America's Car-Mart (CRMT)
Market Price (12/5/2025): $25.86 | Market Cap: $214.0 MilSector: Consumer Discretionary | Industry: Automotive Retail
America's Car-Mart (CRMT)
Market Price (12/5/2025): $25.86Market Cap: $214.0 MilSector: Consumer DiscretionaryIndustry: Automotive Retail
Investment Highlights
Why It Matters
Which of these 2 stories sounds closer for this stock?
1. Generates cash flow
The stock generated 4% or more of the share price (called cash flow yield), and shows moderate 10-15% or more growth.
2. Riding a trend
Think Tesla during the pandemic of 2020 when EVs were riding a cultural high, or Nvidia in the current AI boom, or even Figma. These companies don’t have enough yield, or, enough growth, or both - however - they are riding a trend. They have momentum. These can be more volatile - they don’t have the floor of strong cash flow
| Megatrend and thematic driversMegatrends include Evolving Automotive Market. Themes include Used Vehicle Retail and Financing. | Weak multi-year price returns2Y Excs Rtn is -118%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -137% | Debt is significantNet D/ENet Debt/Equity. Debt net of cash. Negative indicates net cash. Equity is taken as the Market Capitalization is 181% |
| Meaningful short interestShort Interest % of Basic SharesShort Interest % of Basic Shares = (Short Interest Quantity) / (Basic Shares Outstanding). A high fraction of short interest can indicate potential risk of a short squeeze. is 20% | Weak revenue growthRev Chg QQuarterly Revenue Change % is -1.9% | |
| Not cash flow generativeCFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -2.9%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -3.1% |
| Megatrend and thematic driversMegatrends include Evolving Automotive Market. Themes include Used Vehicle Retail and Financing. |
| Weak multi-year price returns2Y Excs Rtn is -118%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -137% |
| Meaningful short interestShort Interest % of Basic SharesShort Interest % of Basic Shares = (Short Interest Quantity) / (Basic Shares Outstanding). A high fraction of short interest can indicate potential risk of a short squeeze. is 20% |
| Debt is significantNet D/ENet Debt/Equity. Debt net of cash. Negative indicates net cash. Equity is taken as the Market Capitalization is 181% |
| Weak revenue growthRev Chg QQuarterly Revenue Change % is -1.9% |
| Not cash flow generativeCFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -2.9%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -3.1% |
Valuation, Metrics & Events
CRMT Stock
Why The Stock Moved
Qualitative Assessment
AI Generated Analysis | Feedback
Here are the key points explaining why America's Car-Mart's (CRMT) stock moved by approximately -42.3% in the approximate time period leading up to December 5, 2025:
1. Significant Earnings Misses and Losses
America's Car-Mart reported a loss of $22.5 million, or $2.71 per share (adjusted loss of $0.79 per share), for its fiscal second quarter ended October 31, 2025, significantly missing analyst expectations for a profit of $0.14 per share. This substantial miss was the primary catalyst for a sharp negative market reaction, with the stock initially trading down over 8% following the announcement. In the fiscal first quarter ended July 31, 2025, the company also reported a loss of $5.7 million, or $0.69 per share, missing analyst estimates of $0.83 per share, which led to the stock falling over 21% and touching a 52-week low.
2. Decreased Sales Volumes and Revenue Challenges
The company experienced a decrease in sales volumes, with units sold dropping 1.1% to 13,637 in fiscal Q2 2026. Total revenue in the same quarter saw only a modest increase of 0.8%. In the fiscal first quarter of 2026, total revenue declined by 1.9%, primarily due to a 5.7% decrease in retail units sold. Earlier in fiscal year 2025, the company also reported a 5.2% decrease in revenues, influenced by a decline in retail unit sales.
Stock Movement Drivers
Return vs. Risk
Price Returns Compared
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Total [1] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Returns | |||||||
| CRMT Return | 0% | -7% | -29% | 5% | -32% | -50% | -76% |
| Peers Return | 22% | 43% | 6% | 35% | 23% | 1% | 210% |
| S&P 500 Return | 16% | 27% | -19% | 24% | 23% | 17% | 112% |
Monthly Win Rates [3] | |||||||
| CRMT Win Rate | 75% | 58% | 50% | 50% | 42% | 40% | |
| Peers Win Rate | 50% | 46% | 42% | 46% | 44% | 53% | |
| S&P 500 Win Rate | 58% | 75% | 42% | 67% | 75% | 70% | |
Max Drawdowns [4] | |||||||
| CRMT Max Drawdown | -65% | -11% | -42% | -18% | -50% | -65% | |
| Peers Max Drawdown | -38% | -3% | -15% | -4% | -6% | -12% | |
| S&P 500 Max Drawdown | -31% | -1% | -25% | -1% | -2% | -15% | |
[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] Peers: AN, MUSA, GPI, BGSI, HIFI.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2025 data is for the year up to 12/4/2025 (YTD)
How Low Can It Go
| Event | CRMT | S&P 500 |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 Inflation Shock | ||
| % Loss | -66.0% | -25.4% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 193.8% | 34.1% |
| Time to Breakeven | Not Fully Recovered days | 464 days |
| 2020 Covid Pandemic | ||
| % Loss | -70.3% | -33.9% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 236.9% | 51.3% |
| Time to Breakeven | 324 days | 148 days |
| 2018 Correction | ||
| % Loss | -31.9% | -19.8% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 46.9% | 24.7% |
| Time to Breakeven | 267 days | 120 days |
| 2008 Global Financial Crisis | ||
| % Loss | -67.8% | -56.8% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 210.5% | 131.3% |
| Time to Breakeven | 285 days | 1480 days |
Compare to AN, MUSA, GPI, BGSI, HIFI
In The Past
America's Car-Mart's stock fell -66.0% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 5/26/2021. A -66.0% loss requires a 193.8% gain to breakeven.
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Latest Trefis Analyses
| Title | Topic | |
|---|---|---|
| DASHBOARDS | ||
| Would You Still Hold America's Car-Mart Stock If It Fell Another 30%? | Return |
| Title | |
|---|---|
| ARTICLES |
Trade Ideas
Select past ideas related to CRMT. For more, see Trefis Trade Ideas.
| Date | Ticker | Company | Category | Trade Strategy | 6M Fwd Rtn | 12M Fwd Rtn | 12M Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11302025 | BBWI | Bath & Body Works | Dip Buy | DB | Insider Buys | Low D/EDip Buy with Strong Insider BuyingBuying dips for companies with strong insider buying in the last 1 month, positive operating income and reasonable debt / market cap | 9.2% | 9.2% | 0.0% |
| 11262025 | HRB | H&R Block | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | 2.4% | 2.4% | 0.0% |
| 11262025 | LRN | Stride | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | -4.1% | -4.1% | -4.1% |
| 11212025 | ABNB | Airbnb | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | 5.1% | 5.1% | 0.0% |
| 11212025 | MTN | Vail Resorts | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | 2.8% | 2.8% | -1.6% |
| Date | Ticker | Company | Category | Trade Strategy | 6M Fwd Rtn | 12M Fwd Rtn | 12M Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11302025 | BBWI | Bath & Body Works | Dip Buy | DB | Insider Buys | Low D/EDip Buy with Strong Insider BuyingBuying dips for companies with strong insider buying in the last 1 month, positive operating income and reasonable debt / market cap | 9.2% | 9.2% | 0.0% |
| 11262025 | HRB | H&R Block | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | 2.4% | 2.4% | 0.0% |
| 11262025 | LRN | Stride | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | -4.1% | -4.1% | -4.1% |
| 11212025 | ABNB | Airbnb | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | 5.1% | 5.1% | 0.0% |
| 11212025 | MTN | Vail Resorts | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | 2.8% | 2.8% | -1.6% |
Research & Analysis
Invest in Strategies
Wealth Management
Peer Comparisons for America's Car-Mart
| Peers to compare with: |
Financials
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| Mkt Price | 215.13 |
| Mkt Cap | 6.5 |
| Rev LTM | 11,271 |
| Op Inc LTM | 421 |
| FCF LTM | 127 |
| FCF 3Y Avg | 236 |
| CFO LTM | 217 |
| CFO 3Y Avg | 408 |
Growth & Margins
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| Rev Chg LTM | 0.9% |
| Rev Chg 3Y Avg | 3.7% |
| Rev Chg Q | 0.2% |
| QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM | 0.0% |
| Op Mgn LTM | 4.5% |
| Op Mgn 3Y Avg | 4.5% |
| QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM | -0.0% |
| CFO/Rev LTM | 3.9% |
| CFO/Rev 3Y Avg | 2.3% |
| FCF/Rev LTM | 2.0% |
| FCF/Rev 3Y Avg | 1.1% |
Valuation
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| Mkt Cap | 6.5 |
| P/S | 0.3 |
| P/EBIT | 6.6 |
| P/E | 15.5 |
| P/CFO | 8.4 |
| Total Yield | 6.9% |
| Dividend Yield | 0.2% |
| FCF Yield 3Y Avg | 3.1% |
| D/E | 1.1 |
| Net D/E | 1.1 |
Returns
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| 1M Rtn | 9.6% |
| 3M Rtn | -9.7% |
| 6M Rtn | -3.7% |
| 12M Rtn | -15.8% |
| 3Y Rtn | 62.3% |
| 1M Excs Rtn | 8.4% |
| 3M Excs Rtn | -16.1% |
| 6M Excs Rtn | -19.2% |
| 12M Excs Rtn | -28.6% |
| 3Y Excs Rtn | -17.2% |
Returns Analyses
SEC Filings
Expand for More| Report Date | Filing Date | Filing |
|---|---|---|
| 7312025 | 9092025 | 10-Q 7/31/2025 |
| 4302025 | 8082025 | 10-K 4/30/2025 |
| 1312025 | 3102025 | 10-Q 1/31/2025 |
| 10312024 | 12092024 | 10-Q 10/31/2024 |
| 7312024 | 9162024 | 10-Q 7/31/2024 |
| 4302024 | 7152024 | 10-K 4/30/2024 |
| 1312024 | 3112024 | 10-Q 1/31/2024 |
| 10312023 | 12082023 | 10-Q 10/31/2023 |
| 7312023 | 9082023 | 10-Q 7/31/2023 |
| 4302023 | 6262023 | 10-K 4/30/2023 |
| 1312023 | 3102023 | 10-Q 1/31/2023 |
| 10312022 | 12122022 | 10-Q 10/31/2022 |
| 7312022 | 9022022 | 10-Q 7/31/2022 |
| 4302022 | 7112022 | 10-K 4/30/2022 |
| 1312022 | 3092022 | 10-Q 1/31/2022 |
| 10312021 | 12082021 | 10-Q 10/31/2021 |
External Quote Links
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