---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000950170-21-002934"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "CARS"
cik: "0001683606"
company_name: "Cars.com Inc."
filed_at: "2021-11-04T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-28T13:09:00.842308+00:00"
event_type: "earnings"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.75
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Cars.com Q3 revenue +8% to $156.6M; acquires CreditIQ for $30M + up to $50M earnout

## Summary
- Revenue $156.6M (+8% YoY); net income $2.4M ($0.03 diluted EPS) vs loss of $12.3M a year ago.
- Adjusted EBITDA $45.8M (29% margin); ARPD $2,332 (+7%); dealer customers 19,029 (+5% YoY).
- Total debt reduced to $490M; repaid $107.5M YTD; net leverage improved to 2.3x.
- Q4 2021 guidance: revenue $157.5-159.5M, adjusted EBITDA margin 28.5%-30.5%.
- Acquired CreditIQ fintech for $30M cash, up to $50M earnout; closes in Q4 2021; expands into auto finance.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000950170-21-002934
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: CARS
- cik: 0001683606
- company_name: Cars.com Inc.
- filed_at: 2021-11-04T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: earnings
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.75
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 2.02, 8.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1683606/000095017021002934/0000950170-21-002934-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1683606/000095017021002934/cars-20211104.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000950170-21-002934
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000950170-21-002934.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000950170-21-002934.txt

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.