Highlights

  • REA reported AUD 450 million in September-quarter core continuing-operations revenue, an 11% increase against the preceding comparative period.
  • The property portal lifted quarterly operating EBITDA excluding associates 12% to AUD 294 million despite uneven national listings.
  • CAR Group entered FY27 after publishing its FY26 annual results, with automotive marketplaces central to its operations.
  • SEEK continues to focus on employment marketplaces and digital recruitment as changing hiring conditions shape operating priorities.

Australia’s listed marketplace operators are entering the new financial year from different positions. REA Group Limited (ASX:REA) is reporting higher residential Advertising yield, CAR Group Limited (ASX:CAR) operates automotive marketplaces, and SEEK Limited (ASX:SEK) serves employers and jobseekers. On 6 November 2026, REA traded at AUD 174.81, down 2.89%; CAR at AUD 26.07, down 2.25%; and SEEK at AUD 14.53, down 0.34%. The common thread is digital matching of buyers and sellers, but their Business drivers are distinct.

REA Turns Listing Yield Into Quarterly Growth

REA recorded 11% growth in core continuing-operations Revenue to AUD 450 million for the quarter ended 30 September 2026. Operating EBITDA excluding associates increased 12% to AUD 294 million. National Buy listings were 2% lower, and listings fell more sharply in Sydney and Melbourne than in certain other Capital cities. Residential yield gains therefore supported revenue even where transaction-related listing volumes were weaker.

Its realestate.com.au platform averaged 11.5 million monthly visitors, while owner-tracked properties rose to 5.3 million. REA’s October Investment in VALAI introduced a home-efficiency feature to property profiles. The company is targeting controllable Residential Buy yield growth in FY27, although those targets are not completed outcomes.

CAR Group Keeps Automotive Marketplaces at the Centre

CAR Group operates digital automotive marketplaces connecting consumers, dealers and advertisers. Its FY26 annual reporting provides the basis for evaluating marketplace operations entering FY27. Unlike residential property listings, vehicle-marketplace activity is influenced by different customer behaviour and automotive retail requirements.

The group’s investment proposition centres on its platforms, audience engagement and services to dealerships and other commercial customers. The 6 November share price decline should be treated as a trading observation rather than as proof that any particular annual-report item caused the move.

SEEK Faces a Different Marketplace Cycle

SEEK’s employment-marketplace operations connect hiring businesses with candidates. Its FY26 reporting and Annual Report address business performance, operational priorities and the investment required to support its marketplaces. Hiring and recruitment activity cannot be directly compared with property or vehicle advertising volumes.

For shareholders, the distinction matters: SEEK’s outcomes depend on employers’ recruitment requirements and the effectiveness of its platform services. The company’s continued marketplace investment is separate from expectations about the direction of short-term hiring activity.

What Comes Next for Digital Marketplace Investors

REA’s FY27 yield and Margin targets provide a defined benchmark, while CAR Group and SEEK will be assessed through their own subsequent financial and operating updates. Each platform has a different commercial model, even though all use digital engagement to connect participants.

The three share prices also start from different levels and are not comparable measures of valuation by themselves. Future reports will provide a firmer basis for comparing revenue growth, profitability and operating execution.