Carvana公司（NYSE:CVNA）在第四季度表現超出市場預期，實現了創紀錄的10.1%調整後息稅折舊攤銷前利潤率（EBITDA）。公司高層特別提到了人工智能（AI）的重要應用，稱其聊天機器人Sebastian爲一項“核心大腦”，計劃在客戶體驗中全面應用。 據CEO厄尼·加西亞（Ernie Garcia）介紹，公司已累計買賣超過400萬輛汽車，擁有“非常深度的數據”。他指出，Carvana的AI技術能夠提前計算客戶的融資選項、交付時間及可能的以舊換新價值，並表示管理層計劃在AI應用方面採取“非常積極的姿態”。 第四季度，Carvana收入同比增長46%，達到35.5億美元，每股收益（EPS）爲0.56美元，汽車銷量比上一年增長50%，實現了3.59億美元的調整後EBITDA，EBITDA利潤率達到“行業領先”的10.1%。 展望未來，公司預計第一季度將繼續增長，並計劃在2025年實現“顯著的銷售和調整後EBITDA增長”。然而，儘管公司業績表現優異，其股價週三收盤下跌0.95％，盤後進一步下跌9.95％。 華爾街分析師對Carvana的平均目標價爲238.42美元，評級多爲“持有”。不過，最新預期價位分佈在42美元至350美元之間，部分機構給出了高達300美元的目標價，暗示未來可能有18.22%的上行空間。

以上內容來自Benzinga Earnings專欄，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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