Highlights

  • CAR Group (ASX:CAR) has declared a final Dividend of 43.5 cents per share, franked at 30%.
  • The dividend has an annual Yield of 3.11%, with an ex-dividend date of 11 September 2026.
  • The Record Date is 14 September 2026, with payment scheduled for 12 October 2026.
  • CAR continues to deliver growth across Australia, North America, Latin America and Asia.

CAR Group (ASX:CAR), the online-marketplace operator formerly known as carsales, has declared a final dividend of 43.5 cents per share after another year of double-digit growth across its international portfolio. The dividend has an ex-dividend date of 11 September 2026, a record date of 14 September 2026 and payment is scheduled for 12 October 2026. The distribution is franked at 30%. With a market-leading Australian Franchise and growing operations in the United States, Brazil and Korea, CAR is increasingly a global growth story, while investors may be assessing whether it can become a larger dividend story as international operations scale.

Dividend in focus

The 43.5-cent final dividend is franked at 30%, meaning eligible Australian shareholders receive partial franking credits. The annual yield provided is 3.11%, giving income investors a reference point when assessing the company's shareholder-return profile.

The key dates are an ex-dividend date of 11 September 2026, a record date of 14 September 2026 and a payment date of 12 October 2026. The partial franking reflects CAR's growing international Earnings base, with a greater proportion of profits generated offshore.

Investors should consider the final dividend alongside CAR's broader earnings growth, cash generation and capital-allocation strategy when assessing the potential for future distributions.

What is driving the business?

On an adjusted constant-currency basis, CAR grew Revenue 12% to about $1,253 million, EBITDA 12% to roughly $700 million, and net profit 11% to around $407 million. Growth was broad-based across every region.

Australia, home to the dominant carsales platform, lifted revenue 7% and EBITDA 8%, aided by product innovation and the Nexgate dealer platform. North America, through Trader Interactive, grew revenue and EBITDA 12%, while Latin America, through webmotors in Brazil, surged 19% and 23%, respectively. Asia, through Encar in Korea, rose 15% and 14%.

The Diversification means CAR is no longer dependent on the Australian cycle alone, with multiple international businesses contributing to group growth.

Why income investors may be watching

CAR combines the high-margin Economics of a marketplace leader with international growth, a combination that can appeal to investors seeking both earnings expansion and a rising income stream. Its geographic diversification gives management multiple growth levers that could support future dividend increases.

As offshore businesses scale and margins expand, CAR has the potential to keep lifting the absolute dividend, even if the franking percentage remains below that of fully franked Australian companies.

The 3.11% annual yield provides an income component, although investors may place greater emphasis on dividend growth and the company's ability to generate strong Operating Cash Flow over the longer term.

Risks

The most direct income consideration is franking. At 30%, CAR's dividend carries fewer credits than a fully franked payer, reducing the after-tax appeal for some Australian investors. Further offshore growth could keep the franking level relatively constrained.

CAR also faces valuation risk, leaving room for disappointment if growth expectations are not met. Currency movements, competition in each market and the cyclicality of automotive Advertising are additional considerations.

Investors may want to watch margins, cash-flow generation, franking levels and international execution when assessing the sustainability of future distributions.

Investor takeaway

CAR Group (ASX:CAR) has declared a 43.5-cent final dividend, carrying an annual yield of 3.11% and 30% franking. The distribution comes alongside continued double-digit growth across its geographically diversified marketplace operations.

The trade-off for income investors is the relatively low franking level, reflecting CAR's expanding offshore earnings base. Investors may want to watch whether international expansion can continue to lift earnings and the absolute dividend, while also monitoring how the company's franking mix evolves.