Melbourne, May 4, 2026, 08:03 (AEST)
AustralianSuper has popped up as a major stakeholder in CAR Group Limited, holding 19,535,582 shares—that’s 5.16%, according to Market Index. CAR last week named Michael Sapountzis its new company secretary, effective April 29, with investors digesting the implications of the move on the online vehicle marketplace’s ASX communication set-up.
The stock’s timing stands out, given it’s been sliding despite the company sticking to full-year guidance. CAR ended May 1 at A$25.26, according to Google Finance—a 0.43% dip for the session, and a long way from its 52-week peak at A$42.06.
As of the dateline, the ASX cash market was still shuttered. Trading is set to kick off at 09:59:45 Sydney time and continues through 16:00, the exchange says. That leaves investors turning to new filings for early cues, with no live trades reflected yet.
In Australia, any investor holding 5% or more of a company’s voting shares hits the threshold for market disclosure, qualifying as a substantial shareholder. State Street, BlackRock, and Vanguard also appear on the list of substantial holders, according to Market Index, which puts AustralianSuper right next to these heavyweight global names on CAR’s register.
Sapountzis steps in for interim company secretary David McIndoe. CAR named Sapountzis as the key contact with the ASX for Listing Rule 12.6—an appointment that covers governance, filings, and market communication.
These touch on ownership and governance—not operations. Even so, they arrive just before another big test for a group with exposure to carsales in Australia, Encar in South Korea, U.S. outfit Trader Interactive, chileautos in Chile, and Brazil’s webmotors, where CAR holds a controlling stake.
Investors are relying on CAR’s most recent results for their reference point. Pro forma revenue—excluding the discontinued Australian Tyres business in both periods—climbed 13% in constant currency to A$626 million for the half-year ended Dec. 31. Net profit after tax (NPAT) jumped 16% to A$143 million, the company reported.
William Elliott, managing director and CEO, said the first half turned out strong, with the company posting double-digit gains on major financial measures. He described artificial intelligence as “a critical enabler” and highlighted the Brazil hub, designed to create tech that can be scaled group-wide.
Guidance is still the big question. CAR stuck to its FY26 outlook: pro forma revenue growth of 12% to 14%, pro forma EBITDA up 10% to 13%, and adjusted NPAT growth pegged at 9% to 13%, all on a constant currency basis. For reference, EBITDA stands for earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation—a standard profit metric that strips out financing and accounting costs.
So far, analysts are sticking to their calls, with no walk-backs showing up on public trackers. TipRanks lists Andrew McLeod at Morgan Stanley reaffirming his Buy rating and A$32 target as of April 30. Citi’s Siraj Ahmed repeated Buy at A$34.70 on April 27. Out of nine analysts tracked, seven are at Buy, two say Hold, and none are pushing Sell, according to the table.
This isn’t just about cars. IG Australia put CAR in the same bracket as SEEK and REA Group, slotting them into the “old tech” camp—Australian digital classifieds and marketplace veterans that investors often value for their future growth as much as the money they’re making right now. IG
The outlook isn’t straightforward. CAR has pinned its FY26 goals on a mix of factors—macroeconomic trends, geopolitical tensions, customer appetite, inflation swings, and foreign exchange shifts. The company also flagged a higher effective tax rate ahead, with U.S. tax losses running out. Should demand for vehicle listings weaken or currency shifts erode results, AustralianSuper’s disclosure alone might not be enough to support the shares.
Investors now look to Monday’s trading for clues, with last week’s register change in focus as the next formal earnings event doesn’t hit until Aug. 10, 2026, according to Market Index’s lineup of forecasted preliminary and annual results. The stock remains well under last year’s marks, and it’s unclear whether the latest filing will be read as genuine support or simply more paperwork.
