Carvana公司（NYSE:CVNA）在第四季度表现超出市场预期，实现了创纪录的10.1%调整后息税折旧摊销前利润率（EBITDA）。公司高层特别提到了人工智能（AI）的重要应用，称其聊天机器人Sebastian为一项“核心大脑”，计划在客户体验中全面应用。 据CEO厄尼·加西亚（Ernie Garcia）介绍，公司已累计买卖超过400万辆汽车，拥有“非常深度的数据”。他指出，Carvana的AI技术能够提前计算客户的融资选项、交付时间及可能的以旧换新价值，并表示管理层计划在AI应用方面采取“非常积极的姿态”。 第四季度，Carvana收入同比增长46%，达到35.5亿美元，每股收益（EPS）为0.56美元，汽车销量比上一年增长50%，实现了3.59亿美元的调整后EBITDA，EBITDA利润率达到“行业领先”的10.1%。 展望未来，公司预计第一季度将继续增长，并计划在2025年实现“显著的销售和调整后EBITDA增长”。然而，尽管公司业绩表现优异，其股价周三收盘下跌0.95％，盘后进一步下跌9.95％。 华尔街分析师对Carvana的平均目标价为238.42美元，评级多为“持有”。不过，最新预期价位分布在42美元至350美元之间，部分机构给出了高达300美元的目标价，暗示未来可能有18.22%的上行空间。

以上内容来自Benzinga Earnings专栏，原文如下：

Carvana Co. (NYSE:CVNA) beat the street's expectations for the fourth quarter achieving a record 10.1% adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) margin. The management emphasized greater artificial intelligence applications, calling its chatbot Sebastian a "brain" that they expect to develop.

What Happened: Talking about using AI applications for an immersive customer experience, CEO Ernie Garcia said that the management possesses "very deep data" and plans to be "very aggressive".

He said that Carvana's online chatbot Sebastian, "Represents the brain that we’re building and it’s our skin on top of that brain, but there is opportunity for us to put that throughout the entirety of the customer experience. And I think we plan to be very aggressive there."

Underscoring that the company has bought and sold over 4 million cars, Garcia stated that the firm has "very deep data" on these transactions.

Garcia also hailed the "AI applications" implying that Carvana can use AI to pre-calculate many aspects of the customer journey, such as financing options, delivery times, and potential trade-in values.

Furthermore, he highlighted Carvana has a "number of unique advantages" that put the online car retailer in a position to "leverage these technologies in a more fulsome way" as compared to its competitors.

See Also: Warren Buffett’s Favorite Energy Stock Occidental Petroleum Achieves Near-Term Debt Reduction Target 7 Months Early In Q4: Management Sets $1.2 Billion Target For Q1

Why It Matters: Carvana exceeded fourth-quarter expectations, with revenue up 46% year-over-year to $3.55 billion and earnings per share of $0.56. The company sold 50% more vehicles than the previous year, achieving an adjusted EBITDA of $359 million, with an “industry-leading” EBITDA margin of 10.1%.

Carvana forecasts continued growth in the first quarter and “significant growth” in both sales and adjusted EBITDA for the full year 2025.

Despite recent success, Carvana has faced scrutiny in the past. Short-seller Hindenburg Research, before closing down, accused Carvana of accounting manipulation and risky lending practices.

Price Action: Despite stellar results, the stock closed 0.95% lower on Wednesday and fell by 9.95% in after-hours. This was after hitting a fresh 520-week high of $292.84 apiece intraday.

Benzinga tracks 22 analysts with an average price target of $238.42 for the stock, reflecting a “hold” rating. Estimates range widely from $42 to $350. Recent ratings from Wedbush, Stephens & Co., and JP Morgan average to $300, suggesting a potential 18.22% upside.

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