Cars.com (CARS) vs MediaAlpha (MAX)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
MediaAlpha (MAX) has outperformed Cars.com (CARS) over the past year, losing 1.2% versus a loss of 12.3%. Over five years, CARS leads with a -20.5% price change compared with -44.7% for MAX. MediaAlpha is the larger company by market cap ($534.5 million vs $519.3 million), about 1.0 times the size.
On valuation, Cars.com trades at a lower forward P/E (4.1x vs 6.0x for MediaAlpha).
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | CARS | MAX |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $9.70 | $10.09 |
| Market cap | $519.27M | $534.52M |
| 1-day change | -0.41% | -5.52% |
| YTD return | -20.16% | -17.53% |
| 1-year return | -12.33% | -1.20% |
| 5-year return | -20.49% | -44.72% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 17.02 | 6.23 |
| Forward P/E | 4.11 | 6.03 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.57 | $1.62 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| 52-week high | $13.69 | $14.70 |
| 52-week low | $7.40 | $7.09 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -29.15% | -31.36% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +37.42% | +52.92% |
| Average volume | 673.77K | 880.51K |
| Shares outstanding | 53.53M | 52.98M |
| Employees | 1,700 | 147 |
| Sector | Technology | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | EDP Services | Business Services |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- MAX has outperformed CARS by 11.1 percentage points over the past year.
- Cars.com trades at a higher earnings multiple (17.0x vs 6.2x trailing P/E).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Cars.com in Technology and MediaAlpha in Consumer Discretionary.
About Cars.com
CARS stock →Cars.com Inc., an audience-driven technology company, provides solutions for the automotive industry in the United States. The company offers marketplace through Cars.com that allows OEMs and dealers to merchandise their inventory, as well as provides reputation management technology and digital financing tools.
Technology · EDP Services · 1,700 employees
About MediaAlpha
MAX stock →MediaAlpha, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates an insurance customer acquisition platform in the United States. Its technology platform offers end customer acquisition for insurance carriers, agents, distributors, and other clients in a range of verticals, including property and casualty insurance, health insurance, and life insurance.
Consumer Discretionary · Business Services · 147 employees
CARS vs MAX FAQ
Which is bigger, Cars.com or MediaAlpha?
MediaAlpha (MAX) is larger, with a market capitalization of $534.52M compared with $519.27M for Cars.com (CARS).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CARS or MAX?
MAX returned -1.20% over the past 12 months, compared with -12.33% for CARS (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CARS or MAX?
MAX has the lower trailing P/E at 6.2, versus 17.0 for CARS. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Are Cars.com and MediaAlpha in the same industry?
No. Cars.com is in the Technology sector, while MediaAlpha is in Consumer Discretionary.