CarTrade Q1 Profit Skyrockets 106% To INR 47 Cr

Listed car reselling platform CarTrade saw its consolidated profit after tax (PAT) climb 106% to INR 47 Cr in the first quarter of the fiscal year 2025-26 (Q1 FY26) from INR 22.8 Cr in the year-ago quarter, driven by its top-line growth and EBITDA margin.

Sequentially,the profit grew marginally from INR 46.1 Cr in Q4 FY25.

CarTrade’s revenue from operations also increased 22% to INR 173 Cr during the quarter under review from INR 141.5 Cr in Q1 FY25, driven by robust growth in the core consumer group business.

On a quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) basis, the operating revenue 2% from INR 169.5 Cr.

For the quarter under review, its EBITDA surged 98% to INR 43.5 Cr against the EBITDA of INR 21.9 Cr in Q1 FY25. The company’s EBITDA margin was at 25% in Q1 FY26 compared to its year-ago period of 15% EBITDA Margin.

With the other income of INR 25.4 Cr in Q1 FY26, CarTrade total revenue rose 27% year on year (YoY) to INR 198.5 Cr from INR 156.7 Cr in the year-ago quarter.

Founded in 2006 by Vinay Sanghi, CarTrade operates online marketplaces for new and used vehicles. Its platforms such as CarWale, BikeWale, Android Auto, Mobility Outlook and Shriram Automall, among others, facilitate buying, selling, marketing and financing of cars, two-wheelers, and commercial vehicles.

In 2023, CarTrade diversified beyond its core automotive business by acquiring multi-product classifieds platform OLX India for INR 535.5 Cr.

Monthly average unique visitors (MAUs) across its online marketplace platforms, which include Carwale, Bikewale, CarTrade and OLX, stood at 75 Mn for Q1 FY26.

CarTrade in its investor presentation, said that it reported its highest-ever performance in terms of growth, profitability and platform strength.

The Revenue Breakup

CarTrade makes its revenue through a multi-channel approach.

While it generates income from listing fees, advertising fees and transaction commissions, it also provides tech-enabled services to dealers and vehicle original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), such as dealer management and auto finance solutions.

However, its revenue breakup is given in three categories- consumer group business (which includes pre-owned car sales platform CarWale and online bike marketplace BikeWale), revenue from the remarketing business and revenue from its multi-product classifieds platform OLX India.

Operating revenue from the core consumer group business segment jumped 32% YoY and 4.2% QoQ to INR 66.3 Cr in Q1 FY26. The net profit from the core consumer group also grew 79% to INR 22.9 Cr in Q1 FY26 from INR 12.8 Cr in the year-ago period.

The other segment of the remarketing business also raked in an operating revenue of INR 59.3 Cr in Q1 FY26, translating into 35% YoY and 1.1% QoQ growth. Bottom line from this segment grew 258% to INR 9.4 Cr in the quarter under consideration from INR 2.6 Cr in Q1 FY25.

Meanwhile, its multi-product classifieds platform OLX India’s operating revenue grew 2% YoY and 0.8% QoQ to INR 48.1 Cr in the reported quarter. OLX India’s net profit grew 44% to INR 14.6 Cr in Q1 FY26 from INR 8.57 Cr in the year-ago quarter.

Expenses Breakdown

CarTrade’s total expenditure jumped 8% to INR 129.5 Cr in Q1 FY26 from INR 119.5 Cr in the year-ago period.

Employee Cost: The spending towards employee remuneration and other benefits increased 7% to INR 75.22 Cr in Q1 FY26 from INR 70.6 Cr in Q1 FY25.

Marketing Expenses: The spending under this head rose 16% to INR 87.1 Cr in the first quarter of FY26 from INR 74.8 Cr in Q1 FY25.

Other Expenses: CarTrade’s other expenses increased by 10% to INR 45.5 Cr in Q1 FY26 from INR 41.4 Cr in Q1 FY25.

After the Q1 FY26 earnings announcement, CarTrade shares rallied 10.36% to INR 2097.00 apiece on the BSE at 12:45 PM today.

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