Carvana (NYSE:CVNA), a company that has seen its stock prices fluctuate significantly since its IPO in April 2017, is poised for potential growth in the next year. After hitting a record high of over $376 in August 2021, the stock faced challenges, including a bear market in 2022 and concerns about a potential bankruptcy filing, leading to a dip to less than $5 in December 2022. Currently trading just below $32, with a market cap of $6.39 billion, Carvana aims to regain momentum and provide substantial returns to investors.
Examining Carvana’s Recent Earnings Report
Operating in the used-car market through an e-commerce platform, Carvana experienced a surge in demand during the COVID-19 pandemic, driving sales from $3.9 billion in 2019 to $12.8 billion in 2021. However, the past year brought challenges such as rising interest rates and persistent inflation, resulting in decelerating sales, increased expenses, and mounting losses. Carvana reported operating losses of $1.49 billion in 2022, with the last four quarters showing sustained losses of $820 million. The gross margin, standing at less than 12%, indicates limited room for aggressive investment in growth or marketing.
In Q3 of 2023, Carvana faced an 18% YoY decrease in sales at $2.77 billion, selling 80,987 vehicles with an average selling price of $34,205. Operating expenses for the period declined by 34% YoY to $433 million, driven by cost-cutting measures. The company made strides in cost reduction, lowering non-vehicle retail costs, and operating expenses. Despite these improvements, sustained sales growth will require further cost-cutting efforts.
Debt Restructuring and Cost Optimization
Carvana took proactive measures to address its financial situation, restructuring debt and reducing balance sheet debt by $1.2 billion while cutting interest expenses by $455 million over the next two years. In the last 12 months, the company implemented various cost-cutting measures, including a $900 reduction in transport costs per unit and significant cuts in retail and wholesale vehicle operating expenses and ad expenses per unit. Carvana, operating with excess capacity, aims to benefit from economies of scale and improved operating leverage as utilization increases.
Setting the Sights on Future Growth
Despite challenges, Carvana stock has surged over 500% year-to-date, ranking among the top performers in the Russell 2000 Index for 2023. Analysts’ opinions vary, with the majority recommending “hold.” The average target price for CVNA is $38.12, indicating a 21% potential upside from the current trading price. Furthermore, Wall Street’s high target price of $60 suggests a projected upside of more than 90% from current levels. The coming year holds the promise of renewed growth and increased value for Carvana investors.
Featured Image: Megapixl
Author Faith Yakubu 
