Autotrader Group plunged 8.1% to 456.3p after it guided FY27 operating profit to £395m–£415m and flagged high single-digit EPS growth.
Revenue for the year to 31 March grew 4% year-on-year, fuelled by a 5% increase in average revenue per retailer (ARPR) from an April 2025 price and product event, with H2 up 3% and a softer fourth quarter while the business refined its Deal Builder roll‑out.
It returned £463m to shareholders in the year through dividends and accelerated buybacks, purchasing 58.5m shares (6.6% of issued capital), drawing £165m of its debt facility and lifting leverage to 0.3x, and it is proposing a final dividend of 7.8p, up 10%.
“We continued to grow both revenue and profits this year, despite a challenging backdrop,” said chief executive Nathan Coe.
Autotrader reported April 2026 revenue was flat but said core KPIs have improved in April and May and set FY27 assumptions including ARPR price leverage of £85-95, product contribution of £65-75, a stock recovery to around minus £30-40, average forecourts 1-2% lower for the year, other revenue broadly flat, and Autorama making a small profit with Commission & Ancillary revenue up 8-12% and Vehicle & Accessory sales c.£40m.
Employee engagement fell to 72% from 91% a year earlier, and the Board now comprises four women and four men with two ethnically diverse members.
