vs

Side-by-side financial comparison of Cars.com Inc. (CARS) and JACK IN THE BOX INC (JACK). Click either name above to swap in a different company.

JACK IN THE BOX INC is the larger business by last-quarter revenue ($349.5M vs $183.9M, roughly 1.9× Cars.com Inc.). On growth, Cars.com Inc. posted the faster year-over-year revenue change (1.9% vs -25.5%). Cars.com Inc. produced more free cash flow last quarter ($36.7M vs $7.3M). Over the past eight quarters, Cars.com Inc.'s revenue compounded faster (1.0% CAGR vs -18.6%).

Cars.com is an automotive classified website focused on the United States that launched in June 1998 and now is the second largest automotive classified site. It is also known for being the most expensive domain ever sold. It was sold in 2014 for $872 million Its headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois. Cars.com also offers expert car reviews, news and research from its dedicated Editorial team.

Jack in the Box, Inc. is an American fast food restaurant chain founded on February 21, 1951, by Robert O. Peterson in San Diego, California, where it is headquartered. The chain has over 2,200 locations, primarily serving the West Coast of the United States. Restaurants are also found in large urban areas outside the West Coast, as well as two in Guam. The company also formerly operated the Qdoba Mexican Grill chain until Apollo Global Management bought the chain in December 2017.

CARS vs JACK — Head-to-Head

Bigger by revenue
JACK
JACK
1.9× larger
JACK
$349.5M
$183.9M
CARS
Growing faster (revenue YoY)
CARS
CARS
+27.5% gap
CARS
1.9%
-25.5%
JACK
More free cash flow
CARS
CARS
$29.4M more FCF
CARS
$36.7M
$7.3M
JACK
Faster 2-yr revenue CAGR
CARS
CARS
Annualised
CARS
1.0%
-18.6%
JACK

Income Statement — Q4 FY2025 vs Q1 FY2026

Metric
CARS
CARS
JACK
JACK
Revenue
$183.9M
$349.5M
Net Profit
$-2.5M
Gross Margin
Operating Margin
11.8%
13.3%
Net Margin
-0.7%
Revenue YoY
1.9%
-25.5%
Net Profit YoY
-107.3%
EPS (diluted)
$0.12
$-0.13

Green = leading value per metric. Periods may differ when fiscal calendars don't align.

8-Quarter Revenue & Profit Trend

Side-by-side quarterly history. Quarters aligned by calendar period so offset fiscal years line up.

Revenue
CARS
CARS
JACK
JACK
Q1 26
$349.5M
Q4 25
$183.9M
Q3 25
$181.6M
Q2 25
$178.7M
$336.7M
Q1 25
$179.0M
$371.1M
Q4 24
$180.4M
Q3 24
$179.7M
Q2 24
$178.9M
$365.3M
Net Profit
CARS
CARS
JACK
JACK
Q1 26
$-2.5M
Q4 25
Q3 25
$7.7M
Q2 25
$7.0M
$-142.2M
Q1 25
$-2.0M
$33.7M
Q4 24
Q3 24
$18.7M
Q2 24
$11.4M
$25.0M
Operating Margin
CARS
CARS
JACK
JACK
Q1 26
13.3%
Q4 25
11.8%
Q3 25
9.3%
Q2 25
8.5%
-46.7%
Q1 25
3.6%
19.0%
Q4 24
11.0%
Q3 24
6.4%
Q2 24
5.3%
14.8%
Net Margin
CARS
CARS
JACK
JACK
Q1 26
-0.7%
Q4 25
Q3 25
4.2%
Q2 25
3.9%
-42.2%
Q1 25
-1.1%
9.1%
Q4 24
Q3 24
10.4%
Q2 24
6.4%
6.8%
EPS (diluted)
CARS
CARS
JACK
JACK
Q1 26
$-0.13
Q4 25
$0.12
Q3 25
$0.12
Q2 25
$0.11
$-7.47
Q1 25
$-0.03
$1.75
Q4 24
$0.26
Q3 24
$0.28
Q2 24
$0.17
$1.26

Balance Sheet & Financial Strength

Snapshot of each company's liquidity, leverage and book value from the latest quarter.

Metric
CARS
CARS
JACK
JACK
Cash + ST InvestmentsLiquidity on hand
$56.2M
Total DebtLower is stronger
$455.0M
$1.6B
Stockholders' EquityBook value
$472.5M
$-936.0M
Total Assets
$1.1B
$2.0B
Debt / EquityLower = less leverage
0.96×

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Cash + ST Investments
CARS
CARS
JACK
JACK
Q1 26
Q4 25
$56.2M
Q3 25
$55.1M
Q2 25
$27.7M
Q1 25
$31.4M
Q4 24
$50.7M
Q3 24
$49.6M
Q2 24
$29.1M
Total Debt
CARS
CARS
JACK
JACK
Q1 26
$1.6B
Q4 25
$455.0M
Q3 25
Q2 25
$1.7B
Q1 25
$1.7B
Q4 24
$460.0M
Q3 24
Q2 24
$1.7B
Stockholders' Equity
CARS
CARS
JACK
JACK
Q1 26
$-936.0M
Q4 25
$472.5M
Q3 25
$477.6M
Q2 25
$483.2M
$-976.2M
Q1 25
$489.9M
$-827.1M
Q4 24
$511.5M
Q3 24
$502.4M
Q2 24
$496.9M
$-702.6M
Total Assets
CARS
CARS
JACK
JACK
Q1 26
$2.0B
Q4 25
$1.1B
Q3 25
$1.1B
Q2 25
$1.1B
$2.6B
Q1 25
$1.1B
$2.8B
Q4 24
$1.1B
Q3 24
$1.1B
Q2 24
$1.1B
$2.9B
Debt / Equity
CARS
CARS
JACK
JACK
Q1 26
Q4 25
0.96×
Q3 25
Q2 25
Q1 25
Q4 24
0.90×
Q3 24
Q2 24

Cash Flow & Capital Efficiency

How much cash each business actually produces after reinvestment. Cash flow is harder to manipulate than net income.

Metric
CARS
CARS
JACK
JACK
Operating Cash FlowLast quarter
$37.1M
$30.5M
Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex
$36.7M
$7.3M
FCF MarginFCF / Revenue
20.0%
2.1%
Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue
0.2%
6.6%
Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit
TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters
$147.4M
$34.8M

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Operating Cash Flow
CARS
CARS
JACK
JACK
Q1 26
$30.5M
Q4 25
$37.1M
Q3 25
$58.8M
Q2 25
$26.2M
$-36.8M
Q1 25
$29.5M
$105.7M
Q4 24
$30.0M
Q3 24
$53.8M
Q2 24
$35.3M
$16.7M
Free Cash Flow
CARS
CARS
JACK
JACK
Q1 26
$7.3M
Q4 25
$36.7M
Q3 25
$58.3M
Q2 25
$23.7M
$-63.2M
Q1 25
$28.6M
$84.4M
Q4 24
$29.1M
Q3 24
$52.8M
Q2 24
$34.9M
$6.4M
FCF Margin
CARS
CARS
JACK
JACK
Q1 26
2.1%
Q4 25
20.0%
Q3 25
32.1%
Q2 25
13.3%
-18.8%
Q1 25
16.0%
22.7%
Q4 24
16.1%
Q3 24
29.4%
Q2 24
19.5%
1.8%
Capex Intensity
CARS
CARS
JACK
JACK
Q1 26
6.6%
Q4 25
0.2%
Q3 25
0.3%
Q2 25
1.4%
7.9%
Q1 25
0.5%
5.7%
Q4 24
0.5%
Q3 24
0.5%
Q2 24
0.2%
2.8%
Cash Conversion
CARS
CARS
JACK
JACK
Q1 26
Q4 25
Q3 25
7.68×
Q2 25
3.74×
Q1 25
3.14×
Q4 24
Q3 24
2.87×
Q2 24
3.10×
0.67×

Financial Flow Comparison

Revenue → gross profit → operating profit → net profit for each company.

Revenue Breakdown by Segment

CARS
CARS

Dealer$164.4M89%
Sales Channel Through Oem And National$16.2M9%
Sales Channel Through Other$3.3M2%

JACK
JACK

Restaurant Sales$131.9M38%
Franchise$97.4M28%
Royaltyand Other$58.9M17%
Advertising$56.6M16%
Technology Service$4.7M1%
Franchise Fees$1.7M0%

Related Comparisons