London, June 6, 2026, 16:02 BST
- Autotrader shares ended Friday up 1.98% at around 469 pence, with the London Stock Exchange set to close for the weekend.
- Shares added roughly 6.4% for the week, based on Friday’s finish versus the previous Friday’s 441.5p close.
- AutoTrader PLC’s next set piece is the release of its 2026 annual report on Monday.
Autotrader Group plc (AUTO.L) climbed 1.98% Friday to £4.69, extending its two-day rebound before markets paused for the weekend. The FTSE 100 inched up 0.07% to 10,368.05. Saturday trading was closed, so Friday’s finish was the latest price.
That’s drawing attention as UK online car marketplace shares rebound after a stretch of losses, with the annual report due Monday. Even with Friday’s move, the shares closed 44.49% under their 52-week high of £8.44 from August, according to MarketWatch data.
Autotrader ended the week at 469.9p, climbing from 441.5p on May 29 for a roughly 6.4% gain, based on Investing.com’s historical data. Most of the move happened Thursday, when shares rose 3.35%, with more gains on Friday.
Autotrader shares are up again after the company put out its full-year numbers on May 21. The company reported a 4% revenue rise to £624.3 million for the year to March 31. Group operating profit was also up 4% at £392.7 million. Basic earnings per share climbed 8% to 34.17p.
Cash return is what’s in focus for investors. The company reported £463 million returned to shareholders in fiscal 2026 and guided to about £600 million in fiscal 2027. That includes close to £500 million of share buybacks. Buybacks take shares out of circulation, which can boost per-share earnings if profits stay flat.
Autotrader picked up 4,610,800 ordinary shares for cancellation between May 26 and May 29, according to a June 1 filing. The purchases were made through Merrill Lynch International. Total voting rights after the buyback were 805,461,320, the company said.
Autotrader raised revenue and profit, CEO Nathan Coe said with the results, even as conditions stayed tough. On the earnings call, Coe said retailer numbers, stock and upsells have climbed since the end of the year, and called that “past the low point” for the business.
Autotrader’s investment story still leans on its competitive edge. The company said users spent 11 times longer on its site than on its closest rival, and six times more than on all key rivals together. Its own comparison group lists CarGurus, eBay Motors UK and Carwow. That kind of traffic, Autotrader said, is why dealers keep spending on listings even when margins shrink.
Car sales helped lift the market. UK new car registrations climbed 7.1% in May, the biggest May since 2019, according to SMMT figures shared by Reuters. Battery electric vehicle registrations jumped 34.2%. SMMT boss Mike Hawes said EV “consumer uptake still lags” existing targets and said the shift is happening but not smoothly. Reuters
Flat April revenue and guidance for average retailer forecourts down 1% to 2% for the year are raising some doubts at Autotrader. The company said the pick-up in dealer numbers and package penetration may not stick. If dealers cut back on ad spend or resist Deal Builder, the £395 million to £415 million operating-profit goal for fiscal 2027 could be at risk.
AutoTrader’s 2026 annual report lands June 8 and the AGM is set for July 16. Investors want updates on the buyback, retailer churn, and any fresh language about the promised second-half recovery.
