Copart Inc. stock slips after modest Q4 growth and ACV deal
Published on 09/14/2026 at 13:00 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Copart Inc. stock (ISIN US2172041061) ended the last completed Nasdaq session on September 11, 2026 at USD 29.95, representing a 2.6 percent decline from the prior close and signaling a cautious reaction to the company’s latest numbers and strategic moves.
Quarterly figures show slow growth
According to MarketBeat, Copart’s most recent reported quarter ended September 10, 2026, with revenue rising 2.4 percent year over year to USD 1.15 billion, slightly ahead of the USD 1.14 billion analyst consensus.
In the same release, the business services provider reported earnings per share of USD 0.35 for the fiscal fourth quarter, missing the USD 0.38 consensus and coming in below the USD 0.41 per share earned in the comparable quarter a year earlier, while net income declined 17.4 percent and the net margin stood at 31.81 percent.MarketBeat
ACV Auctions deal shifts the narrative
Beyond the headline numbers, Copart is rebalancing its business toward digital channels. As Yahoo Finance reported on September 13, 2026, Copart announced during its fourth quarter earnings call on September 10, 2026 that it had agreed an all-cash transaction to acquire ACV Auctions, a digital auto marketplace that handled around USD 10 billion of vehicle volume last year without owning physical lots, in a deal valued at nearly USD 1.9 billion.
The move toward ACV’s asset-light model comes as Copart’s core service volumes have been under pressure, with vehicle sales volumes up 8.3 percent in the quarter but service revenue increasing only 1.4 percent, indicating that mix and pricing dynamics are becoming more complex for the company.MarketBeat
Analysts adjust price targets as stock re-rates
Analyst sentiment has started to reflect the mixed picture of modest revenue growth, weaker profitability and strategic expansion. According to Robinhood, Barrington upgraded Copart from Market Perform to Outperform and set a price target of USD 40 after the Q4 results, while Baird lowered its price target from USD 42 to USD 38 but maintained an Outperform rating.
Across the broader analyst community, data compiled by MarketBeat show that Copart currently carries a Moderate Buy consensus rating, with two Strong Buy, three Buy, two Hold and two Sell recommendations and an average price target of USD 37.57, implying upside potential of several dollars from the latest close but also highlighting divided views on execution risks.
Stock trades below recent highs
Per the overview provided by MarketBeat, shares of Copart stock opened at USD 29.95 in the latest noted session, giving the company a market capitalization of USD 27.73 billion and placing the stock below its 50 day simple moving average of USD 30.35 and its 200 day simple moving average of USD 32.05.
In the same source, Copart is shown with a 1 year low of USD 26.81 and a 1 year high of USD 48.96, meaning that the USD 29.95 close on September 11, 2026 left the stock only about USD 3.14 above its 12 month low and more than USD 19 below its 12 month high, underscoring how the equity has compressed despite the modest revenue growth and continued profitability.MarketBeat
Institutional flows and valuation backdrop
Institutional investors remain heavily involved in Copart. As MarketBeat notes, hedge funds and other institutional investors collectively own about 85.78 percent of Copart’s shares, with some recent filings such as Tidal Investments LLC and Waverly Advisors LLC disclosing trimmed positions after the latest quarter.
From a valuation perspective, Copart trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.32 on trailing figures and a forward price-to-earnings multiple of around 17.83 as of September 11, 2026, according to Yahoo Finance, while roughly 5.09 percent of the float is sold short, suggesting limited but present skepticism.
Risk factors around margins and integration
For investors, the key risk emerging from the recent quarter is the pressure on margins. With net income falling 17.4 percent year over year and gross profit down 5.5 percent even as revenue edged higher, Copart’s profitability is moving in the opposite direction of its top line, a dynamic that could weigh on returns if not reversed.MarketBeat
The planned acquisition of ACV Auctions adds execution risk as well as potential, since integrating a fast-growing digital dealer platform valued at nearly USD 1.9 billion into Copart’s existing auction and salvage infrastructure will demand capital allocation discipline and careful operational alignment; any misstep could amplify existing margin pressures even if volume opportunities grow.Yahoo Finance
Stock level underscores cautious market stance
Copart Inc. stock closed at USD 29.95 on the Nasdaq on September 11, 2026, giving the company a market capitalization of USD 27.73 billion and placing the shares near the lower end of their 1 year trading range of USD 26.81 to USD 48.96 in USD terms.
Copart Inc. stock at a glance
- Company: Copart Inc.
- ISIN: US2172041061
- Ticker: CPRT
- Trading venue: Nasdaq
- Price (as of September 11, 2026): 29.95 USD
- Market capitalization: 27.73 billion USD (as of September 11, 2026)
- Sector / Industry: Consumer Discretionary / Automotive auctions and remarketing
- Index membership: S&P 500
