U.K., it also operates as an independent brand the PistonHeads online marketplace.
The Company has subsidiaries in the U.S., Canada, Ireland, and the U.K. and it hastwo reportable segments, U.S. Marketplace and Digital Wholesale. See Note 14 of these consolidated financial statements for further segment reporting and geographic information.
The Company is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties common to companies in its and similar industries and stages of development including, but not limited to, rapid technological changes, competition from substitute products and services from larger companies, management of international activities, protection of proprietary rights, patent litigation, and dependence on key individuals.
- Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Any reference in these notes to applicable guidance is meant to refer to GAAP as found in the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) and Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”).
Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Subsequent Event Considerations
The Company considers events or transactions that occur after the balance sheet date but prior to the issuance of the consolidated financial statements to provide additional evidence for certain estimates or to identify matters that require additional disclosure. The Company has evaluated all subsequent events and determined that there are no material recognized or unrecognized subsequent events requiring disclosure.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period.
Although the Company regularly assesses these estimates, actual results could differ materially from these estimates. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from management’s estimates if these results differ from historical experience, or other assumptions do not turn out to be substantially accurate, even if such assumptions are reasonable when made. Changes in estimates are recognized in the period in which they become known.
Critical estimates relied upon in preparing the consolidated financial statements include the determination of sales allowance and variable consideration in the Company’s revenue recognition, the impairment and useful lives of long-lived assets, the capitalization and useful lives of product, technology, and development costs for website development, internal-use software, and hosting arrangements, and the valuation and recoverability of intangible assets and goodwill. Accordingly, the Company considers these to be its critical accounting estimates and believes that of the Company’s significant accounting policies, these involve the greatest degree of judgment and complexity.
Concentration of Credit Risk
The Company has no significant off-balance sheet risk, such as foreign exchange contracts, option contracts, or other foreign hedging arrangements. Financial instruments that potentially expose the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, and other receivables.
The Company maintains its cash and cash equivalents, principally with accredited financial institutions of high credit standing. Although the Company deposits its cash and cash equivalents with multiple financial institutions, its deposits with each such financial institution exceed governmental insured limits.
The Company routinely assesses the creditworthiness of its customers and does not require collateral. The Company generally has not experienced any material losses related to receivables from individual customers or groups of customers.
The Company had no material losses related to marketplace receivables as it was dispersed across a large number of customers. The Company had no material losses related to wholesale and product receivables as the third-party transaction processor does not release the title to the vehicle until successfully collecting funds from the buying dealer. Titling is handled by the Company’s third-party transaction processor and titles are held in escrow until it collects funds from the buying dealer (i.e., title is legally transferred from the selling party to the buying party upon signing of bill of sale, but title is held in escrow by the third-party transaction processor until payment is received). Due to these factors, no additional credit risk beyond amounts provided for collection losses was believed by management to be probable in the Company’s accounts receivable and other receivables.
As of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, no customer accounted for more than 10% of net accounts receivable and other receivables. All of accounts receivable was dispersed among more than 1,000 customers. Therefore, there is no significant credit risk with respect to accounts receivable because credit risk is dispersed due to the large number of customers.
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, no customer accounted for more than 10% of total revenue.
Significant Accounting Policies
The consolidated financial statements reflect the application of certain significant accounting policies as described below and elsewhere in the notes of these consolidated financial statements.
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Investments
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, cash and cash equivalents primarily consisted of cash on deposit with banks, amounts held in interest‑bearing money market accounts, and mutual funds.
Cash equivalents are carried at cost, which approximates their fair market value.
As of December 31, 2024, the Company did not have any short-term investments in equity securities. As of December 31, 2023, the Company held short-term investments in equity securities.
The Company’s investment policy, which was approved by the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), permits investments in fixed income securities, including U.S. government and agency securities, non‑U.S. government securities, money market instruments, commercial paper, certificates of deposit, corporate bonds, and asset‑backed securities.
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of 90 days or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. Investments not classified as cash equivalents with maturities less than one year from the balance sheet date are classified as short‑term investments, while investments with maturities in excess of one year from the balance sheet date are classified as long‑term investments. Management determines the appropriate classification of investments at the time of purchase, and re‑evaluates such determination at each balance sheet date.
Investments in equity securities with readily determinable fair values are recognized at fair value based on quoted market prices within investments in the consolidated balance sheets. Investments in held‑to‑maturity debt securities are recognized at amortized cost within investments in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company adjusts the cost of investments in held-to-maturity debt securities for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity, if any. Investments in trading and available-for-sale debt securities are recognized at fair value within investments in the consolidated balance sheets. Purchases of equity securities and debt securities are recognized within investing activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows.
Dividend income from equity securities is recognized within interest income in the consolidated income statements. Reinvested proceeds from dividend income are recognized within purchases of investments in investing activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows.
The revaluation of equity securities and debt securities results in an unrealized gain or loss. Unrealized gains or losses on equity securities and trading debt securities are recognized within other (expense) income, net in the consolidated income statements and adjusted for in operating activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows. Unrealized gains or losses on available-for-sale debt securities are recognized within other comprehensive income in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Interest on held-to-maturity debt securities is recognized within interest income in the consolidated income statements.
Proceeds from sale of equity securities and debt securities are recognized within investing activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows. Realized gains and losses on sale of equity securities and debt securities are recognized within other (expense) income, net in the consolidated income statements, adjusted for in operating activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows, and recognized within proceeds from sale of equity securities and debt securities in investing activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows.
Debt securities are reviewed for other‑than‑temporary impairment whenever the fair value of an investment is less than the amortized cost and evidence indicates that an investment’s carrying amount is not recoverable within a reasonable period of time. Other‑than‑temporary impairments of debt securities are recognized within other (expense) income, net in the consolidated income statements if the Company has experienced a credit loss or if it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the investment before recovery of the amortized cost basis. Evidence considered in this assessment includes reasons for the impairment, compliance with the Company’s investment policy, the severity and duration of the impairment, and changes in value subsequent to the end of the period.
Restricted Cash
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, restricted cash was related to pass-through payments from dealers related to the Company’s Digital Wholesale business. Restricted cash is classified as a current asset on the consolidated balance sheets if it is expected to be used or released within one year. Restricted cash is classified as a non-current asset on the consolidated balance sheetsif it is expected to be used or released beyond one year.
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Accounts receivable is recorded based on the amount due from the customer and a third-party transaction processor. Accounts receivable do not bear interest.
The Company is exposed to credit losses primarily through its trade accounts receivable, which includes receivables in transit, net of payables due, from a third-party transaction processor. The third-party transaction processor collects customer payments on the Company’s behalf and remits them to the Company. Customer payments received by the third-party transaction processor, but not remitted to the Company as of period end, are deemed to be receivables in transit, net of payables due. Additionally, the third-party transaction processor provides payments in advance for certain selling dealers. If the third-party transaction processor does not receive buying dealer payments associated with the transaction paid in advance, the Company would guarantee losses incurred by the third-party transaction processor and the balance would be deducted from future remittances to the Company. To date, losses associated with these guarantees have not been material.
The Company offsets trade accounts receivables in transit, net of payables due, from the third-party transaction processor with payments received in advance from the third-party transaction processor as it has the right of offset. At any point in time, the Company could have amounts due from the third-party transaction processor for funds the third-party transaction processor has collected from buying dealers and has not yet remitted to the Company (i.e., receivables in transit, net of payables due), as well as amounts paid by the third-party transaction processor to the Company in advance of collecting payments from buying dealers (i.e., payments received in advance). Therefore, as the Company has the right to offset, the Company can either have a net receivable balance due from the third-party transaction processor which is recognized within accounts receivable, net in the consolidated balance sheets if the advance payments are less than the receivable position from the third-party transaction processor as of the balance sheet date, or the Company can have a net liability which is recognized within accrued expenses, accrued income taxes, and other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets if the advance payments exceed the receivable position from the third-party transaction processor as of the balance sheet date. The change in payments received in advance from the third-party transaction processor is presented as cash flows from financing activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows.
As of December 31, 2024, trade accounts receivable from receivables in transit, net of payables due, from the third-party transaction processor was$472, offset by payments received in advance of$1,193, which resulted in a net payable of$721 recognized within accrued expenses, accrued income taxes, and other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. As of December 31, 2023, trade accounts receivable from receivables in transit, net of payables due, from the third-party transaction processor was$2,868, offset by payments received in advance of$2,015, which resulted in a net receivable of$853 recognized within accounts receivable, net in the consolidated balance sheets.
The Company also offsets gross trade accounts receivable with an allowance for doubtful accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in the Company’s existing accounts receivable and is based upon historical loss trends, the number of days that billings are past due, an evaluation of the potential risk of loss associated with specific accounts, current economic trends and conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts of economic conditions. If circumstances relating to specific customers change, or unanticipated changes occur in the general business environment, particularly as it affects auto dealers, the Company’s estimates of the recoverability of receivables could be further adjusted.
Provisions for allowances for doubtful accounts are recognized within general and administrative expense in the consolidated income statements. Amounts are charged against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted, the potential for recovery is considered remote, and when it is determined that expected credit losses may occur. The Company does not have any off‑balance sheet credit exposure related to its customers.
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, changes in the Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts was as follows:
| Balance atBeginning ofPeriod | Provision | Write–offs,net ofrecoveries | Balance atEnd of Period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year ended December 31, 2024 | $610 | $2,051 | $(1,873) | $788 |
| Year ended December 31, 2023 | 1,809 | 378 | (1,577) | 610 |
Unbilled accounts receivable generally relate to services rendered in the current period, but not invoiced until the subsequent period.
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023,$13,213 and$9,581, respectively, was included in accounts receivable, net representing unbilled accounts receivable relating primarily to both advertising customers and dealers invoiced in the period subsequent to services rendered and revenue recognition adjustments for Company offered discounts given to dealers in accordance with ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers(“ASC 606”).
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization using the straight‑line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Leasehold improvements and right-of-use assets are amortized over the lease term, or the estimated useful life of the related asset, if shorter. The estimated useful lives of the Company’s property and equipment were as follows:
| Estimated Useful Life(In Years) | |
|---|---|
| Server and computer equipment | 3 to 5 |
| Capitalized internal-use software | 3 |
| Capitalized website development | 3 |
| Furniture and fixtures | 3 to 5 |
| Right-of-use assets | Lease term, or asset life if shorter |
| Leasehold improvements | Lease term, or asset life if shorter |
Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred, whereas major betterments are capitalized as additions to property and equipment.
Impairment of Long‑Lived Assets
The Company evaluates the recoverability of long‑lived assets for impairment at least annually and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. During this review, the Company re-evaluates the significant assumptions used in determining the original cost and estimated lives of long-lived assets. Although the assumptions may vary from asset to asset, they generally include operating results, changes in the use of the asset, cash flows, and other indicators of value. Management then determines whether the remaining useful life continues to be appropriate, or whether there has been an impairment of long-lived assets. To test for impairment, recoverability of these assets is first measured by comparing the carrying amount of the asset to the future undiscounted cash flows the asset is expected to generate. If the asset is determined to not be recoverable, the amount of any impairment is measured as the difference between the carrying value and the fair value of the impaired asset.
Capitalized Website Development and Capitalized Internal-Use Software Costs
The Company capitalizes certain costs associated with the development of its websites and internal‑use software after the preliminary project stage is complete and until the website development or software is ready for its intended use. Research and development costs incurred during the preliminary project stage or costs incurred for data conversion activities, training, maintenance, and general and administrative, or overhead costs are expensed as incurred. Capitalization begins when the preliminary project stage is complete, management authorizes and commits to the funding of the project with the required authority, it is probable the project will be completed, the website development or software will be used to perform the functions intended, and certain functional and quality standards have been met. Qualified costs incurred during the operating stage of its website development or software relating to upgrades and enhancements are capitalized to the extent it is probable that they will result in added functionality, while costs that cannot be separated between maintenance of, and minor upgrades and enhancements to, websites and internal‑use software are expensed as incurred. The Company determines the amount of website development and internal-use software costs to be capitalized based on the amount of time spent by its developers on projects in the operating stage of development. There is judgment involved in estimating the time allocated to a particular project in the operating stage. A significant change in the time spent on each project could have a material impact on the amount capitalized and related amortization expense in subsequent periods. Capitalized website development and capitalized internal-use software costs are recognized within property and equipment, net in the consolidated balance sheets.
Capitalized website development and capitalized internal-use software costs are amortized on a straight‑line basis over their estimated useful life ofthree years beginning with the time when the product is ready for its intended use. Amortization expenses related to capitalized website development costs are recognized within cost of revenue in the consolidated income statements. Amortization expenses related to capitalized internal-use software costs arerecognized within the operating expense caption for depreciation and amortization in the consolidated income statements. The Company evaluates the useful lives of these assets when each asset is ready for its intended use, and at least annually thereafter to ensure three years remains appropriate. The Company also tests for impairment at least annually and whenever events or changes in circumstances occur that could impact the recoverability of these assets. Impairment is evaluated as discussed in the “Impairment of Long-Lived Assets” section above.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, capitalized website development costs were $23,853 offset by impairments and disposals of $24,134, for a net decrease of$281. During the year ended December 31, 2023, capitalized website development costs were $20,973, offset by impairments of $184, for a net increase of$20,789. See Note 6 of these consolidated financial statements for further details on the impairments.
During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, capitalized internal-use software costs were$7,781 and$4,850, respectively.
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, amortization expense associated with capitalized website development costs was$12,088,$11,537, and$7,637, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, amortization expense associated with capitalized internal-use software costs was$3,941,$3,384, and$1,286, respectively.
Capitalized Hosting Arrangements
The Company’s hosting arrangements consist of cloud-based hosting platforms. The Company determines the amount of hosting arrangement implementation costs to be capitalized based on the amount of time spent by its developers on projects in the operating stage of development. There is judgment involved in estimating the time allocated to a particular project in the operating stage. A significant change in the time spent on each project could have a material impact on the amount capitalized and related amortization expense in subsequent periods.
Capitalized implementation costs for hosting arrangements costs are recognized within prepaid expenses, prepaid income taxes, and other current assets and within other non-current assets, as applicable, in the consolidated balance sheets.
Capitalized implementation costs for hosting arrangements are amortized on a straight‑line basis over an estimated useful life of the term of the hosting arrangement, taking into consideration several other factors such as, but not limited to, options to extend the hosting arrangement or options to terminate the hosting arrangement, beginning with the time when the software is ready for intended use. Amortization expenses related to hosting arrangement costs are recognized within the same line item in the consolidated income statements as the expense for fees for the associated hosting arrangement. The Company evaluates the useful lives of these assets when each asset is ready for its intended use, and at least annually thereafter to ensure the selected useful life remains appropriate. The Company also tests for impairment at least annually and whenever events or changes in circumstances occur that could impact the recoverability of these assets. Impairment is evaluated as discussed in the “Impairment of Long-Lived Assets” section above.
During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, the Company launched separate initiatives designed to enhance its hosting arrangements related to its enterprise applications. During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, capitalized implementation costs were$627 and$1,739, respectively, and recognized within other non-current assets and within prepaid expenses, prepaid income taxes, and other current assets, respectively, in the consolidated balance sheets. See Note 6 of these consolidated financial statements for details on impairments.
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, amortization expense associated with hosting arrangements was$2,341,$1,962, and$2,117, respectively, and recognized within operating expense and cost of revenue in the consolidated income statements.
Business Combinations
Valuation of Acquired Assets and Liabilities
The Company measures all consideration transferred in a business combination at its acquisition-date fair value. Consideration transferred is determined by the acquisition-date fair value of assets transferred and liabilities assumed, including contingent consideration obligations, as applicable. The Company measures goodwill as the excess of the consideration transferred over the net of the acquisition-date amounts of assets acquired less liabilities assumed.
The Company makes significant assumptions and estimates in determining the fair value of the acquired assets and liabilities as of the acquisition date, especially the valuation of intangible assets and certain tax positions. The Company records estimates as of the acquisition date and reassess the estimates at each reporting period up toone year after the acquisition date. Changes in estimates made prior to finalization of purchase accounting arerecognized within goodwill.
Intangible Assets
Intangible assets are recognized at their estimated fair value at the date of acquisition. Fair value is determined based on inputs and assumptions such as discount rates, rates of return on assets, and long-term sales growth rates.
The Company amortizes intangible assets over their estimated useful lives on a straight-line basis. Useful lives are established based on analysis of all pertinent factors such as: the expected use of the asset, expected useful lives of related assets, provisions that may limit the useful life, historical experience with similar arrangements, effects of economic factors, demand, competition, obsolescence, and maintenance required to maintain the future cash flows. Amortization is recognized over the relevant estimated useful lives ranging from three toeleven years. Amortization expenses related to intangible assets arerecognized within the operating expense caption for depreciation and amortization and cost of revenue in the consolidated income statements.
The Company evaluates the useful lives of these assets as of the acquisition date and at least annually thereafter to ensure the selected useful life remains appropriate. If the estimate of an intangible asset’s remaining useful life is changed, the Company amortizes the remaining carrying value of the intangible asset prospectively over the revised remaining useful life.
The Company monitors its long-lived assets for impairment indicators on an ongoing basis in accordance with GAAP, and tests for impairment at least annually and whenever events or changes in circumstances occur that could impact the recoverability of these assets. Impairment is evaluated as discussed in the“Impairment of Long-Lived Assets” section above.
Goodwill is recognized when consideration paid in a purchase acquisition exceeds the fair value of the net assets acquired. Goodwill is not amortized, but rather is tested for impairment annually or more frequently if facts and circumstances warrant a review. Conditions that could trigger a more frequent impairment assessment include, but are not limited to, a significant adverse change in certain agreements, significant underperformance relative to historical or projected future operating results, an economic downturn affecting automotive marketplaces, increased competition, a significant reduction in the Company’s stock price for a sustained period, or a reduction of its market capitalization relative to net book value.
The Company evaluates impairment either when required following a triggering event or annually on October 1 by comparing the estimated fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying value. For the fiscal year 2024 the Company determined that it had three reporting units with goodwill: U.S. Marketplace, CarOffer, and U.K. Marketplace. The Company elects to bypass the optional qualitative test for impairment and proceed to Step 1, which is a quantitative impairment test. For the U.S. Marketplace and U.K. Marketplace reporting units, the Company estimates fair value using a market approach, based on market multiples derived from public companies that it identifies as peers. For the U.S. Marketplace and U.K. Marketplace reporting units, the Company estimates forecasted revenue for the fiscal year and estimates revenue market multiples using publicly available information for each of its peers. For the CarOffer reporting unit, the Company estimates fair value using an income approach, based on a discounted cash flow method. The assumptions used to estimate the fair value using a discounted cash flow method include revenue and EBITDA forecasts, the weighted average cost of capital and discount rate, debt-free net working capital forecasts, and long-term growth rate. The Company reconciles the aggregate fair values of all reporting units to the Company’s market capitalization following a triggering event or annually as of October 1, 2024, for reasonableness.
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
In connection with the Company’s acquisition of a 51% interest in CarOffer on January 14, 2021, the Company became a party with the noncontrolling equity holders of CarOffer to the 2021 CarOffer Operating Agreement (as defined in “Stock-Based Compensation” below), which, among other matters, sets forth certain put and call rights described in “Stock-Based Compensation” below. The 2021 CarOffer Operating Agreement provided the Company with the right to purchase, and the noncontrolling equity holders with the right to sell to the Company, the noncontrolling CarOffer equity holders’ equity interests in CarOffer at a contractually defined formulaic purchase price, which was based on a multiple of earnings.
Subsequent to the Company’s acquisition of the 51% interest on January 14, 2021, the redeemable noncontrolling interest was measured at the greater of the amount that would be paid if settlement occurred as of the balance sheet date based on the contractually defined redemption value and its carrying amount adjusted for net (loss) income attributable to the noncontrolling interestand tax distributions to redeemable noncontrolling interest holders. Adjustments to the carrying value of the redeemable noncontrolling interest resulting from changes in the redemption value were recognized within retained earnings in the consolidated balance sheets.
On November 6, 2023, the Company entered into a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement (the “2023 Purchase Agreement”) with CarOffer, CarOffer Investors Holding, LLC, CarOffer Midco, LLC (“CarOffer MidCo”), each of the persons set forth on Schedule 1.1(a) to the 2023 Purchase Agreement (the “Indirect Members”), Bruce T. Thompson, an individual residing in Texas, as the sellers’ representative, and the responsible party signatory thereto.
Pursuant to the 2023 Purchase Agreement the Company acquired the remaining minority equity interests in CarOffer (the “2023 CarOffer Transaction”) for an aggregate consideration of $75.0 million in cash (the “2023 Consideration”), subject to certain adjustments set forth in the 2023 Purchase Agreement. A portion of the 2023 Consideration was held in escrow to secure certain payment and indemnification obligations of the Indirect Members in accordance with the terms of the 2023 Purchase Agreement. The 2023 CarOffer Transaction was completed on December 1, 2023.
Following the 2023 CarOffer Transaction, CarOffer is a wholly-owned subsidiary and the Company entered into the Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, dated December 1, 2023 (the “2023 CarOffer Operating Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other matters, the existing put and call rights were terminated. As a result of the 2023 CarOffer Transaction, there was no redeemable noncontrolling interest as of December 31, 2023.
Leases
The Company recognizes an operating lease liability for the obligation to make lease payments and an operating lease right-of-use asset for the right to use the underlying assets for the lease term. The Company reviews all material contracts for embedded leases to determine if they have a right-of-use asset. The Company made an accounting policy election to apply the practical expedient under ASC Topic 842, Leases, to not separate lease components from non-lease components for all leases.
The Company recognizes lease payments on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The depreciable life of assets and leasehold improvements are limited by the expected lease term, unless there is a transfer of title or purchase option reasonably certain of exercise.
Variable lease payments that depend on an index or a rate are included in the lease payments and are measured using the prevailing index or rate at the measurement date. Variable lease payments not based on an index or a rate are excluded from lease payments and are expensed as incurred.
The Company allocates lease costs, which includes operating lease costs, finance lease costs, and variable lease payments, across all departments based on headcount in the respective location.
The Company made an accounting policy election to not recognize a lease liability or right-of-use asset on its consolidated balance sheets for leases with an initial term of 12 months or less, and instead to recognize lease payments on a straight-line basis over the lease term as expense and variable lease payments that do not depend on an index or rate as expense in the period in which the achievement of the specified target that triggers the variable lease payments becomes probable.
The Company recognizes sublease income on a straight-line basis over the sublease period. The Company recognizes sublease income as an offset to rent expense within operating expenses in the consolidated income statements as subleasing is not a primary business activity of the Company and is meant to offset occupancy costs.
Contingent Liabilities
The Company has certain contingent liabilities that arise in the ordinary course of business activities. The Company accrues for loss contingencies when losses become probable and can be reasonably estimated. The Company recognizes contingent liabilities within accrued expenses, accrued income taxes, and other current liabilities, and other non-current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets, as applicable, depending on if the contingency is expected to be resolved within one year or more. If the reasonable estimate of the loss is a range and no amount within the range is a better estimate, the minimum amount of the range is recognized as a liability. The Company does not accrue for contingent losses that, in its judgment, are considered to be reasonably possible, but not probable; however, it discloses the range of such reasonably possible losses, if material.
Income Taxes
The Company is subject to federal and state income taxes in the U.S. and taxes in foreign jurisdictions in which it operates.
The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based on temporary differences between the financial reporting and income tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.
The asset and liability method requires a valuation allowance against net deferred tax assets if, based upon the available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In performing this analysis, the Company considers future taxable income and ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies to assess realizability. Valuation allowances are reassessed periodically to determine whether it is more likely than not that the tax benefits will be realized in the future and if any existing valuation allowance should be released.
The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions by prescribing a more‑likely‑than‑not threshold for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The Company assesses its income tax positions and recognizes an income tax benefit or expense within the provision for income taxes in the consolidated income statements based upon management’s evaluation of the facts, circumstances, and information available at the reporting date. The tax position is measured as the largest amount of benefit or expense that is greater than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the taxing authority during examination. The Company recognizes interest and penalties, if applicable, related to uncertain tax positions as income tax expense within other (expense) income, net in the consolidated income statements. The Company recognizes liabilities related to uncertain tax positions within accrued expenses, accrued income taxes, and other current liabilities, and other non-current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets, as applicable, depending on if the uncertainty is expected to be resolved within one year or more.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development introduced an international tax framework under Pillar Two which includes a global minimum tax of 15%. Pillar Two legislation has been enacted or substantively enacted in certain jurisdictions where the Company operates. The Pillar Two legislation is effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning January 1, 2024. The Company has performed an assessment of its potential exposure to Pillar Two income taxes based on the Company’s most recent tax filings, country-by-country reporting, and financial statements for the constituent entities within the Company. Based on the assessment performed, the Company qualifies for the transitional safe harbor in all jurisdictions in which it operates. The Company does not expect a material exposure to Pillar Two income taxes.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 subjects a U.S. stockholder to tax on global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”) earned by certain foreign subsidiaries. An entity can make an accounting policy election, per the FASB Staff Q&A, Topic 740, No. 5, Accounting for Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income, either to recognize deferred taxes for temporary basis differences expected to reverse as GILTI in future years or to provide for the tax expense related to GILTI in the year the tax is incurred as a period expense only. The Company has elected to account for GILTI as a period cost in the year the tax is incurred.
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IRA”) was passed into law on August 16, 2022. The provisions of the IRA were effective beginning with fiscal year 2023, with certain exceptions. The IRA had several new provisions including a 15% corporate alternative minimum tax for certain large corporations that have at least an average of $1.0 billion of adjusted financial statement income over a consecutive three-tax-year period. The IRA also introduced a 1% excise tax imposed on certain stock repurchases by publicly traded U.S. corporations made after December 31, 2022. The Company has appropriately considered the impacts of the 1% excise tax on its income tax provision and cash taxes in 2024. Based on the Company’s evaluation, the Company concludes that the IRA has not had a material impact on its income tax provision and cash taxes.
The Company will continue to monitor the changes in tax laws and regulations to evaluate their potential impact on its business.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company measures eligible assets and liabilities at fair value with changes in value recognized in earnings. Fair value treatment may be elected either upon initial recognition of an eligible asset or liability or, for an existing asset or liability, if an event triggers a new basis of accounting. During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company did not elect to remeasure any of its existing financial assets and did not elect the fair value option for any financial assets transacted.
ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC 820”), establishes a three-level valuation hierarchy for instruments measured at fair value that distinguishes between assumptions based on market data (observable inputs) and the Company’s own assumptions (unobservable inputs). Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Company’s assumptions about the inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability and are developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.
ASC 820 identifies fair value as the exchange price or exit price, representing the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants based on the highest and best use of the asset or liability. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. The Company uses valuation techniques to measure fair value that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. These inputs are prioritized as follows:
Level 1 — Quoted unadjusted prices for identical instruments in active markets.
Level 2 — Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-derived valuations in which all observable inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets.
Level 3 — Model-derived valuations in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable, including assumptions developed by the Company.
The Company has evaluated the estimated fair value of financial instruments using available market information. The use of different market assumptions, estimation methodologies, or both could have a significant effect on the estimated fair value amounts.
As of December 31, 2024, the carrying amounts of the Company’s financial instruments, which include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and accrued expenses approximated their fair values due to the short-term nature of these instruments. As of December 31, 2023, the carrying amounts of the Company’s financial instruments, which include cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and accrued expenses approximated their fair values due to the short-term nature of these instruments.
Debt
The Company may obtain access to capital via credit facilities. The amount of borrowings outstanding on credit facilities are recognized within other current liabilities or other non-current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets, depending on the borrowing base. Costs for unutilized revolving commitments and interest for outstanding borrowings are recognized as interest expense within other (expense) income, net in the consolidated income statements. Interest payments are recognized within operating activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows, and repayments of principle amounts are recognized within financing activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows.
Deferred Financing Costs
The Company capitalizes certain legal and other third-party fees that are directly associated with obtaining access to capital via credit facilities. Deferred financing costs incurred in connection with obtaining access to capital are recognized within other non-current assets in the consolidated balance sheets and within financing activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows. These costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the term of the applicable credit facility and recognized as interest expense within other (expense) income, net in the consolidated income statements and as an adjustment to consolidated net income in the consolidated statements of cash flows.
Foreign Currency Translation
The reporting currency of the Company is the U.S. dollar. The functional currency of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries is the local currency of each subsidiary. All assets and liabilities in the balance sheets of entities whose functional currency is a currency other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollar equivalents at exchange rates as follows: (i) asset and liability accounts at period‑end rates; (ii) income statement accounts at weighted‑average exchange rates for the period; and (iii) stockholders’ equity accounts at historical exchange rates. The resulting translation adjustments are excluded from consolidated net income and are recognized within accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income in the consolidated balance sheets.
Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in consolidated net income for the period. The Company’s foreign subsidiaries have intercompany transactions that are eliminated upon consolidation, and these transactions expose the Company to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. Exchange rate fluctuations on short‑term intercompany transactions are recognized in other (expense) income, net in the consolidated income statements. Exchange rate fluctuations on long-term intercompany transactions are recognized within accumulated other comprehensive loss in the consolidated balance sheets.
Revenue Recognition
Sources of Revenue
The Company derives its revenue from marketplace revenue, wholesale revenue, and product revenue. Marketplace revenue is included in the U.S. Marketplace segment and Other category of segment reporting. Wholesale revenue and product revenue are included in the Digital Wholesale segment. The Company generates marketplace revenue from (i) dealer subscriptions to the Company’s Listings packages and Real-time Performance Marketing (“RPM”), digital advertising suite, Digital Retail, and Sell My Car – Top Dealer Offers, (ii) advertising revenue from auto manufacturers and other auto‑related brand advertisers, and (iii) revenue from partnerships with financing services companies. The Company generates wholesale revenue primarily from (x) transaction fees earned from the purchase and sale of vehicles between dealers (“Dealer-to-Dealer transactions”), (y) transaction fees earned from the sale of vehicles to dealers that it acquires at other marketplaces, and (z) transaction fees earned from performing inspection and transportation services, inclusive of Dealer-to-Dealer transactions, other marketplace-to-dealer transactions, and Instant Max Cash Offer transactions (as defined below). The Company generates product revenue primarily from (A) aggregate proceeds received from the sale of vehicles to dealers that were acquired directly from customers or Sell My Car – Instant Max Cash Offer (“Instant Max Cash Offer transactions”), and (B) proceeds received from the sale of vehicles that were acquired through arbitration.
Revenue Recognition
ASC 606 outlines a comprehensive five-step revenue recognition model based on the principle that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve this core principle, the Company applies the following five steps:
Identify the contract with a customer
Identify the performance obligations in the contract
Determine the transaction price
Allocate the transaction price to performance obligations in the contract
Recognize revenue when or as the Company satisfies a performance obligation
Marketplace Revenue – Description
The Company offers multiple types of marketplace Listings packages to its dealers for its CarGurus U.S. platform (availability varies on the Company’s other marketplaces): Restricted Listings, which is free; and various levels of Listings packages, which each require a paid subscription under a monthly, quarterly, semiannual, or annual subscription basis.
The Company’s subscriptions for customers generally auto-renew on a monthly basis and are cancellable by dealers with 30 days’ advance notice prior to the commencement of the applicable renewal term. Subscription pricing is determined based on a dealer’s inventory size, region, and the Company’s assessment of the connections and return on investment (“ROI”) the platform will provide them and is subject to discounts and/or fee reductions that the Company may offer from time to time. The Company also offers all dealers on the platform access to its Dealer Dashboard, which includes a performance summary, Dealer Insights tool, and user review management platform. Only dealers subscribing to a paid Listings package have access to the Pricing Tool, Market Analysis tool, and Instant Market Value Scan tool.
The Company also offers paid Listings packages for the Autolist and PistonHeads websites.
In addition to displaying inventory in the Company’s marketplace and providing access to the Dealer Dashboard, the Company offers dealers subscribing to certain of its Listings packages other subscription advertising and customer acquisition products and enhancements marketed under the Company’s RPM and digital advertising suite. Through RPM, dealers can buy advertising that appears in the Company’s marketplace, on other sites on the internet, and/or on high-converting social media platforms. Such advertisements can be targeted by the user’s geography, search history, CarGurus website activity, and a number of other targeting factors, allowing dealers to increase their visibility with in-market consumers and drive qualified traffic for dealers.
The Company also offers dealer advertising products for the PistonHeads website.
The Company also offers dealers subscribing to certain of its Listings packages other subscription advertising and customer acquisition products and enhancements such as Digital Retail, which allows shoppers to complete much of the vehicle-purchase process online through the Dealers’ Listings page. Digital Retail is comprised of (i) the Digital Deal Platform, which gives dealers higher quality leads through upfront consumer-provided information; (ii) Geo Expansion, which expands the visibility of a dealer’s inventory in the search results beyond its local market; and (iii) Hard Pull Financing, which provides loan information.
The Company also offers dealers subscribing to certain of its Listings packages other subscription advertising and customer acquisition products and enhancements such as Top Dealer Offers, which allows dealers to pay for leads to receive direct access to shoppers actively looking to sell their vehicles. Dealers can acquire inventory from shoppers who are looking to sell directly through the CarGurus Sell My Car page.
Marketplace revenue also consists of non-dealer advertising revenue from auto manufacturers and other auto-related brand advertisers sold on a cost per thousand impressions basis (“CPM basis”). An impression is an advertisement loaded on a web page. In addition to advertising sold on a CPM basis, the Company also has advertising sold on a cost-per-click basis. Pricing is primarily based on advertisement size and position on the Company’s websites and mobile applications. Auto manufacturers and other brand advertisers can execute advertising campaigns that are targeted across a wide variety of parameters, including demographic groups, behavioral characteristics, specific auto brands, categories such as Certified Pre-Owned, and segments such as hybrid vehicles. The Company does not provide minimum impression guarantees or other types of minimum guarantees in its contracts with customers. Advertising is also sold indirectly through revenue sharing arrangements with advertising exchange partners.
The Company also offers non-dealer advertising products for the Autolist and PistonHeads websites.
Marketplace revenue also includes revenue from partnerships with certain financing services companies pursuant to which the Company enables eligible consumers on the CarGurus U.S. website to pre-qualify for financing on cars from dealerships that offer financing through such companies. The Company primarily generates revenue from these partnerships based on the number of funded loans from consumers who pre-qualify with its lending partners through its site.
Marketplace Revenue – Revenue Recognition
For Listings, Digital Retail, RPM, and Top Dealer Offers, the Company provides a single similar service each day for a period of time. Each time increment (i.e., one day), rather than the underlying activities, is distinct and substantially the same and, therefore, the performance obligation of the Company is to provide a series of daily activities over the contract term. Similar to the dealer listings, the dealer advertising is considered a promise to provide a single similar service each day. Each time increment is distinct and substantially the same and, therefore, the performance obligation of the Company is to provide a series of daily activities over the contract term.
Total consideration for marketplace revenue is stated within the contracts. There are no contractual cash refund rights, but credits may be issued to a customer at the sole discretion of the Company. Dealer customers do not have the right to take possession of the Company’s software. At the portfolio level, there is also variable consideration that needs to be included in the transaction price. Variable consideration consists of sales allowances, usage fees, and concessions that change the transaction price of the unsatisfied or partially unsatisfied performance obligation. The Company recognizes that there are times when there is a customer satisfaction issue or other circumstances that will lead to a credit. Due to the known possibility of future credits, a monthly sales allowance review is performed to defer revenue at a portfolio level for such future adjustments in the period of incurrence. The Company establishes sales allowances at the time of revenue recognition based on its history of adjustments and credits provided to its customers. In assessing the adequacy of the sales allowance, the Company evaluates its history of adjustments and credits made through the date of the issuance of the consolidated financial statements. Sales allowances are recognized as a reduction to revenue in the consolidated income statements.
Performance obligations are satisfied over time as the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefit of the service. Revenue is recognized ratably over the subscription period beginning on the date the Company starts providing services to the customer under the contract. Revenue is presented net of any taxes collected from customers. Customers are billed in advance on the first day of each calendar month with payment terms generally due upon receipt or 30 days from the date invoiced. Billings are recognized as accounts receivable or short-term deferred revenue when payment is received in advance of services being delivered to the customers.
For non-dealer advertising revenue from auto manufacturers and other auto-related brand advertisers, the performance obligation is to publish the agreed upon campaign on the Company’s websites and load the related impressions.
Advertising contracts state the transaction price within the agreement with payment generally being based on the number of clicks or impressions delivered on the Company’s websites. Total consideration is based on output and deemed variable consideration constrained by an agreed upon delivery schedule and is allocated to the period in which the service was rendered. Additionally, there are generally no contractual cash refund rights. Certain contracts do contain the right for credits in situations in which impressions are not displayed in compliance with contractual specifications. At an individual contract level, the Company may give a credit for a customer satisfaction issue or other circumstance. Due to the known possibility of future credits, a monthly review is performed to defer revenue at an individual contract level for such future adjustments in the period of incurrence.
Performance obligations for Company-sold advertising revenue and partner-sold advertising revenue are satisfied over time as impressions are delivered. Revenue is recognized based on the total number of impressions delivered within the specified period. Revenue from advertising sold directly by the Company is recognized based on the gross amount charged to the advertiser because the Company is the principal in the arrangement as it controls the ad placement and timing of the campaign, establishes the selling price, and is directly responsible for the fulfillment of the contractual terms including any remedy for issues with such fulfillment. Revenue from advertising sold by partners is recognized based on the net amount of revenue received from the content partners because the Company is the agent in the arrangement as the advertising partner is responsible for fulfillment, including the acceptability of the services delivered. In partner-sold advertising arrangements, the advertising partner has a direct contractual relationship with the advertiser. There is no contractual relationship between the Company and the advertiser for partner-sold transactions. Additionally, for auction-based partner agreements, the Company has latitude in establishing the floor price, but the final price established by the exchange server is at market rates. Revenue is presented net of any taxes collected from customers. Customers are billed monthly in arrears with payment terms generally 30, 60, or 90 days from the date invoiced. Unbilled accounts receivable generally relate to services rendered in the current period, but not invoiced until the subsequent period.
Other marketplace revenue includes revenue from contracts for which the performance obligation is a series of distinct services with the same level of effort daily. For these contracts, primarily related to the Company’s partnerships with financing services companies, the Company estimates the value of the variable consideration in determining the transaction price and allocates it to the performance obligation. Revenue is estimated and recognized on a ratable basis over the contractual term. The Company reassesses the estimate of variable consideration at each reporting period.
Wholesale Revenue – Description
The CarOffer Matrix enables buying dealers to create standing buy orders and provides instant offers to selling dealers. Wholesale revenue includes transaction fees earned from Dealer-to-Dealer transactions, where the Company collects fees from both the buying and selling dealers. The Company also sells vehicles to dealers that it acquires at other marketplaces, where it collects a transaction fee from the buying dealers.
Wholesale revenue also includes fees earned from performing inspection and transportation services, where it collects fees from the buying dealer. Inspection and transportation service revenue is inclusive of Dealer-to-Dealer transactions, other marketplace to dealer transactions, and Instant Max Cash Offer transactions.
Wholesale revenue also includes arbitration in which the vehicle is rematched to a new buyer and not acquired by the Company. Arbitration is the process by which the Company investigates and resolves claims from buying dealers.
Wholesale revenue also includes fees earned from certain guarantees offered to dealers (which include 45-Day Guarantee and OfferGuard products), where the Company collects fees from the buying dealer or selling dealer, as applicable. Guarantee revenue is not accounted for under ASC 606 and is accounted for under ASC Topic 460, Guarantees(“ASC 460”), as discussed further in Note 2 of these consolidated financial statements.
Wholesale Revenue – Revenue Recognition
When facilitating Dealer-to-Dealer transactions and for vehicles sold to dealers that are acquired at other marketplaces, the Company does not control the vehicle and, therefore, acts as an agent in the transaction. Revenue earned from the fees for facilitating these transactions is recognized at a point in time when the vehicle is sold on a net basis.
For inspection and transportation services, the Company leverages a network of third-party inspection service providers and transportation carriers. The Company controls both inspection and transportation services as it is primarily responsible for fulfillment and, therefore, acts as a principal in the transaction. Revenue from fees for inspection services is recognized at the point in time when the inspection is performed and revenue from fees for transportation services is recognized over time as delivery is completed. Revenue from both inspection and transportation services is recognized on a gross basis. Unearned revenue related to unsatisfied performance obligations is recognized as deferred revenue.
Wholesale revenue also includes arbitration in which the vehicle is rematched to a new buyer and not acquired by the Company. Arbitration is the process by which the Company investigates and resolves claims from buying dealers. In these rematch situations, the Company does not control the vehicle and, therefore, acts as an agent in the transaction. Revenue from a rematch transaction is recognized in line with fee revenue relating to the facilitation of the transaction, inspection services, and transportation services.
Within wholesale transactions, there are typically no contractual cash refund rights, but credits may be issued to a customer at the sole discretion of the Company and refunds may be required by law in the case of a vehicle defect. At the portfolio level, there is also variable consideration that needs to be included in the transaction price. Variable consideration consists of sales allowances and concessions that change the transaction price of the unsatisfied or partially unsatisfied performance obligation. The Company recognizes that there are times when there is a customer satisfaction issue or other circumstance that will lead to a credit or arbitration. The Company establishes sales allowances at the time of revenue recognition based on its history of adjustments and credits provided to its customers. In assessing the adequacy of the sales allowance, the Company evaluates its history of adjustments and credits made through the date of the issuance of the consolidated financial statements. Upon recognizing a sales transaction, the Company estimates the amount of transaction price that will be reversed in a subsequent period and records a reserve for returns and cancellations in other current liabilities and accounts receivable, net in the consolidated balance sheets. Sales allowances are recognized as a reduction to revenue in the consolidated income statements and an increase to other current liabilities or a reduction to accounts receivable, net in the consolidated balance sheets. Wholesale revenue is also offset by concessions. Concessions are recognized as a reduction to revenue in the consolidated income statements and an increase in accounts payable in the consolidated balance sheets.
Wholesale revenue is presented net of any taxes collected from customers.
Customers are billed upon successful matching of a buyer and seller, with payment due upon receipt.
Product Revenue – Description
The CarOffer Matrix enables consumers who are selling vehicles to be instantly presented with an offer. Product revenue includes the aggregate proceeds received from the sale of vehicles through Instant Max Cash Offer transactions, including vehicle sale price and transaction fees collected from the buying dealers. Product revenue also includes proceeds received from the sale of vehicles acquired through arbitration, including vehicle sale price and transaction fees collected from buying dealers. Arbitration is the process by which the Company investigates and resolves claims from buying dealers. The Company controls the vehicle in these transactions and, therefore, acts as the principal.
Product – Revenue Recognition
For vehicles sold to dealers that are acquired through Instant Max Cash Offer transactions, the Company controls the vehicle and, therefore, acts as a principal in the transaction. Revenue earned from proceeds received on the sale of vehicles through Instant Max Cash Offer transactions, including vehicle sale price and transaction fees collected from the buying dealers, is recognized at a point in time when the vehicle is sold on a gross basis.
In certain situations across all transactions, during an arbitration process the Company acquires vehicles in transactions in which it controls the vehicle and, therefore, acts as a principal in the transaction. Revenue earned from the sale of vehicles acquired through arbitration, including vehicle sale price and transaction fees collected from buying dealers, is recognized at a point in time on a gross basis.
Within product transactions, there are typically no contractual cash refund rights, but credits may be issued to a customer at the sole discretion of the Company and refunds may be required by law in the case of a vehicle defect. At the portfolio level, there is also variable consideration that needs to be included in the transaction price. Variable consideration consists of sales allowances and concessions that change the transaction price of the unsatisfied or partially unsatisfied performance obligation. The Company recognizes that there are times when there is a customer satisfaction issue or other circumstance that will lead to a credit or arbitration. The Company establishes sales allowances at the time of revenue recognition based on its history of adjustments and credits provided to its customers. In assessing the adequacy of the sales allowance, the Company evaluates its history of adjustments and credits made through the date of the issuance of the consolidated financial statements. Upon recognizing a sales transaction, the Company estimates the amount of transaction price that will be reversed in a subsequent period and records a reserve for returns and cancellations in other current liabilities and accounts receivable, net in the consolidated balance sheets. Sales allowances are recognized as a reduction to revenue, as well as a reduction to cost of revenue as applicable for returned vehicles, in the consolidated income statements and an increase to other current liabilities or a reduction to accounts receivable, as well as an increase to other current assets as applicable for returned vehicles, net in the consolidated balance sheets. Product revenue is also offset by concessions. Concessions are recognized as a reduction to revenue in the consolidated income statements and an increase in other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.
Product revenue is presented net of any taxes collected from customers.
Customers are billed upon successful matching of a buyer and seller, with payment due upon receipt.
Contracts with Multiple Performance Obligations
The Company periodically enters into arrangements that include Listings and/or dealer advertising product subscriptions within marketplace revenue. These contracts include multiple promises that the Company evaluates to determine if the promises are separate performance obligations. Performance obligations are identified based on services to be transferred to a customer that are distinct within the context of the contractual terms. Once the performance obligations have been identified, the Company determines the transaction price, which includes estimating the amount of variable consideration to be included in the transaction price, if any. If required, the transaction price is allocated to each performance obligation in the contract based on a relative standalone selling price method as the performance obligation is being satisfied. For the Company’s arrangements that include Listings and/or dealer advertising product subscriptions, the performance obligations were satisfied over a consistent period of time and, therefore, the allocations did not impact the revenue recognized.
For wholesale and product arrangements that include multiple performance obligations, the Company allocates revenue based on fair value. Vehicle and inspection revenues are recognized at a point in time and transportation revenue is recognized over time.
Costs to Obtain a Contract
Commissions paid to sales representatives and payroll taxes are considered costs to obtain a contract. Under ASC 606, the costs to obtain a contract require capitalization and amortization of those costs over the period of benefit. Although the guidance specifies the accounting for an individual contract with a customer, as a practical expedient, the Company has opted to apply the guidance to a portfolio of contracts with similar characteristics. The Company has opted to apply another practical expedient to immediately expense the incremental cost of obtaining a contract when the underlying related asset would have been amortized over one year or less. As such, the Company applied this practical expedient to advertising contracts and wholesale and product transactions as the term is one year or less and these contracts do not renew automatically. The practical expedient is not applicable to marketplace subscription contracts as the period of benefit including renewals is anticipated to be greater than one year. The assets are periodically assessed for impairment.
For marketplace subscription customers, the commissions paid on contracts with new customers, in addition to any commission amount related to incremental sales, are capitalized and amortized over the estimated benefit period of the customer relationship taking into account factors such as peer estimates of technology lives and customer lives as well as the Company’s own historical data. Commissions paid that are not directly related to obtaining a new contract are expensed as incurred.
Additionally, the Company allocates employer payroll tax expense to the commission expense in proportion to the overall payroll taxes paid during the respective period. As such, capitalized payroll taxes are amortized in the same manner as the underlying capitalized commissions.
Deferred Revenue
Deferred revenue primarily consists of payments received in advance of revenue recognition from the Company’s marketplace revenue and is recognized as the revenue recognition criteria are met. The Company generally invoices its customers monthly. Accordingly, the deferred revenue balances do not represent the total contract value of annual or multiyear subscription agreements. Deferred revenue that is expected to be recognized during the succeeding 12‑month period is recognized as current deferred revenue and the remaining portion is recognized as noncurrent in the consolidated balance sheets. All deferred revenue was recognized as current for all periods presented.
Marketplace Cost of Revenue
Marketplace cost of revenue includes expenses related to supporting and hosting marketplace service offerings. These expenses include personnel and related expenses for the Company’s customer support team, including salaries, benefits, incentive compensation, and stock-based compensation; third-party service provider expenses such as advertising, data, and hosting expenses; amortization of developed technology; amortization of capitalized website development; amortization and impairment of capitalized hosting arrangements; and allocated overhead expenses. The Company allocates overhead expenses, such as rent and facility expenses, software expense, and employee benefit expense, to all departments based on headcount. As such, general overhead expenses are reflected in cost of revenue and each operating expense category.
Wholesale Cost of Revenue
Wholesale cost of revenue includes expenses related to supporting and hosting Digital Wholesale service offerings, including Dealer-to-Dealer transactions and vehicles sold to dealers acquired at other marketplaces on the CarOffer Matrix. These expenses include vehicle transportation and inspection expenses; net losses on vehicles related to guarantees offered to dealers through Dealer-to-Dealer transactions; personnel and related expenses for employees directly involved in the fulfillment and support of transactions, including salaries, benefits, incentive compensation, and stock-based compensation; third-party service provider expenses;
amortization of developed technology; amortization and impairment of capitalized website development; and allocated overhead expenses. The Company allocates overhead expenses, such as rent and facility expenses, software expense, and employee benefit expense, to all departments based on headcount. As such, general overhead expenses are reflected in cost of revenue and each operating expense category.
Product Cost of Revenue
Product cost of revenue includes expenses related to vehicles sold to dealers through Instant Max Cash Offer transactions and vehicles sold to dealers acquired through arbitration. These expenses include the cost of the vehicle and transportation expenses.
Guarantees and Indemnification Obligations
In the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into agreements with its customers, partners, and service providers that include commercial provisions with respect to licensing, infringement, guarantees, indemnification, and other common provisions.
The Company provides certain guarantees to dealers through products such as its 45-Day Guarantee and OfferGuard service offerings on the CarOffer platform, which are accounted for under ASC 460.
45-Day Guarantee is an arrangement through which a selling dealer lists a car on the CarOffer platform, and the Company provides an offer to purchase the vehicle listed at a specified price at any time over a 45-day period. This provides the seller with a put option, where they have the right, but not the obligation, to require the Company to purchase the vehicle during this window. OfferGuard is an arrangement through which a buying dealer purchases a car on the CarOffer platform, and the Company provides an offer to purchase the vehicle at a specified price between days 1 and 3, and days 42 and 45 if the dealer is not able to sell the vehicle after 42 days.
A guarantee liability is initially measured using the amount of consideration received from the dealer for the purchase of the guarantee. The initial liability is released, and guarantee income is recognized, upon the earliest of the following: the vehicle sells during the guarantee period, the seller exercises its put option during the guarantee period, or the option expires unexercised at the end of the guarantee period. Guarantee income is recognized within wholesale revenue in theconsolidated income statements. When it is probable and reasonably estimable that the Company will incur a loss on a vehicle that it is required to purchase, a liability and a corresponding charge to wholesale cost of revenue is recognized for the amount of the loss in the consolidated balance sheets and the consolidated income statements. Gains and losses resulting from the dealers exercise of guarantees are recognized within wholesale cost of revenue, as appropriate, in the consolidated income statements.
Stock‑Based Compensation
For stock‑based awards granted under the Company’s stock‑based compensation plans, the fair value of each award is determined on the date of grant.
For restricted stock units (“RSUs”) granted subject to service-based vesting conditions, the fair value is determined on the date of grant using the closing price of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Class A common stock”), as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. RSUs granted subject to service-based vesting conditions generally vest over afour-year requisite service period.
For RSUs granted subject to market-based vesting conditions, the fair value is determined on the date of grant using the Monte Carlo simulation lattice model. The determination of the fair value using this model is affected by the Company’s stock price performance relative to the companies listed on the S&P 500, and a number of assumptions including volatility, correlation coefficient, risk-free interest rate, and expected dividends. RSUs previously granted subject to market-based vesting conditions vest upon achievement of specified levels of market conditions. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company modified its market-based performance awards to contain only service-based vesting conditions in line with the Company’s other RSU awards. As a result, there wereno market-based RSUs outstanding as of December 31, 2024, December 31, 2023, or December 31, 2022.
For stock options granted, the fair value is determined on the date of grant using the Black‑Scholes option‑pricing model. The determination of the fair value is affected by the Company’s stock price and a number of assumptions including expected dividend yield, expected volatility, risk-free interest rate, and expected term. For expected volatility, the Company uses a blended volatility to combine the historical volatility of trading with the volatility for a peer group of companies as the Company does not have historical stock prices for a period that is at least equal to the expected term. Stock options granted generally have a term often years from the date of grant and generally vest over afour-year requisite service period. There wereno stock options granted during the years ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023.
The weighted average assumptions utilized to determine the fair value of stock options granted during the year ended December 31,2022, were as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | |
|---|---|
| Expected dividend yield | — |
| Expected volatility | 48.03% |
| Risk–free interest rate | 1.47% |
| Expected term (in years) | 6.11 |
The Company issues shares of Class A common stock upon the vesting of RSUs and the exercise of stock options out of its shares available for issuance. During the year ended December 31, 2023, prior to the redemption of all awards in connection with the 2023 CarOffer Transaction, the Company would issue CO Incentive Units and Subject Units (as each term is defined below) out of CarOffer’s units available for issuance.
The Company accounts for forfeitures when they occur.
The Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, with the amount of compensation expense recognized at any date at least equaling the portion of the grant-date fair value of the award that is vested at that date.
The tax effect of differences between tax deductions related to stock compensation and the corresponding financial statement expense compensation are recognized as an income tax benefit or expense within the provision for income taxes in the consolidated income statements. The permanent differences, including excess tax benefits and expenses, are recognized within accrued expenses, accrued income taxes, and other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets and classified as an operating activity in the consolidated statements of cash flows. The temporary differences are recognized within deferred tax assets in the consolidated balance sheets and classified as deferred taxes in the consolidated statements of cash flows.
CarOffer
On January 14, 2021, the Company acquired a 51% interest in CarOffer (the “2021 CarOffer Transaction”) pursuant to the terms of a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement (the “2021 Purchase Agreement”) dated as of December 9, 2020 (the “2021 Agreement Date”), as amended, by and among the Company, CarOffer, CarOffer Investors Holding, LLC (“TopCo”), each of the Members of TopCo (each a “Member” and collectively, the “Members”), and Bruce T. Thompson, an individual who resided in Texas.
Upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by the 2021 Purchase Agreement (the “2021 Closing”), the Company acquired a 51% interest in CarOffer for an aggregate consideration of $173,155 (the “2021 Total Consideration”), such 2021 Total Consideration consisting of (a) shares of Class A common stock in the aggregate amount of $103,645 (the “2021 Stock Consideration”) and (b) $69,510 in cash (the “2021 Cash Consideration”). The number of shares of Class A common stock issued following the 2021 Closing in connection with the 2021 Stock Consideration was 3,115,282, which was calculated by reference to a value of $22.51 per share, which equals the volume-weighted average closing price per share of Class A common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market for the 28 consecutive trading days ending on the third Business Day (as defined in the 2021 Purchase Agreement) preceding the 2021 Agreement Date. Pursuant to the 2021 Purchase Agreement, the remaining equity in CarOffer (the “Remaining Equity”) was retained by the then-current equity holders of CarOffer and subject to certain call and put arrangements discussed below.
Pursuant to the 2021 Purchase Agreement, the Company established a retention pool in an aggregate amount of $8,000 in the form of RSUs to be issued pursuant to the Company’s standard form of RSU agreement under the Company’s Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2017 Plan”), (i) $6,000 of which was granted to certain CarOffer employees following the 2021 Closing in accordance with the terms of the 2021 Purchase Agreement and (ii) $2,000 ofwhich was available for issuance to future CarOffer employeesin accordance with the terms of the 2021 Purchase Agreement. RSUs issued from the retention pool would have been subject to vesting based on rendering of future services.
In addition, the Company, TopCo, each Member, and CarOffer MidCo, LLC entered into the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, dated as of December 9, 2020 (the “2020 CarOffer Operating Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other matters, the Company secured the right to appoint a majority of the members of the Board of Managers of CarOffer, other rights customary for a transaction of this nature, and the put and call rights described below. On November 23, 2021, the 2020 CarOffer Operating Agreement was amended and restated for administrative purposes, including principally to recapitalize certain of the membership units thereunder without changing overall consideration payable by the Company thereunder (the “2021 CarOffer Operating Agreement”).
In the second half of 2022, the Company had a call right (the “2022 Call Right”), exercisable in its sole discretion, to acquire a portion of the Remaining Equity representing up to 25% of the fully diluted capitalization of CarOffer (such acquired Remaining Equity, the “2022 Acquired Remaining Equity”) at an implied CarOffer value (the “2022 Call Right Value”) of seven times CarOffer’s trailing twelve months gross profit as of June 30, 2022 (calculated in accordance with the defined terms and subject to the adjustments set forth in the 2021 CarOffer Operating Agreement). During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company determined not to exercise the 2022 Call Right.
Prior to the 2023 CarOffer Transaction, in the second half of 2024, (a) the Company had a call right (the “2024 Call Right”), exercisable in its sole discretion, to acquire all, and not less than all, of the Remaining Equity that it had not yet acquired pursuant to the 2022 Call Right and the 2021 Closing, at the greater of (i) (x) $100.0 million, and (y) the 2022 Call Right Value, whichever was less, and (ii) an implied CarOffer value of 12 times CarOffer’s trailing 12 months EBITDA as of June 30, 2024 (in each case calculated in accordance with the defined terms and subject to the adjustments set forth in the 2021 CarOffer Operating Agreement), and (b) the representative of the holders of the Remaining Equity had a put right (the “2024 Put Right”), exercisable in his, her or their sole discretion, to have the holders of the Remaining Equity sell to the Company, all, and not less than all, of the Remaining Equity at an implied CarOffer value of 12 times CarOffer’s trailing 12 months EBITDA as of June 30, 2024 (calculated in accordance with the defined terms and subject to the adjustments set forth in the 2021 CarOffer Operating Agreement). In connection with the 2023 CarOffer Transaction, the 2024 Call Right and the 2024 Put Right were terminated.
In connection with the 2021 CarOffer Transaction, the then-outstanding unvested incentive units (“CO Incentive Units”) of CarOffer and unvested Class CO CarOffer units (the “Subject Units”) remained outstanding and would have vested over the requisite service periods as discussed below.
Grants of the CO Incentive Units were subject to the CarOffer 2020 Equity Incentive Plan, adopted effective November 24, 2020 (the “2020 CO Plan”), the applicable award agreement, and the 2021 CarOffer Operating Agreement. Following the 2021 CarOffer Transaction, remaining unvested CO Incentive Units vest over a period of three years, with one-third having vested on each of January 14, 2022, and January 14, 2023, and one-third vesting on January 14, 2024, provided that a grantee’s continuous service to CarOffer has not terminated on the applicable vesting date. As a result of the 2023 CarOffer Transaction, the vesting on January 14, 2024, was accelerated and the CO Incentive Units were accelerated and redeemed.
In addition to the 2020 CO Plan, on December 9, 2020, CarOffer entered into a Vesting Agreement (the “Vesting Agreement”) regarding the vesting of Subject Units beneficially owned by Bruce Thompson, the founder and CEO of CarOffer, and certain affiliated persons (collectively, the “T5 Holders”) in connection with the Company’s then-anticipated acquisition of a 51% interest in CarOffer. Pursuant to the Vesting Agreement,432,592 Subject Units beneficially owned by the T5 Holders vest in three approximately equal installments, with one-third having vested on each of January 14, 2022, and January 14, 2023, and one third vesting on January 14, 2024, subject to the terms of the Vesting Agreement. As a result of the 2023 CarOffer Transaction, the vesting on January 14, 2024, was accelerated and the Subject Units were accelerated and redeemed.
In connection with the 2021 Closing, CarOffer reserved 228,571 incentive units (the “2021 Incentive Units”) for purposes of establishing an employee incentive equity plan. Thereafter, CarOffer formed CarOffer Incentive Equity, LLC (“CIE”), a Delaware manager-managed limited liability company managed by the Company, and established the CIE 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2021 CO Plan”). The 2021 CO Plan and related documentation, including the applicable award agreement, a vesting agreement between CarOffer and CIE, and the 2021 CarOffer Operating Agreement, provided for an incentive equity grant structure whereby 2021 Incentive Units would be granted to CIE and 2021 CO Plan grantees would receive an associated equity interest in CIE (the “CIE Interest”), with back-to-back vesting between the 2021 Incentive Units and the associated CIE Interest. Subject to any modifications thatmay have been approved by the CarOffer Board of Managers in its discretion, grants under the 2021 CO Plan would vest over a period of three years from the grant date, one-third each on the first, second, and third anniversaries of the applicable grant date, provided that a grantee’s continuous service to CarOffer had not terminated on the applicable anniversary of the grant date. Upon termination of a grantee’s continuous service to CarOffer, all of such grantee’s unvested 2021 Incentive Units were forfeited. As of December 31, 2022, there were no grants of 2021 Incentive Units under the 2021 CO Plan.
CO Incentive Units, Subject Units, and 2021 Incentive Units were liability-classified awards because the awards could be put to the Company at a formula price such that the holders did not bear the risks and rewards associated with equity ownership. For liability-classified awards, the fair value was determined on the date of issuance using a Least Square Monte Carlo simulation model. Liability-classified awards were remeasured to fair value each period until settlement. Until March 31, 2022, the Least Square Monte Carlo simulation model was used for remeasurement. During the three months ended June 30, 2022, the Company refined its model for determining the fair value of liability-classified awards as a result of obtaining gross profit actuals through the trailing twelve-months ended June 30, 2022, measurement period for the first call option. From March 31, 2022, the fair value was typically determined using a Monte Carlo simulation model. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company determined not to exercise the 2022 Call Right. The valuation of these liability-classified awards was previously derived from the 2024 Call Right and the 2024 Put Right. The determination of the fair value was affected by CarOffer’s equity value, EBITDA, and Excess Parent Capital (as defined in the 2021 CarOffer Operating Agreement) that drove the exercise price of future call/put rights, as well as a number of assumptions including market price of risk, volatility, correlation, and risk-free interest rate. As a result of the EBITDA and Excess Parent Capital projections for CarOffer as of December 31, 2022, a Monte Carlo simulation model was not required as of December 31, 2022.
On December 1, 2023, the Company completed the 2023 CarOffer Transaction. Pursuant to the 2023 Purchase Agreement, the Company acquired the remaining minority equity interests in CarOffer for the 2023 Consideration, consisting of an aggregate consideration of $75.0 million in cash, subject to certain adjustments set forth in the 2023 Purchase Agreement. A portion of the 2023 Consideration was held in escrow to secure certain payment and indemnification obligations of the Indirect Members in accordance with the terms of the 2023 Purchase Agreement.
Upon completion of the 2023 CarOffer Transaction, the Company recorded an approximately $50 million stock-based compensation charge, which consisted of payments for CO Incentive Units and Subject Units, and payments made to holders of noncontrolling interest (“Noncontrolling Interest Units”), resulting from the modification of the 2021 Purchase Agreement. As a result of the 2023 CarOffer Transaction, the liability-classified awards were accelerated and redeemed as of December 31, 2023. The completion of the 2023 CarOffer Transaction additionally relieved the redeemable noncontrolling interests on its consolidated balance sheets, reducing the remaining redeemable noncontrolling interest on its consolidated balance sheets tozero and recording excess cash paid to these unit holders as a deemed dividend of $5,838. See Note 11 of these consolidated financial statements for further disclosure on impact of the modifications that resulted from the 2023 CarOffer Transaction.
Following the 2023 CarOffer Transaction, CarOffer is a wholly-owned subsidiary and the Company entered into the 2023 CarOffer Operating Agreement, pursuant to which, among other matters, the existing put and call rights were terminated.
Common Stock Share Repurchases
Repurchases of the Company’s Class A common stock that are retired are recognized as a reduction to common stock at par value and the remainder is recognized as a reduction to additional paid-in capital in the consolidated balance sheets. If additional paid-in capital is reduced to zero, repurchases of the Company’s Class A common stock in excess of the par value are recognized as a reduction to retained earnings in the consolidated balance sheets.
If there is a difference between the trade date and the settlement date for shares repurchased as of period end, a liability is recognized within accrued expenses, accrued income taxes, and other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.
As a result of the IRA, effective on January 1, 2023, the Company is required to pay a 1% excise tax on certain stock repurchases. Based on the Company’s evaluation, the Company has concluded that the IRA has not had a material impact on its income tax provision and cash taxes. The excise tax is considered a direct and incremental cost of the share repurchase and is recognized as a reduction to additional paid-in capital in the consolidated balance sheets. Other direct and incremental costs, such as commissions and legal expenses, are recognized as a reduction to additional paid-in capital in the consolidated balance sheets.
Advertising Costs
Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and recognized within sales and marketing expense in the consolidated income statements. For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, advertising expense was$160,668,$138,782, and$156,128, respectively.
Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive income is defined as the change in stockholders’ equity of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non‑owner sources. Comprehensive income consists of consolidated net income and other comprehensive income, which includes certain changes in equity that are excluded from consolidated net income, such as foreign currency translation adjustments. Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) is presented separately in the consolidated balance sheets.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements Adopted
In November 2023 the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (“ASU 2023-07”). ASU 2023-07 is intended to enhance disclosures for significant segment expenses for all public entities required to report segment information in accordance with ASC Topic 280, Segment Reporting (“ASC 280”). ASC 280 requires a public entity to report for each reportable segment a measure of segment profit or loss that its chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) uses to assess segment performance and to make decisions about resource allocations. ASU 2023-07 is intended to improve financial reporting by requiring disclosure of incremental segment information on an annual and interim basis for all public entities to enable investors to develop more useful financial analyses. ASU 2023-07 is effective for the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. A public entity should apply ASU 2023-07 retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the consolidated financial statements. The Company adopted ASU 2023-07 on December 31, 2024, and applied the amendments retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the consolidated financial statements. See Note 14 of these consolidated statements for the impact of the adoption.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the FASB or other standard-setting bodies and adopted by the Company on or prior to the specified effective date. Unless otherwise disclosed below, the Company believes that the impact of recently issued standards that are not yet effective will not have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations upon adoption. As of December 31, 2024, there are no new accounting pronouncements that the Company is considering adopting, other than those described below.
In November 2024 the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income-Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses (“ASU 2024-03”). ASU 2024-03 is intended to provide more detailed expense information and requires additional disaggregated disclosures in the notes to the financial statements for categories of expenses that are included on the face of the income statement. ASU 2024-03 is effective for the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027. Early adoption is permitted. ASU 2024-03 may be applied either prospectively to financial statements issued for periods after the effective date of ASU 2024-03 or retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the consolidated financial statements. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2024-03 on its future consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
In December 2023 the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures(“ASU 2023-09”). ASU 2023-09 is intended to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures. ASU 2023-09 addresses investor requests for enhanced income tax information primarily through changes to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid information. Early adoption is permitted. A public entity should apply ASU 2023-09 prospectively to all annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2023-09 on its future consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
- Revenue Recognition
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, revenue from contracts with customers by services and products was as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Marketplace | $796,599 | $698,236 | $658,771 |
| Dealer-to-Dealer | 59,763 | 109,802 | 320,119 |
| Sell My Car - Instant Max Cash Offer | 38,022 | 106,204 | 676,145 |
| Total | $894,384 | $914,242 | $1,655,035 |
The Company provides disaggregation of revenue by services and products, by income statement presentation, by segment, and by geographic region.
Revenue by services and products is disaggregated by (i) marketplace services, (ii) Dealer-to-Dealer services and products, and (iii) Instant Max Cash Offer services and products, as disclosed above.
Revenue by income statement presentation is disaggregated by (i) marketplace, (ii) wholesale, and (iii) product revenue sources, as disclosed in the consolidated income statements. Marketplace services are included within marketplace revenue in the consolidated income statements. Dealer-to-Dealer and Instant Max Cash Offer services and products are included within both wholesale revenue and product revenue in the consolidated income statements.
Revenue by segment is disaggregated by (i) U.S. Marketplace and (ii) Digital Wholesale segments, as disclosed in Note 14 of these consolidated financial statements. Marketplace services are included in the U.S. Marketplace segment and in the Other category of segment reporting. Dealer-to-Dealer and Instant Max Cash Offer services and products are included in the Digital Wholesale segment.
Revenue by geographic region is disaggregated by (i) U.S. and (ii) International regions, as disclosed in Note 14 of these consolidated financial statements. Marketplace services are provided in the U.S. and International regions. Dealer-to-Dealer and Instant Max Cash Offer services and products are provided in the U.S. region.
The Company believes these categories best depict how the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows are affected by economic factors.
ASC 606 requires that the Company disclose the aggregate amount of transaction price that is allocated to performance obligations that have not yet been satisfied as of the relevant year end.
For contracts with an original expected duration greater than one year, the aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to the performance obligations that were unsatisfied as of December 31, 2024, was approximately$63.7 million, which the Company expects to recognize over the next 12 months.
For contracts with an original expected duration of one year or less, the Company has applied the practical expedient available under ASC 606 to not disclose the amount of transaction price allocated to unsatisfied performance obligations as of December 31, 2024. For performance obligations not satisfied as of December 31, 2024, and to which this expedient applies, the nature of the performance obligations, the variable consideration, and any consideration from contracts with customers not included in the transaction price is consistent with performance obligations satisfied as of December 31, 2024.
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, assets associated with costs to obtain a contract were$25,719 and$24,093, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, amortization expense associated with costs to obtain a contract was$13,975,$11,817, and$11,067, respectively.
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, revenue recognized from amounts included in deferred revenue at the beginning of the period was$21,322,$12,249, and $12,784, respectively.
- Fair Value of Financial Instruments
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis consisted of the following:
| Quoted Pricesin ActiveMarketsfor IdenticalAssets(Level 1 Inputs) | SignificantOtherObservableInputs(Level 2 Inputs) | SignificantUnobservableInputs(Level 3 Inputs) | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash equivalents: | ||||
| Mutual funds | $165,074 | $— | $— | $165,074 |
| Total | $165,074 | $— | $— | $165,074 |
| Quoted Pricesin ActiveMarketsfor IdenticalAssets(Level 1 Inputs) | SignificantOtherObservableInputs(Level 2 Inputs) | SignificantUnobservableInputs(Level 3 Inputs) | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash equivalents: | ||||
| Mutual funds | $73,449 | $— | $— | $73,449 |
| Short-term investments: | ||||
| Mutual funds | 20,724 | — | — | 20,724 |
| Total | $94,173 | $— | $— | $94,173 |
For the year ended December 31, 2024, dividend income recognized within interest income in the consolidated income statements was immaterial. For the year ended December 31, 2023, dividend income recognized within interest income in the consolidated income statements was $3,075. For the year ended December 31, 2022, there wasno dividend income recognized within interest income in the consolidated income statements as the Company didnot have anyshort-term investments in equity securities during the year ended December 31, 2022.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, there wereno unrealized gains. For the year ended December 31, 2024, realized gains on short-term investments in equity securities were immaterial. For the year ended December 31, 2023, unrealized and realized gains on short-term investments in equity securities were immate rial. For the year ended December 31, 2022, there wasno unrealized and realized gain on short-term investments in equity securities as the Company didnot have any short-term investments in equity securities during the year ended December 31, 2022.
As of December 31, 2024, the Company didnot have any short-term investments in equity securities as all were sold during the year ended December 31, 2024.
- Property and Equipment, Net
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, property and equipment, net consisted of the following:
| As of December 31, | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| Capitalized equipment | $7,880 | $1,326 |
| Capitalized internal-use software | 20,060 | 12,279 |
| Capitalized website development | 56,877 | 57,158 |
| Furniture and fixtures | 13,960 | 8,149 |
| Leasehold improvements | 95,691 | 23,308 |
| Construction in progress | — | 39,835 |
| Finance lease right-of-use assets | 155 | 288 |
| 194,623 | 142,343 | |
| Less accumulated depreciation and amortization | (64,613) | (58,973) |
| Total | $130,010 | $83,370 |
During the year ended December 31, 2024, capitalized website development decreased$281. The primary drivers of the decrease were a $15,583 impairment of capitalized website development costs and a $4,901 disposal of fully depreciated assets, due to the end of the CG Buy Online pilot, which allowed consumers to purchase vehicles online, within the Digital Wholesale segment. Additionally, the decrease was driven by a $3,470 disposal of fully depreciated assets for the Company’s peer-to-peer product, which the Company is no longer offering, within the U.S. Marketplace segment. The decrease was also due in part to a $180 impairment related to certain developed technology that the Company decided to cease investment, within the Digital Wholesale segment. For further discussion of impairments, see Note 6 of these consolidated financial statements. These decreases were offset in part by $23,853 gross capitalized website development costs.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, capitalized equipment, furniture and fixtures, and leasehold improvements increased$6,554,$5,811, and$72,383, respectively, due primarily to the buildout of 1001 Boylston Street, as well as assets being transferred out of construction in progress and placed into service, as the Company began occupying 1001 Boylston Street. These increases were inclusive of offsetting disposals of $374, $2,005, and $4,508, for capitalized equipment, furniture and fixtures, and leasehold improvements, respectively, related to fully depreciated assets for leases of space which the Company no longer occupies, within the U.S. Marketplace segment. The Company additionally disposed of $480 in leasehold improvements related to the disposal of building plans for CarOffer, within the Digital Wholesale segment. The Company also impaired $219 of furniture and fixtures due to the end of the CG Buy Online pilot, within the Digital Wholesale segment. For further discussion of impairments, see Note 6 of these consolidated financial statements.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, capitalized internal-use software increased$7,781 due primarily to continued net investment in the Company’s software projects.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, construction in progress decreased$39,835 due to assets being transferred out of construction in progress and placed into service in their respective categories as the Company began occupying 1001 Boylston Street.
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, depreciation and amortization expense, excluding amortization of intangible assets, amortization of capitalized hosting arrangements, disposals, and impairments, was$21,705,$18,412, and$14,618, respectively.
- Impairments of Goodwill and Other Assets
CarOffer Impairment
Background
During the three months ended June 30, 2024, the Company identified a triggering event requiring an interim impairment test at the CarOffer reporting unit due to recent organizational changes and Transaction volume declines, which resulted in revisions to the Company’s financial projections for the CarOffer reporting unit. The Company performed the interim impairment test as of June 30, 2024.
Prior to testing the goodwill and other long-lived assets included in the CarOffer reporting unit for impairment, the Company first evaluated current assets, inclusive of the cash and cash-equivalents, accounts receivable, inventory, prepaid expenses, and other current assets allocated to the CarOffer reporting unit, under applicable guidance and identified no impairment.
The Company then evaluated other long-lived assets included in the CarOffer reporting unit under ASC 360, Property, Plant, and Equipment (“ASC 360”). Other long-lived assets were tested for impairment at the asset group level. The Company identified the asset group as the entire CarOffer reporting unit, which represents the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets and liabilities. As the CarOffer asset group did not pass the step one recoverability test on an undiscounted cash flow basis, the Company then compared the fair value of the asset group to its carrying value. To estimate the fair value of the asset group, the Company utilized an income-based valuation approach by means of a discounted cash flow method, based on market participant assumptions. The assumptions used to estimate the fair value using a discounted cash flow method included forecasted revenue and EBITDA, long term expectations for growth rates and operating profit margin, expected needs for annual capital expenditure and net working capital, and a market-participant discount rate derived via the capital asset pricing model. The excess of the carrying value of the asset group over the fair value was first allocated amongst the long-lived asset group (excluding goodwill), noting each individual long-lived asset within the group may not be impaired below its individual fair value.
As discussed below, the Company recognized impairments of CarOffer right-of-use assets of $4,731 and the CarOffer brand intangible asset of $7,538 to bring the long-lived assets’ carrying value to fair value. All other long-lived assets’ carrying value were at or below fair value. Subsequent to performing the impairment assessment of its long-lived assets, the Company then assessed goodwill included in the CarOffer reporting unit, resulting in an impairment charge of $115,206, inclusive of the deferred tax impact of $28,437 due to the goodwill being tax deductible. See below for further details of each impairment charge.
Accordingly, for the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recognized a $127,475 impairment to the CarOffer reporting unit, reducing its carrying value to its fair value.
Due to the partial impairment of the CarOffer reporting unit goodwill and other long-lived assets during the year ended December 31, 2024, in which the CarOffer reporting unit was reduced to its fair value, there remains a risk for future impairment charges if projected future operating results further decline, including as a result of economic conditions or operational challenges, which could be material and negatively affect its operations.
Right-of-Use Asset
In connection with the triggering event discussed above, the Company recognized an impairment to the right-of-use asset associated with CarOffer’s Addison, Texas lease included within the CarOffer asset group as of June 30, 2024, to reduce the carrying value of the right-of-use asset to fair value.
The fair value measurement was categorized as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy as there were significant unobservable inputs utilized in the valuation technique. The Company estimated fair value using the discounted cash flow method, with key inputs including the selected market rental rates based upon similar office spaces, the discount rate, and other estimated replacement costs.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, a non-cash impairment charge of$4,731 was allocated to the right-of-use assets in the CarOffer asset group, which was recognized within impairment operating expenses in the consolidated income statements in the Digital Wholesale segment.
Other Intangible Assets
In connection with the triggering event discussed above, the Company recognized an impairment to the brand intangible asset included within the CarOffer asset group as of June 30, 2024, to reduce the carrying value of the brand intangible asset to fair value.
The fair value measurement was categorized as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy as there were significant unobservable inputs utilized in the valuation technique. The Company estimated fair value using market participant assumptions and the relief from royalty method, with key inputs including forecasted revenue, royalty rate, discount rate, and the useful life.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, a non-cash impairment charge of $7,538 was allocated to the brand intangible asset in the CarOffer asset group, which was recognized within impairment operating expenses in the consolidated income statements in the Digital Wholesale segment.
For further information on the Company’s intangible assets, see Note 7 of these consolidated financial statements.
The Company determined that there were no indicators of impairment for the U.S. Marketplace or U.K. Marketplace reporting units and, therefore, an interim impairment assessment was not performed as of June 30, 2024.
In connection with the triggering event discussed above, the Company recognized an impairment to the CarOffer reporting unit goodwill as of June 30, 2024, to reduce the carrying value of the CarOffer reporting unit goodwill to fair value.
The fair value measurement was categorized as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy as there were significant unobservable inputs utilized in the valuation technique. The Company estimated the fair value of the CarOffer reporting unit using an income-based valuation approach by means of a discounted cash flow method. The assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the reporting unit included forecasted revenue and EBITDA, long term expectations for growth rates and operating profit margin, expected needs for annual capital expenditure and net working capital, and a market-participant discount rate derived via the capital asset pricing model.
As of June 30, 2024, the carrying value for the CarOffer reporting unit (after adjustments for other long-lived asset impairments discussed above) exceeded its fair value. For the year ended December 31, 2024, a non-cash impairment charge of $86,769 was recognized within impairment operating expenses in the consolidated income statements in the Digital Wholesale segment. As the goodwill for the CarOffer reporting unit is tax deductible, the Company calculated the deferred tax effect of the goodwill impairment charge using the simultaneous equation method. This resulted in additional goodwill impairment and deferred tax assets of $28,437, for a total goodwill impairment of $115,206 recognized within impairment operating expenses in the consolidated income statements in the Digital Wholesale segment.
For further information on the Company’s goodwill, see Note 7 of these consolidated financial statements.
CG Buy Online Impairment
During the three months ended September 30, 2024, the Company decided to end its CG Buy Online pilot in order to redirect those resources toward other investment opportunities, including continued product innovation and development across the business. The CG Buy Online pilot was one of the initiatives that allowed consumers to purchase vehicles online. The pilot ended on October 31, 2024.
This was identified as a triggering event for long-lived asset impairment testing under ASC 360. Other long-lived assets were tested for impairment at the asset group level. The Company identified the asset group as the CG Buy Online Pilot assets, which represents the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets and liabilities. These assets were included in the CG Buy Online reporting unit. As the asset group did not pass the step one recoverability test on an undiscounted cash flow basis, the Company then compared the fair value of the asset group to its carrying value. As the Company decided to end this pilot, the estimated future cash flows and related fair value were both $0. There was no goodwill associated with the CG Buy Online reporting unit.
As of December 31, 2024, the Company impaired $15,583 and $219 of Digital Wholesale segment capitalized website development costs and furniture and fixtures, respectively, within property and equipment, net in the consolidated balance sheets. Additionally, the Company impaired $527 and $447 of capitalized hosting arrangements within prepaid expenses, prepaid income taxes, and other current assets, and other non-current assets, respectively, in the consolidated balance sheets. These costs were included in the CG Buy Online reporting unit. There was an immaterial remaining balance of these assets, that amortized until the end of the pilot on October 31, 2024.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recognized $9,750 and $7,026 of Digital Wholesale segment impairment charges, related to the CG Buy Online pilot, as wholesale cost of revenue and impairment operating expense, respectively, in the consolidated income statement.
Other Impairments
For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company wrote off $180, consisting of Digital Wholesale segment capitalized website development costs within wholesale cost of revenue in the consolidated income statements related to certain developed technology that the Company decided to cease investment.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company wrote off $184, consisting of $175 of Digital Wholesale segment and $9 of U.S. Marketplace segment capitalized website development costs within wholesale and marketplace cost of revenue, respectively, in the consolidated income statements related to certain developed technology that the Company decided to cease investment.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company wrote off $165 of U.S. Marketplace segment of capitalized website development costs within operating expense in the consolidated income statements related to certain developed technology that the Company decided to cease investment.
Impairments Summary
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, impairments consisted of the following:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Capitalized hosting arrangements | $974 | $— | $— |
| Capitalized website development | 15,763 | 184 | 165 |
| Furniture and fixtures | 219 | — | — |
| Intangible assets | 7,538 | — | — |
| Goodwill | 115,206 | — | — |
| Right-of-use asset | 4,731 | — | — |
| Total | $144,431 | $184 | $165 |
- Intangible Assets and Goodwill
Intangible Assets
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, intangible assets consisted of the following:
| WeightedAverageRemainingUseful Life(years) · GrossCarryingAmount · AccumulatedAmortization · Net CarryingAmount | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | 6.1 | $24,559 | $12,792 | $11,767 | |||
| Customer relationships | — | 19,870 | 19,870 | — | |||
| Developed technology | — | 64,565 | 64,565 | — | |||
| Total | $108,994 | $97,227 | $11,767 | ||||
| WeightedAverageRemainingUseful Life(years) · GrossCarryingAmount · AccumulatedAmortization · Net CarryingAmount | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | 7.4 | $32,193 | $10,262 | $21,931 | |||
| Customer relationships | 0.0 | 19,870 | 19,620 | 250 | |||
| Developed technology | 0.0 | 64,565 | 63,690 | 875 | |||
| Total | $116,628 | $93,572 | $23,056 | ||||
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, amortization of intangible assets was$3,655,$30,062, and$30,716, respectively.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recognized an impairment of its intangible assets. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company didnot recognize an impairment of its intangible assets. For further discussion of impairments, see Note 6 of these consolidated financial statements.
As of December 31, 2024, estimated amortization expense of intangible assets for future periods was as follows:
| Year Ending December 31, | AmortizationExpense |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,021 |
| 2026 | 2,021 |
| 2027 | 2,021 |
| 2028 | 2,021 |
| 2029 | 1,429 |
| Thereafter | 2,254 |
| Total | $11,767 |
As of December 31, 2024, changes in the carrying value of goodwill were as follows:
| U.S. Marketplace | Digital Wholesale | Other | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance as of December 31, 2023 | $12,477 | $130,451 | $14,970 | $157,898 |
| Impairment of goodwill | — | (86,769) | — | (86,769) |
| Deferred tax asset recognized from impairment of goodwill | — | (28,437) | — | (28,437) |
| Other (1) | — | 4,323 | — | 4,323 |
| Foreign currency translation adjustment | — | — | (848) | (848) |
| Balance as of December 31, 2024 | $12,477 | $19,568 | $14,122 | $46,167 |
(1)
As of December 31, 2024, the Company recognized an immaterial adjustment to goodwill and additional paid-in-capital associated with the acquisitions of its equity interests in CarOffer.
As of December 31, 2024, accumulated impairment losses of goodwill recognized in the Digital Wholesale segment were$115,206. As of December 31, 2023, there wereno accumulated impairment losses of goodwill.
During the three months ended June 30, 2024, the Company identified a triggering event requiring an interim impairment test at the CarOffer reporting unit and recognized an impairment of goodwill. For further discussion of impairments, see Note 6 of these consolidated financial statements.
The Company didnot identify an additional impairment during the annual impairment test over all reporting units as of October 1, 2024. There was excess of fair value over the carrying value for the CarOffer reporting unit in the Digital Wholesale segment as of October 1, 2024. If projected future operating results decline, including as a result of economic conditions or operational challenges, the Company may need to record an impairment charge to reduce its goodwill at CarOffer, which could be material and negatively affect the Company’s operations.
For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company did not identify any impairment of its goodwill.
- Accrued Expenses, Accrued Income Taxes, and Other Current Liabilities
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, accrued expenses, accrued income taxes, and other current liabilities consisted of the following:
| As of December 31, | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| Accrued bonus | $17,377 | $15,247 |
| Accrued commissions | 4,818 | 4,142 |
| Other accrued expenses, accrued income taxes, and other current liabilities | 13,780 | 14,329 |
| Total | $35,975 | $33,718 |
The increase of$2,130 in accrued bonus was due to higher bonus payout metric attainment.
- Debt
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company hadno long-term debt outstanding.
Revolving Credit Facility
On September 26, 2022, the Company entered into a Credit Agreement with PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and collateral agent and an L/C Issuer (as defined in the Credit Agreement), and the other lenders, L/C Issuers, and parties thereto from time to time (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement consists of a revolving credit facility (the “2022 Revolver”), which allows the Company to borrow up to $400.0 million, $50.0 million of which may be comprised of a letter of credit sub-facility (the “2022 Revolver Sub-facility”). The borrowing capacity under the Credit Agreement may be increased in accordance with the terms and subject to the adjustments as set forth in the Credit Agreement. Specifically, the borrowing capacity may be increased by an amount up to the greater of $250.0 million or 100% of Four Quarter Consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the Credit Agreement) if certain criteria are met and subject to certain restrictions. Any such increase requires lender approval. Proceeds of any borrowings may be used for general corporate purposes. The 2022 Revolver is scheduled to mature on September 26, 2027.
The applicable interest rate is, at the Company’s option, based on a number of different benchmark rates and applicable spreads, based on the ratio of the outstanding principal amount of the Company’s secured indebtedness to the trailing four quarters of consolidated EBITDA (as determined under the Credit Agreement, the “Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio”). The Credit Agreement also requires the Company to pay a commitment fee to the lenders with respect of the unutilized revolving commitments at a rate ranging from 0.125% to 0.175% per annum based on the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio, as determined on a quarterly basis.
The 2022 Revolver is secured by a first priority lien on substantially all tangible and intangible property of the Company, as well as any future guarantors, and pledges of the equity of certain wholly-owned subsidiaries, in each case subject to certain exceptions, limitations, and exclusions from the collateral. The Credit Agreement includes customary events of default and requires the Company to comply with customary affirmative and negative covenants, including a financial covenant requiring that the Company not exceed certain Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio ranges at the end of each fiscal quarter. The Company was in compliance with all covenants as of December 31, 2024.
As of December 31, 2024, there wereno borrowings and$9,907 in letters of credit outstanding under the 2022 Revolver associated with the Company’s leases, which reduced the borrowing capacity under the 2022 Revolver to$390,093. As of December 31, 2023, there wereno borrowings and$9,627 in letters of credit outstanding under the 2022 Revolver associated with the Company’s leases, which reduced the borrowing capacity under the 2022 Revolver to$390,373.
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, deferred financing costs were$1,412 and$1,927, respectively, recognized within other non-current assets in the consolidated balance sheets.
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, amortization expense associated with deferred financing costs was$515,$515, and $136, respectively, recognized within other (expense) income, net in the consolidated income statements.
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, commitment fees under the 2022 Revolver were immaterial.
- Commitments and Contingencies
Contractual Obligations and Commitments
As of December 31, 2024, all of the Company’s property and equipment and capitalized hosting arrangements have been purchased with cash with the exception of unpaid amounts as disclosed in the consolidated statements of cash flows.
Leases
The Company’s material lease obligations consist of various leases for office space in: Boston, Massachusetts; Cambridge, Massachusetts; Addison, Texas; and Dublin, Ireland.
The Company hasnon-cancellable lease terms through 2039 for its various commenced operating leases, certain of which include theoption to extend the lease term up to two additional periods of five years. These options are not recognized within the right-of-use asset and lease liability. Additionally, certain leases provide for annual rent increases through the terms of the leases, leasehold improvement incentives, and variable payments related to operating expenses, taxes, utilities, insurance, and maintenance expenses. Certain leases also contain non-lease components in the contract. Non-lease components relate to operating expenses, parking, utilities, and maintenance expenses.
The Company hasnon-cancellable lease terms through 2025 for its various operating subleases, for which the Company acts as the lessor. Additionally, certain subleases provide for annual rent increases through the terms of the leases and variable payments related to operating expenses, taxes, parking, and utilities. Certain subleases also contain both lease and non-lease components in the contract. Non-lease components relate to operating expenses, parking, utilities, and maintenance expenses.
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company’s financing lease obligations, which consisted of a lease for furniture and office equipment, were immaterial.
As of December 31, 2024, there were no material changes in the Company’s leases from those disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, other than those described below.
Changes to Material Leases
Addison, Texas
During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company identified an impairment of the right-of-use asset associated with its Addison, Texas, lease. For further information on impairments, see Note 6 of these consolidated financial statements.
1001 Boylston Street
On September 20, 2024, the Company began occupying 1001 Boylston Street and all assets capitalized through that date were placed into service. As of December 31, 2024, the Company completed its buildout and all remaining assets associated with the 1001 Boylston Street lease were placed into service.
On April 12, 2024 and May 3, 2024, the Company entered into various change orders regarding the 1001 Boylston Street lease and related buildout. The change orders modify the responsibilities outlined in the 1001 Boylston Street lease and reallocate the responsibility of certain buildout costs from the landlord to the Company. The costs related to this work are reimbursable by the landlord, effectively increasing the tenant improvement allowance from the 1001 Boylston Street lease by $456. The Company accounted for these change orders as a remeasurement of the 1001 Boylston Street lease, using an incremental borrowing rate as of the modification date. The lease remeasurement resulted in a decrease in the lease liability and right-of-use asset on the consolidated balance sheets of $1,493. There was not a material impact on the consolidated income statements or future minimum lease payments.
On March 19, 2024, the Company entered into a letter agreement regarding the 1001 Boylston Street lease (the "2024 Letter Agreement"). The 2024 Letter Agreement memorializes the Substantial Completion Date, Commencement Date, Fixed Rent Commencement Date (as each term is defined in the 1001 Boylston Street lease), and the rental credits and holdover compensation owed to the Company per the 1001 Boylston Street lease. The 2024 Letter Agreement also modifies the parking privileges and payments, which commenced on June 1, 2024, and provides reimbursement from the landlord to the Company for additional unexpected costs incurred. The Company accounted for the 2024 Letter Agreement as a remeasurement of the 1001 Boylston Street lease, using an incremental borrowing rate as of the modification date. The lease remeasurement resulted in a decrease in the lease liability and right-of-use asset on the consolidated balance sheets of $3,536. There was not a material impact on the consolidated income statements or future minimum lease payments.
Lease Expenses
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, the Company recognized$33,498,$34,218, and$16,732, respectively, of lease costs, which includes operating lease costs, finance lease costs, and variable lease payments. For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recognized $6,699 of variable lease payments. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, variable lease payments were immaterial.
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, the Company recognized$2,011,$1,897, and $1,809, respectively, of sublease income.
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the weighted average remaining lease term was 12.8 years and 13.1 years, respectively, and the weighted average discount rate was 6.2% and 5.7%, respectively. As the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses an estimated incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at lease commencement in determining the present value of lease payments. The Company estimated the incremental borrowing rate based on the rate of interest the Company would have to pay to borrow a similar amount on a collateralized basis over a similar term. The Company has no historical debt transactions and a collateralized rate is estimated based on a group of peer companies. The Company used the incremental borrowing rate on January 1, 2019, for leases that commenced prior to that date.
Lease Commitments
As of December 31, 2024, future minimum lease payments for all leases were as follows:
| Year Ending December 31, | OperatingLeaseCommitments |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $13,468 |
| 2026 | 22,314 |
| 2027 | 22,722 |
| 2028 | 23,142 |
| 2029 | 23,564 |
| Thereafter | 184,326 |
| Total lease payments | 289,536 |
| Less imputed interest | (96,792) |
| Total | $192,744 |
The table above does not include options to extend lease terms that are not reasonably certain of being exercised or leases signed but not yet commenced as of December 31, 2024. As of December 31, 2024, there were no leases signed but not commenced.
As of December 31, 2024, future minimum sublease income payments for the year ending December 31, 2025, were $1,418. There areno future minimum sublease payments thereafter.
Letters of Credit
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023,$9,907 and$9,627, respectively, in letters of credit associated with the Company’s leases were included under the 2022 Revolver Sub-facility.
Restricted Cash
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, restricted cash was$2,036 and$2,563, respectively, and related to pass-through payments from dealers related to the Company’s Digital Wholesale business. As of both December 31, 2024 and 2023, all restricted cash was classified as a current asset, as disclosed in the consolidated balance sheets.
Tax Contingencies
We are subject to taxation in the U.S. and certain other jurisdictions in which we operate, which could include sales and use tax, value added tax, excise tax, gross receipts tax, and property tax. State, local, and foreign jurisdictions have differing rules and regulations governing sales, use, value added, and other taxes. These rules and regulations are complex and subject to varying interpretations that may change over time due to new court interpretations and newly enacted rules and regulations. As a result, we could face the possibility of tax assessments and audits, and our liability for these taxes and associated penalties could exceed our original estimates, which could be material.
Legal Matters
From time to time, the Company may become involved in legal proceedings or be subject to claims arising in the ordinary course of its business. The Company recognizes a liability when it believes that it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. Judgment is required to determine both the probability of having incurred a liability and the estimated amount of the liability. The Company is not presently subject to any pending or threatened litigation that it believes, if determined adversely to the Company, individually or taken together, would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on its business or financial results. However, litigation is inherently unpredictable and the future outcome of legal proceedings and other contingencies may be unexpected or differ from the Company’s estimated liabilities, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s future financial results.
Guarantees and Indemnification Obligations
In the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into agreements with its customers, partners, and service providers that include commercial provisions with respect to licensing, infringement, guarantees, indemnification, and other common provisions.
The Company provides certain guarantees to dealers through products such as its 45-Day Guarantee and OfferGuard service offerings on the CarOffer platform, which are accounted for under ASC 460.
45-Day Guarantee is an arrangement through which a selling dealer lists a car on the CarOffer platform, and the Company provides an offer to purchase the vehicle listed at a specified price at any time over a 45-day period. This provides the seller with a put option, where they have the right, but not the obligation, to require the Company to purchase the vehicle during this window. OfferGuard is an arrangement through which a buying dealer purchases a car on the CarOffer platform, and the Company provides an offer to purchase the vehicle at a specified price between days 1 and 3, and days 42 and 45 if the dealer is not able to sell the vehicle after 42 days.
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, income for guarantees purchased by dealers was$570,$1,890, and $10,026, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the net gains or losses recognized within cost of revenue in the consolidated income statements resulting from dealers’ exercise of guarantees was immaterial. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the losses, net of gains recognized within cost of revenue in the consolidated income statements resulting from dealers’ exercise of guarantees was $4,568.
As of December 31, 2024, the maximum potential amount of future payments that the Company could be required to make under these guarantees was$1,843. Of the maximum potential amount of future payments, the losses that were probable were not material. As such, as of December 31, 2024, the Company had no material contingent loss liabilities.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had no material contingent loss liabilities.
- Stock‑based Compensation
CarGurus Equity Incentive Plans
The Company’s Amended and Restated 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2006 Plan”) provided for the issuance of non-qualified stock options, restricted stock, and stock awards to the Company’s employees, officers, directors, and consultants. The 2006 Plan authorized up to an aggregate of 3,444,668 shares of the Company’s Class B common stock for such issuances. In conjunction with the effectiveness of the Company’s 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2015 Plan”), the Board voted thatno further stock options or other equity-based awards may be granted under the 2006 Plan.
In 2015 the Board adopted the 2015 Plan, which became effective on June 26, 2015. The 2015 Plan provided for the issuance of stock-based incentives to employees, consultants, and non-employee directors. As of the effective date of the 2015 Plan, up to 603,436 shares of common stock were authorized for issuance under the 2015 Plan. The 2015 Plan was amended and restated effective August 6, 2015, to permit the granting of RSUs under the 2015 Plan, to remove Class B common stock from the pool of shares available for issuance under the 2015 Plan, and to make certain other desired changes. The 2015 Plan was further amended and restated at October 15, 2015, to add aten-year term and to make certain other desired changes.
The 2015 Plan was further amended and restated effective August 22, 2016, to merge the 2006 Plan into the 2015 Plan, to increase the number of shares of Class A common stock that may be issued under the 2015 Plan, and to lengthen the term of the 2015 Plan to expire on August 21, 2026. In addition, pursuant to this amendment and restatement of the 2015 Plan, prior to giving effect to the recapitalization that occurred on June 21, 2017, there were (i)618,691 shares of Class A common stock, plus (ii)802,562 shares of Class B common stock authorized under the 2015 Plan; provided, however, that(1)the number of shares of Class A common stock was increased, on a share for share basis, by the number of shares of Class B common stock that were (a) subject to outstanding options granted under the 2006 Plan that expired, terminated, or were canceled for any reason without having been exercised, (b) surrendered in payment of the exercise price of outstanding options granted under the 2006 Plan, or (c) withheld in satisfaction of tax withholding upon exercise of outstanding options granted under the 2006 Plan, and the number of shares of Class B common stock reserved under the amended and restated 2015 Plan was decreased, on a corresponding share for share basis, (2) no new awards of Class B common stock could be granted under the amended and restated 2015 Plan, and (3) except with respect to outstanding options granted under the 2006 Plan that were exercised on or after the date of the amendment and restatement, no Class B common stock could be issued under the 2015 Plan.
In connection with the recapitalization that occurred on June 21, 2017, the 2015 Plan was further amended and restated to account for each outstanding common stock option being adjusted such that each share of common stock underlying such option becametwo shares of Class A common stock andfour shares of Class B common stock underlying such option, and each outstanding RSU being adjusted such that each share of common stock issuable upon settlement of such RSU becametwo shares of Class A common stock andfour shares of Class B common stock issuable upon settlement of such RSU. Pursuant to the 2015 Plan as further amended in connection with the recapitalization, there were (i)3,181,740 shares of Class A common stock and (ii)5,161,644 shares of Class B common stock authorized for issuance under the 2015 Plan.
In connection with the Company’s initial public offering, in October 2017 the Board adopted, and the Company’s stockholders approved, the 2017 Plan for the purpose of granting incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, stock awards, stock units, other share-based awards, and cash awards to employees, advisors, and consultants to the Company and its subsidiaries and non-employee members of the Board. The 2017 Plan is the successor to the 2015 Plan. The 2017 Plan authorizes the issuance or transfer of the sum of: (i)7,800,000 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, plus (ii) the number of shares of Class A common stock (up to 4,500,000 shares) equal to the sum of (x) the number of shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock of the Company subject to outstanding awards under the 2015 Plan as of October 10, 2017, that terminate, expire, or are canceled, forfeited, exchanged, or surrendered on or after October 10, 2017, without having been exercised, vested, or paid prior to October 10, 2017, including shares tendered or withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations with respect to outstanding grants under the 2015 Plan, plus (y) the number of shares of Class A common stock reserved for issuance under the 2015 Plan that remained available for grant under the 2015 Plan as of October 10, 2017. The aggregate number of shares of Class A common stock that may be issued or transferred under the 2017 Plan pursuant to incentive stock options will not exceed 12,300,000 shares of Class A common stock. Any shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations return to the authorized, but unissued, pool under the 2017 Plan and can be reissued by the Company. In conjunction with the adoption of the 2017 Plan, options and RSUs that were outstanding at that time under the 2015 Plan remained outstanding but no additional grants may be made from the 2015 Plan.
Unless determined otherwise by the Compensation Committee of the Board, as of the first trading day of January of each calendar year during the term of the 2017 Plan (excluding any extensions), eligible beginning with calendar year 2019, an additional number of shares of Class A common stock will be added to the number of shares of Class A common stock authorized to be issued or transferred under the 2017 Plan and the number of shares authorized to be issued or transferred pursuant to incentive stock options, equal to 4% of the total number of shares of Class A common stock outstanding on the last trading day in December of the immediately preceding calendar year, or 6,000,000 shares, whichever is less, or such lesser amount as determined by the Board (the “Evergreen Increase”). The Compensation Committee of the Board determined to not effectuate the Evergreen Increase that was otherwise scheduled to have occurred on each of January 2, 2019, January 2, 2020, January 4, 2021, and January 2, 2025. On January 3, 2022, January 3, 2023, and January 2, 2024, an additional 4,070,921,4,065,466, and 3,687,010 shares of Class A Common Stock, respectively, was authorized to be issued or transferred under the 2017 Plan pursuant to the Evergreen Increase.
As of December 31, 2024,8,582,014 shares of Class A common stock were available for issuance under the 2017 Plan.
CarOffer Equity Incentive Plans
The 2020 CO Plan provided for the issuance of CO Incentive Units to CarOffer’s employees, officers, managers, and consultants. The 2020 CO Plan authorized up to an aggregate of 485,714 CO Incentive Units for such issuances, all of which were issued prior to the close of the 2021 CarOffer Transaction. As a result of the 2023 CarOffer Transaction, all CO Incentive Units were accelerated and redeemed and, thus, as of December 31, 2023, there wereno CO Incentive Units unvested. During the year ended December 31, 2023, no CO Incentive Units were granted, vested, or forfeited. As of December 31, 2023, there wasno unrecognized stock‑based compensation expense related to the unvested CO Incentive Units as a result of the redemption of the awards following the 2021 CarOffer Transaction.
The Vesting Agreement provided for the vesting of the Subject Units beneficially owned by the T5 Holders, which would have vested in accordance with the terms described in Note 2 of these consolidated financial statements. As a result of the 2023 CarOffer Transaction, all Subject Units were accelerated and redeemed and, thus, as of December 31, 2023, no Subject Units were unvested. During the year ended December 31,2023, there wereno Subject Units granted, vested, or forfeited. As of December 31, 2023, there wasno unrecognized stock‑based compensation expense related to the unvested Subject Units as a result of the redemption of the awards following the 2023 CarOffer Transaction.
The 2021 CO Plan provided for an incentive equity grant structure whereby 2021 Incentive Units would have been granted to CIE and 2021 CO Plan grantees would have received an associated CIE Interest, with back-to-back vesting between the 2021 Incentive Units and the associated CIE Interest. The 2021 CO Plan authorized up to an aggregate of 228,571 2021 Incentive Units for such issuances.
All CO Incentive Units and Subject Units were accelerated and redeemed in connection with the 2023 CarOffer Transaction. As a result, there wereno CO Incentive Units, Subject Units, or 2021 Incentive Units as of December 31, 2023.
Stock Options
During the year ended December 31, 2024, stock option activity was follows:
| CommonStock · Weighted-AverageExercise Pricefor Equity · Weighted-AverageRemainingContractual Life(In Years) · AggregateIntrinsicValue(1) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outstanding, December 31, 2023 | 776,094 | $25.17 | 5.3 | $5,442 | |
| Granted | — | — | |||
| Exercised | (345,721) | 14.24 | 5,924 | ||
| Forfeited or Expired | (33,324) | 35.11 | |||
| Outstanding, December 31, 2024 | 397,049 | $33.85 | 5.9 | $1,123 | |
| Exercisable as of December 31, 2024 | 351,240 | $33.58 | 5.8 | $1,082 | |
(1)
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the aggregate intrinsic value was calculated based on the positive difference, if any, between the estimated fair value of common stock on December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, or the date of exercise, as appropriate, and the exercise price of the underlying options.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, there wereno options granted. During the year ended December 31, 2022, there were 30,266 options granted.
During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the aggregate intrinsic value for options exercised was$229 and$3,774, respectively.
As of December 31, 2024, there was$260 unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to unvested stock options that is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.0 years.
Restricted Stock Units
During the year ended December 31, 2024, RSU activity was follows:
| Number ofShares | Weighted- Average GrantDate Fair Value | AggregateIntrinsicValue | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unvested outstanding, December 31, 2023 | 5,687,711 | $22.02 | $137,415 |
| Granted | 2,912,712 | 23.98 | |
| Vested | (2,793,920) | 23.44 | |
| Forfeited | (570,325) | 20.11 | |
| Unvested outstanding, December 31, 2024 | 5,236,178 | $22.42 | $191,877 |
During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the weighted-average grant-date fair value of RSUs granted was$17.47 and$28.94 per share, respectively.
During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, RSUs that vested and settled totaled 2,440,510 and 1,649,294, respectively.
During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the total fair value of RSUs vested was$65,479 and$55,136, respectively.
As of December 31, 2024, there was$99,914 of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to unvested RSUs that is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.6 years.
Stock-based Compensation Expense
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, stock-based compensation expense by award type was as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Options | $2,258 | $2,386 | $2,553 |
| Restricted Stock Units | 60,234 | 55,527 | 52,224 |
| CO Incentive Units and Subject Units | — | 26,552 | (21,095) |
| Noncontrolling Interest Units | — | 28,991 | — |
| Total | $62,492 | $113,456 | $33,682 |
Stock-based compensation for CO Incentive Units and Subject Units, and Noncontrolling Interest Units, which were employee-owned, decreased$26,552 and$28,991, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to the year ended December 31, 2023, due to the redemption of such units in connection with the 2023 CarOffer Transaction.
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, stock-based compensation expense by where the stock-based compensation expense was recognized in the Company’s consolidated income statements was as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Cost of revenue | $492 | $2,370 | $475 |
| Sales and marketing expense | 12,176 | 13,710 | 7,733 |
| Product, technology, and development expense | 24,443 | 25,934 | 20,266 |
| General and administrative expense | 25,381 | 71,442 | 5,208 |
| Total | $62,492 | $113,456 | $33,682 |
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, stock-based compensation expense excluded$6,546,$5,472, and$4,468, respectively, of capitalized website development costs, capitalized internal-use software costs, and capitalized hosting arrangements.
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, the income tax expense related to stock-based compensation was$1,098,$5,500, and$4,181, respectively, recognized in the provision for income taxes on the consolidated income statements.
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, the income tax benefit related to stock-based compensation expense was$5,295,$5,353, and$5,441, respectively, recognized in deferred tax asset on the consolidated balance sheets.
2023 CarOffer Transaction
In connection with the 2023 CarOffer Transaction, the Company redeemed all remaining CO Incentive Units, Subject Units, and Noncontrolling Interest Units.
Certain of the Noncontrolling Interest Units were employee owned. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company paid$28,991 for these units and accounted for this portion of the 2023 CarOffer Transaction as stock-based compensation in its consolidated income statements. For the year ended December 31, 2023, for all other Noncontrolling Interest Units, the Company reduced the remaining redeemable noncontrolling interest on its consolidated balance sheets tozero and recorded excess cash paid to these unit holders as a deemed dividend of$5,838.
As part of the 2023 CarOffer Transaction, Subject Units and CO Incentive Units were modified such that any remaining unvested units received accelerated vesting. For the year ended December 31, 2023, as part of the 2023 CarOffer Transaction, the Company purchased all outstanding Subject Units and CO Incentive Units and recognized approximately $20,655 of stock-based compensation in its consolidated income statements.
Common Stock Reserved for Future Issuance
As of December 31, 2024, the Company had reserved the following shares of Class A common stock for future issuance:
| Common stock options outstanding | 397,049 |
|---|---|
| Unvested restricted stock units outstanding | 5,236,178 |
| Shares available for issuance under the 2017 Plan | 8,582,014 |
| Total shares of authorized common stock reserved for future issuance | 14,215,241 |
Common Stock Share Repurchases
On November 7, 2024, the Company announced that the Board authorized a share repurchase program (the “2025 Share Repurchase Program”), pursuant to which the Company may, from time to time, purchase shares of its Class A common stock for an aggregate purchase price not to exceed $200.0 million. Share repurchases under the 2025 Share Repurchase Program may be made through a variety of methods, including but not limited to open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, and transactions that may be effected pursuant to one or more plans under Rule 10b5-1 and/or Rule 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The 2025 Share Repurchase Program does not obligate the Company to repurchase any minimum dollar amount or number of shares. The 2025 Share Repurchase Program has an effective date of January 1, 2025, and an expiration date of December 31, 2025, and prior to its expiration may be modified, suspended, or discontinued by the Board at any time without prior notice. All repurchased shares under the 2025 Share Repurchase Program will be retired. The Company expects to fund share repurchases under the 2025 Share Repurchase Program through cash on hand and cash generated from operations.
On November 7, 2023, the Company announced that the Board authorized a share repurchase program (the “2024 Share Repurchase Program”) pursuant to which the Company could, from time to time, purchase shares of its Class A common stock for an aggregate purchase price not to exceed $250.0 million. The 2024 Share Repurchase Program expired on December 31, 2024. All repurchased shares of Class A common stock under the 2024 Share Repurchase Program were retired. The Company funded share repurchases under the 2024 Share Repurchase Program through cash on hand and cash generated from operations.
On December 8, 2022, the Company announced that the Board authorized a share repurchase program (the “2022 Share Repurchase Program”) pursuant to which the Company could, from time to time, purchase shares of its Class A common stock for an aggregate purchase price not to exceed $250.0 million. The 2022 Share Repurchase Program expired on December 31, 2023. All repurchased shares of Class A common stock under the 2022 Share Repurchase Program were retired. The Company funded share repurchases under the 2022 Share Repurchase Program through cash on hand and cash generated from operations.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company repurchased and retired 6,357,302 shares for$146,117, exclusive of commissions and excise tax, at an average cost of$22.98 per share, under the 2024 Share Repurchase Program. As of December 31, 2024, the 2024 Share Repurchase Program expired.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company repurchased and retired 11,076,755 shares for $204,127, exclusive of commissions and excise tax, at an average cost of $18.43 per share, under the 2022 Share Repurchase Program. As of December 31, 2023, the 2022 Share Repurchase Program expired.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company repurchased and retired 1,350,473 shares for $18,691, at an average cost of $13.84 per share, under the 2022 Share Repurchase Program.
- Earnings Per Share
The Company has two classes of common stock authorized: Class A common stock and Class B common stock. The rights of the holders of Class A and Class B common stock are identical, except with respect to voting and conversion. Each share of Class A common stock is entitled toone vote per share and each share of Class B common stock is entitled toten votes per share. Each share of Class B common stock is convertible intoone share of Class A common stock at the option of the holder at any time or automatically upon certain events described in the Company’s fourth amended and restated certificate of incorporation, including upon either the death or voluntary termination of the Company’s Executive Chair. The Company allocates undistributed earnings attributable to common stock between the common stock classes on aone‑to‑one basis when computing net income per share. As a result, basic and diluted net income per share of Class A common stock and per share of Class B common stock are equivalent.
During the year ended December 31, 2024,1,012,428 shares of Class B common stock were converted into Class A common stock. During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, no shares of Class B common stock were converted into Class A common stock.
Basic net income per share (“Basic EPS”) is computed by dividing consolidated net income adjusted for net loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest, deemed dividends on redemption of noncontrolling interest, and changes in the redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest, if applicable, by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period. The Company computes the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period using the total number of shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock outstanding as of the last day of the previous year plus the weighted-average of any additional shares issued and outstanding during the reporting period, less the weighted-average of any shares repurchased during the period.
Diluted net income per share (“Diluted EPS”) gives effect to all potentially dilutive securities. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing consolidated net income adjusted for net loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest, deemed dividends on redemption of noncontrolling interest, and changes in the redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest, if applicable and dilutive, by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period using (i) the number of shares of common stock used in the Basic EPS calculation as indicated above, (ii) if dilutive, the incremental weighted-average common stock that the Company would issue upon the exercise of stock options and the vesting of RSUs, and (iii) if dilutive, market-based performance awards based on the number of shares that would be issuable as of the end of the reporting period assuming the end of the reporting period was also the end of the contingency period. The dilutive effect of these common stock equivalents is reflected in diluted earnings per share by application of the treasury stock method. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the if-converted method was used to calculate the number of shares issuable upon exercise of the 2024 Put Right, inclusive of CarOffer noncontrolling interest and CO Incentive and Subject Units, that would have been issuable as of the end of the reporting period assuming the end of the reporting period was also the end of the contingency period.
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator used in the calculation of basic and diluted net income per share was as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Numerator: | |||
| Consolidated net income | $20,972 | $22,053 | $78,954 |
| Net loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest | — | (14,889) | (5,433) |
| Deemed dividend on redemption of noncontrolling interest | — | 5,838 | — |
| Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interest to redemption value | — | — | (109,398) |
| Net income attributable to common stockholders — basic | $20,972 | $31,104 | $193,785 |
| Net loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest | — | (14,889) | (5,433) |
| Deemed dividend on redemption of noncontrolling interest | — | 5,838 | — |
| Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interest to redemption value | — | — | (109,398) |
| Net income attributable to common stockholders — diluted | $20,972 | $22,053 | $78,954 |
| Denominator: | |||
| Weighted-average number of shares of common stock used in computing net income per share attributable to common stockholders — basic | 104,535,572 | 113,240,139 | 118,474,991 |
| Dilutive effect of share equivalents resulting from stock options | 134,370 | 225,691 | 275,330 |
| Dilutive effect of share equivalents resulting from unvested restricted stock units | 1,593,944 | 723,004 | 366,258 |
| Dilutive effect of share equivalents resulting from CO Incentive units, Subject Units, and noncontrolling interest | — | — | 9,034,395 |
| Weighted-average number of shares of common stock used in computing net income per share attributable to common stockholders — diluted | 106,263,886 | 114,188,834 | 128,150,974 |
| Net income per share attributable to common stockholders: | |||
| Basic | $0.20 | $0.27 | $1.64 |
| Diluted | $0.20 | $0.19 | $0.62 |
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, potentially dilutive common stock equivalents that have been excluded from the calculation of diluted weighted‑average shares outstanding as their effect would have been anti‑dilutive was as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Stock options outstanding | 503,505 | 551,196 | 587,494 |
| Restricted stock units outstanding | 656,589 | 2,333,489 | 2,634,463 |
For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, there were no contingently issuable shares as a result of the 2023 CarOffer Transaction.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company modified its market-based performance awards to contain only service-based vesting conditions in line with the Company’s other RSU awards. As a result, there areno market-based RSUs outstanding as of December 31, 2024, 2023, or 2022.
- Income Taxes
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, the domestic and foreign components of income before income taxes were as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| United States | $21,936 | $50,632 | $110,213 |
| Foreign | 2,721 | 1,055 | 1,149 |
| Income before income taxes | $24,657 | $51,687 | $111,362 |
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, the components of the provision for income taxes were as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Current provision: | |||
| Federal | $24,343 | $52,352 | $43,207 |
| State | 12,134 | 14,614 | 11,140 |
| Foreign | 556 | 532 | 175 |
| 37,033 | 67,498 | 54,522 | |
| Deferred benefit: | |||
| Federal | (27,737) | (37,583) | (20,278) |
| State | (5,600) | (272) | (1,789) |
| Foreign | (11) | (9) | (47) |
| (33,348) | (37,864) | (22,114) | |
| Income tax provision | $3,685 | $29,634 | $32,408 |
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, the components of the effective tax rate were as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| U.S. federal taxes at statutory rate | 21.0% | 21.0% | 21.0% |
| State taxes, net of federal benefit | 25.8 | 19.8 | 7.6 |
| Nondeductible expenses | 3.7 | 1.5 | 0.6 |
| Stock compensation | 3.5 | 7.3 | 2.8 |
| Foreign rate differential | (0.2) | (0.1) | (0.1) |
| Federal and state credits | (39.4) | (9.8) | (5.0) |
| Disallowed officer compensation | 4.1 | 0.4 | 0.8 |
| Investment in partnership | — | 5.8 | 0.6 |
| Uncertain tax provision | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.5 |
| CarOffer and Autolist M&A | (4.3) | 2.9 | — |
| Other | 0.1 | — | (0.1) |
| Consolidated effective tax rate | 14.9% | 49.2% | 28.7% |
| Effective tax rate attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest | — | (4.7) | (1.0) |
| Effective tax rate attributable to CarGurus, Inc. | 14.9% | 44.5% | 27.7% |
For the year ended December 31, 2024, the effective tax rate attributable to CarGurus, Inc. was 14.9%, which is lower than the statutory tax rate of 21%, principally due to federal and state research and development credits and the tax benefits of CarOffer acquisition related adjustment, partially offset by state and local income taxes, non-deductible meals, entertainment, and transportation expenses, and the Section 162 (m) excess officer compensation limitation.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, the effective tax rate attributable to CarGurus, Inc. was 44.5%, which is greater than the U.S. federal statutory rate primarily due to state and local income taxes inclusive of the impact from the recently passed Massachusetts apportionment tax rule, shortfalls on the taxable compensation of share-based awards, the Section 162(m) excess officer compensation limitation, and tax impact associated with the 2023 CarOffer Transaction, partially offset by federal and state research and development tax credits.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, the effective tax rate attributable to CarGurus, Inc. was 27.7%, which is greater than the U.S. federal statutory rate primarily due to state and local income taxes, the exclusion of loss from investment in partnership, shortfalls on the taxable compensation of share-based awards, and the Section 162(m) excess officer compensation limitation, partially offset by federal and state research and development tax credits.
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the approximate income tax effect of each type of temporary difference and carryforward was as follows:
| As of December 31, | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| Deferred tax assets: | ||
| Net operating loss carryforwards | $219 | $304 |
| Credit carryforwards | 915 | 928 |
| Stock-based compensation | 5,295 | 5,353 |
| Lease liability | 47,322 | 47,907 |
| Accruals and reserves | 5,857 | 4,642 |
| Intangible assets | 45,092 | 20,294 |
| Capitalized research and development | 52,717 | 45,468 |
| 157,417 | 124,896 | |
| Valuation Allowance | (324) | (305) |
| 157,093 | 124,591 | |
| Deferred tax liabilities: | ||
| Prepaid expenses | (2,115) | (2,459) |
| Deferred commissions | (5,867) | (5,531) |
| Right of use assets | (29,755) | (42,531) |
| Capital lease | (38) | (72) |
| Property and equipment | (12,672) | (700) |
| (50,447) | (51,293) | |
| Net deferred tax assets | $106,646 | $73,298 |
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, valuation allowances were immaterial. Based upon the level of historical U.S. earnings and future projections over the period in which the net deferred tax assets are deductible, the Company believes it is more likely than not that it will realize the benefits of these deductible differences, with the exception of the deferred tax asset related to intangible assets in Ireland. For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the change in the valuation allowance was$19 and $47, respectively.
As of December 31, 2024, the Company hadno federal net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards and had state NOL carryforwards of$3,099. The federal NOL carryforward, subject to an annual limitation of 80% of taxable income, does not expire. The state NOL carryforwards expire at various dates through 2040. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had federal and state tax credit carryforwards of$660 and$322, respectively, available to reduce future tax liabilities. The federal tax credit carryforward expires in 2040. The state tax credit carryforwards indefinitely as it is related to California. Utilization of the NOL and tax credit carryforwards may be subject to an annual limitation due to ownership change limitations that have occurred previously or that could occur in the future, as provided by Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code (“Section 382”), as well as similar state provisions. Ownership changes may limit the amount of NOL or tax credit carryforwards that can be utilized annually to offset future taxable income and tax, respectively. In general, an ownership change, as defined by Section 382, results from transactions that increase the ownership of 5% stockholders in the stock of a corporation by more than 50% in the aggregate over athree-year period.
As of December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, changes in the gross uncertain tax position (excluding interest and penalties) were as follows:
| As of December 31, | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Unrecognized tax benefits at beginning of year | $812 | $598 | $— |
| Increase related to current year tax provision | 104 | 178 | 198 |
| (Decrease) increase related to prior year tax provision | (19) | 36 | 400 |
| Decrease related to settlements with taxing authorities | (45) | — | — |
| Unrecognized tax benefits at end of year | $852 | $812 | $598 |
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, income tax expense and liability related to uncertain tax positions, exclusive of immaterial interest or penalties related to uncertain tax provisions, was$852,$812, and $598, respectively, which would favorably affect the Company’s effective tax rate, if recognized.
The Company permanently reinvests the earnings, if any, of its foreign subsidiaries and, therefore, does not provide for U.S. income taxes that could result from the distribution of those earnings to the Company. As of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the amount of unrecognized deferred U.S. taxes on these earnings was immaterial.
The Company and its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, various state jurisdictions, and in various foreign jurisdictions. The Company’s tax filings remain subject to audits by applicable tax authorities for a certain length of time following the tax year to which those filings relate. Tax years 2021 and forward generally remain open for examination for federal and state tax purposes. Tax years 2020 and forward generally remain open for examination for foreign tax purposes.
- Segment and Geographic Information
Effective as of the fourth quarter of 2022 the Company revised its segment reporting fromone reportable segment totwo reportable segments, U.S. Marketplace and Digital Wholesale. The change in segment reporting was a triggering event for an evaluation of goodwill impairment. As such, the Company evaluated for goodwill impairment on December 31, 2022, and did not identify any impairment to its goodwill. The change in segment reporting was made to align with financial reporting results regularly provided to the Company’s CODM, Jason Trevisan, Chief Executive Officer, to assess the business. Segment information is presented in the same manner as the CODM reviews the Company’s operating results in assessing performance and allocating resources. The CODM reviews segment revenue and segment income (loss) from operations as a proxy for the performance of the Company’s operations. The CODM uses segment income (loss) from operations in the annual budgeting and monthly forecasting process. The CODM considers segment income (loss) from operations in analyses of the actual amounts against budgeted and forecasted values to evaluate the performance of each segment and to make decisions for the allocation of capital and other resources to each segment.
The U.S. Marketplace segment derives revenue from marketplace services from customers within the U.S. The Digital Wholesale segment primarily derives revenue from Dealer-to-Dealer and Instant Max Cash Offer services and products which are sold on the CarOffer platform. The Company also has two operating segments which are individually immaterial and, therefore, aggregated into the Other category to reconcile reportable segments to the consolidated income statements. The Other category derives revenue from marketplace services from customers outside of the U.S.
Revenue and costs discretely incurred by reportable segments, including depreciation and amortization, are included in the calculation of reportable segment income (loss) from operations. Digital Wholesale segment loss from operations also reflects certain Instant Max Cash Offer marketing and lead generation fees allocated from the U.S. Marketplace segment.
The Company’s significant segment expenses consist of cost of revenue and sales and marketing expense. The Company’s other segment items consist of product, technology, and development expense and general and administrative expense. The Company has disclosed depreciation and amortization expense separately from other segment items to meet disclosure requirements.
Asset information by reportable segment is not provided to the CODM as asset information is assessed and reviewed on a consolidated basis.
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, segment revenue, significant segment expenses, segment depreciation and amortization, segment income (loss) from operations, and the reconciliation from segment income (loss) from operations to consolidated income before income taxes were as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Marketplace · Digital Wholesale · Total | ||||
| Revenue | ||||
| Revenue from external customers | $733,688 | $97,785 | $831,473 | |
| Total segment revenue | $733,688 | $97,785 | $831,473 | |
| Reconciliation of Revenue | ||||
| Other revenue | 62,911 | |||
| Total consolidated revenue | $894,384 | |||
| Less: | ||||
| Cost of revenue(1) | 50,078 | 100,489 | 150,567 | |
| Sales and marketing | 263,287 | 19,637 | 282,924 | |
| Depreciation and amortization | 8,673 | 3,305 | 11,978 | |
| Other segment items | 228,912 | 153,669 | 382,581 | |
| Total segment expenses | 550,950 | 277,100 | 828,050 | |
| Total segment income (loss) from operations | 182,738 | (179,315) | 3,423 | |
| Reconciliation of segment income (loss) from operations to income from operations: | ||||
| Other operating income | 9,989 | |||
| Total income from operations | 13,412 | |||
| Reconciliation of total income from operations to total income before income taxes: | ||||
| Total other income, net | 11,245 | |||
| Total income before income taxes | $24,657 | |||
(1)
For the year ended December 31, 2024, U.S. Marketplace and Digital Wholesale cost of revenue includes depreciation and amortization expense of $4,244 and $8,084, respectively.
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Marketplace · Digital Wholesale · Total | ||||
| Revenue | ||||
| Revenue from external customers | $647,284 | $216,005 | $863,289 | |
| Total segment revenue | $647,284 | $216,005 | $863,289 | |
| Reconciliation of Revenue | ||||
| Other revenue | 50,953 | |||
| Total consolidated revenue | $914,242 | |||
| Less: | ||||
| Cost of revenue(1) | 55,939 | 202,768 | 258,707 | |
| Sales and marketing | 235,917 | 29,718 | 265,635 | |
| Depreciation and amortization | 6,264 | 9,229 | 15,493 | |
| Other segment items | 221,440 | 70,673 | 292,113 | |
| Total segment expenses | 519,560 | 312,388 | 831,948 | |
| Total segment income (loss) from operations | 127,724 | (96,383) | 31,341 | |
| Reconciliation of segment income (loss) from operations to income from operations: | ||||
| Other operating income | 1,286 | |||
| Total income from operations | 32,627 | |||
| Reconciliation of total income from operations to total income before income taxes: | ||||
| Total other income, net | 19,060 | |||
| Total income before income taxes | $51,687 | |||
(1)
For the year ended December 31, 2023, U.S. Marketplace and Digital Wholesale cost of revenue includes depreciation and amortization expense of $5,297 and $27,036, respectively.
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022(1) | |||||
| U.S. Marketplace · Digital Wholesale · Total | |||||
| Revenue | |||||
| Revenue from external customers | $614,136 | $996,264 | $1,610,400 | ||
| Total segment revenue | $614,136 | $996,264 | $1,610,400 | ||
| Reconciliation of Revenue | |||||
| Other revenue | 44,635 | ||||
| Total consolidated revenue | $1,655,035 | ||||
| Less: | |||||
| Cost of revenue(2) | 52,664 | 941,442 | 994,106 | ||
| Sales and marketing | 234,615 | 59,878 | 294,493 | ||
| Depreciation and amortization | 6,089 | 9,012 | 15,101 | ||
| Other segment items(3) | 192,313 | (2,234) | 190,079 | ||
| Total segment expenses | 485,681 | 1,008,098 | 1,493,779 | ||
| Total segment income (loss) from operations | 128,455 | (11,834) | 116,621 | ||
| Reconciliation of segment income (loss) from operations to income from operations: | |||||
| Other operating income | (8,143) | ||||
| Total income from operations | 108,478 | ||||
| Reconciliation of total income from operations to total income before income taxes: | |||||
| Total other income, net | 2,884 | ||||
| Total income before income taxes | $111,362 | ||||
(1)
For the year ended December 31, 2022, Digital Wholesale segment loss did not reflect certain Dealer-to-Dealer and Instant Max Cash Offer related capitalized website development expense from the U.S. Marketplace segment. During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company updated Digital Wholesale depreciation and amortization to reflect certain Dealer-to-Dealer and Instant Max Cash Offer related capitalized website development amortization expense from the U.S. Marketplace segment and accordingly updated Digital Wholesale Depreciation for the year ended December 31, 2022, for comparative purposes.
(2)
For the year ended December 31, 2022, U.S. Marketplace and Digital Wholesale cost of revenue includes depreciation and amortization expense of $5,465 and $24,338, respectively.
(3)
For the year ended December 31, 2022, Digital Wholesale other segment items include the impact of the decrease in the valuation of the CO Incentive Units and Subject Units, following mark to market valuation adjustments.
As of December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, segment assets were as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022(1) | ||||
| Segment Assets: | ||||||
| U.S. Marketplace | $674,138 | $607,307 | $525,103 | |||
| Digital Wholesale | 108,890 | 258,458 | 358,289 | |||
| Other | 41,508 | 53,162 | 43,710 | |||
| Total | $824,536 | $918,927 | $927,102 | |||
(1)
As of December 31, 2022, Digital Wholesale assets did not reflect certain Dealer-to-Dealer and Instant Max Cash Offer related capitalized website development assets from the U.S. Marketplace segment. During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company updated Digital Wholesale assets to reflect certain Dealer-to-Dealer and Instant Max Cash Offer related capitalized website development amortization assets from the U.S. Marketplace segment and accordingly updated Digital Wholesale assets as of December 31, 2022, for comparative purposes.
Digital Wholesale segment assets decreased$149,568, due primarily to impairments. As of December 31, 2024, the Company recognized a $127,475 CarOffer reporting unit impairment and a $16,776 CG Buy Online reporting unit impairment. For further discussion of impairments, see Note 6 of these consolidated financial statements.
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, revenue by geographical region were as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Revenue by Geographic Region: | |||
| United States | $831,473 | $863,289 | $1,610,400 |
| International | 62,911 | 50,953 | 44,635 |
| Total | $894,384 | $914,242 | $1,655,035 |
As of December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, long-lived assets outside of the U.S. were immaterial.
- Employee Benefit Plans
The Company maintains a defined contribution savings plan for all eligible U.S. employees under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, the Company matched 50% of an employee’s annual contributions to the 401(k) plan, up to a maximum of 8% of the employee’s base salary, bonus, and commissions paid during the year. Matching contributions are subject to vesting based on the employee’s start date and length of service. Employees can designate the investment of their 401(k) accounts into several mutual funds. The Company does not allow investment in its common stock through the 401(k) plan.
The Company’s subsidiary, CarOffer, maintains its own defined contribution savings plan for all eligible U.S. employees under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, CarOffer matched 50% of a CarOffer employee’s annual contributions to the 401(k) plan, up to a maximum of the lesser of (i)6% of the CarOffer employee’s base salary, bonus, and commissions paid during the year or (ii) $5,000. Matching contributions are subject to vesting based on the CarOffer employee’s start date and length of service. CarOffer employees can designate the investment of their 401(k) accounts into several mutual funds.
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, total employer contributions to the 401(k) plan were$6,429,$6,575, and$5,498, respectively.
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.