Ernest Garcia II Sells Shares in Carvana Co.

Ernest Garcia II, a significant shareholder in Carvana Co. (NYSE:CVNA), has sold a substantial portion of his holdings in the company, according to recent filings. Over the course of two days, Garcia engaged in multiple transactions, selling shares for a total value of $34,394,642. The sales occurred at weighted average prices ranging from $167.9839 to $175.7486.

Garcia, who is known for his considerable stake in the online used car retailer, carried out these sales through a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan, a mechanism that allows insiders to sell shares at predetermined times to avoid accusations of insider trading. The trading plan was adopted on March 11, 2024, as stated in the footnotes of the filing.

The transactions were executed in a series of trades, with prices for the sold shares varying within specific ranges on different days. On September 23, the shares were sold at prices between $167.34 and $176.15, while on September 24, the prices ranged from $169.23 to $173.30. These price ranges correspond to the weighted averages reported in the filing.

It’s worth noting that Garcia also converted Class A Common Units of Carvana Group, LLC into Class A Shares of Carvana Co., per the Exchange Agreement dated April 27, 2017. However, these conversions did not involve any monetary transactions and are reflected with a total value of $0 in the filing.

The sale represents a significant change in Garcia’s holdings, but it is important to highlight that he still maintains indirect ownership of a large number of shares through various trusts and entities. For example, the Ernest Irrevocable 2004 Trust III and the Ernest C. Garcia III Multi-Generational Trust III hold substantial amounts of Class A and Class B Common Stock, and ECG II SPE, LLC, an entity wholly owned and controlled by Garcia, also owns a significant number of Class B shares.

Investors often monitor the buying and selling activities of major shareholders for insights into their confidence in the company’s future performance. The recent sales by Garcia represent a notable adjustment in his investment in Carvana, although the reasons behind the sales are not disclosed in the filing.

Carvana has been a topic of interest for investors, as the company has disrupted the traditional car dealership model with its online car buying and selling platform. The company’s stock performance and business developments continue to be closely watched by the market.

Recent Analyst Reports on Carvana

In other recent news, Carvana has been the focus of several analyst reports following robust second-quarter results. BofA Securities reinstated coverage on Carvana with a Buy rating, citing the company’s potential for significant long-term growth within the $800 billion used car market. Similarly, Evercore ISI increased its price target for Carvana, attributing this to the company’s tightened lending practices and increased web traffic.

Stephens initiated coverage on Carvana with an Overweight rating, projecting EBITDA profitability for the company by the end of the year. This projection is backed by Carvana’s innovative approach to the used vehicle retail market, which has resulted in superior financial metrics compared to its competitors. Furthermore, Jefferies raised its price target for Carvana, citing the company’s strategic capacity expansion.

BNP Paribas (OTC:BNPQY) Exane maintained its Neutral stance on Carvana shares, following a review of the auto financing environment influenced by Ally Financial (NYSE:ALLY)‘s recent comments. The review suggests that while there is no immediate concern of Ally’s weaknesses being driven by Carvana, the potential for a slowdown in Carvana’s growth exists if Ally decides to implement stricter credit standards.

Carvana’s management provided guidance for third-quarter unit sales to exceed the second quarter’s performance, indicating a year-over-year growth rate of over 25%. The company’s projections for 2024 EBITDA range between $1 billion and $1.2 billion, surpassing the consensus estimate of $890 million. These recent developments underscore Carvana’s resilience and adaptability in the dynamic market.

InvestingPro Insights

Amid the news of Ernest Garcia II’s significant divestment from Carvana Co. (NYSE:CVNA), real-time data from InvestingPro provides further context for investors considering the company’s current financial health and market performance. Here are some key metrics as of the last twelve months leading up to Q2 2024:

• The company’s Market Cap stands at a robust $36.05 billion, underscoring its substantial presence in the online used car marketplace.
• With a P/E Ratio of 27.46, Carvana trades at a valuation that suggests investor confidence in its earnings potential, despite a negative adjusted P/E ratio of -153.09, hinting at expectations of future earnings recovery.
• Carvana’s Price to Book ratio is 69.34, which could indicate that the market is valuing the company’s assets at a premium, considering its growth prospects and industry position.

InvestingPro Tips reveal that analysts have recently revised their earnings upwards for the upcoming period, signaling potential optimism about the company’s future performance. Additionally, Carvana’s stock has shown a high return over the last year, with a 1 Year Price Total Return of 321.49%, reflecting a significant increase in investor confidence and stock value.

For investors seeking a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers additional insights, including 18 more InvestingPro Tips for Carvana, available at InvestingPro. These tips encompass various aspects of the company’s financial health and market performance, such as earnings predictions, valuation multiples, and liquidity position, providing a well-rounded view of Carvana’s investment potential.

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