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Autotrader Slips After Results, Dividend Raised

Autotrader shares slipped on results day after a sharp rally the session before, even as the car marketplace group held its full-year guidance and raised its interim dividend.

Autotrader Group (LON: AUTO) shares were trading about 2.6% below yesterday’s close at 08:58 London time today, after the car marketplace group published half-year results. Earnings per share rose 5%, but revenue and operating profit each fell 1%. Guidance was maintained and the dividend raised.

The fall followed a 4.8% rise yesterday, which took the shares to 570.8p, their highest close of the last 20 sessions, ahead of the 7am results. Today they opened at 560.8p, down 1.75%. The delayed quote at 08:58 was 556.2p, down 14.6p or 2.56%, with a low of 541.0p, a high of 567.8p and volume of 460,013.

AUTO.LSE
Line chart of Autotrader Group daily closing share price in pence from 8 October to 4 November 2026, with a delayed quote on 5 November
Autotrader’s daily closing share price in pence over 20 sessions to yesterday; the final point is a delayed quote at 08:58 today, not a close.

In its results statement, the company said earnings per share rose 5% to 18.10p, helped by 9% fewer shares in issue. Group revenue fell 1% to £313.4m. Excluding vehicle and accessory sales it was flat at £301.8m, against £301.2m a year earlier.

Operating profit fell 1% to £198.5m, a 63% margin, and profit before tax fell 4% to £191.2m. The interim dividend rises 11% to 4.2p from 3.8p. Retailer revenue fell 1% to £250.8m.

The company kept its FY27 operating profit guidance of £395m to £415m, with revenue growth accelerating in the second half. Chief executive Nathan Coe said:

“With the first half in line with our expectations and accelerating revenue growth in the second half, we remain confident in our outlook for the full year.”

Nathan Coe, chief executive, Autotrader

The balance sheet has changed: net bank debt was £320m, against net cash of £5.2m previously, with leverage at 0.8x. The group returned £330m in the half through dividends and buybacks, buying 55.7m shares at an average 483.4p, and expects about £500m of buybacks in FY27.

Retailer forecourts on the platform reached 13.9k at the end of September, from 13.6k at the end of March. Retailers using Deal Builder rose to about 9.3k from about 4.0k a year before.

The quote is still above every close from the 8th of October to Tuesday, but about 30% below the 52-week closing high of 798.6p. It is about 28% below the 774.0p of the 5th of November last year and down 5.15% year to date from 586.4p. The 52-week closing low is 427.2p, set on the 28th of May. Full-year results are due on 27 May 2027.

Asktraders News Team
Asktraders News Team
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