Analysts Mixed on CarGurus (CARG) Amid Lower Margin Expectations for 2026

CarGurus Inc. (NASDAQ:CARG) is one of the most undervalued stocks to buy and hold for 5 years, despite tempering 2026 margin forecasts. During the Needham Growth Conference on January 13, executives from CarGurus Inc (NASDAQ:CARG) stated that the company has discussed ramping up its investments, likely resulting in “a slight step down in margin” because of those investments. The executives said, “We’re doing that to maintain a higher growth rate than we otherwise would have,” adding that the company is aiming for long-term sustainable growth through deepening its relationship with dealers.

Following the conference, on January 16, J.P. Morgan analyst Rajat Gupta retained his Hold rating on CarGurus Inc. (NASDAQ:CARG) and set a price target of $43.00. Meanwhile, on December 30, 2025, BTIG raised its price target on CarGurus Inc (NASDAQ:CARG) to $44 from $39, while maintaining a Buy rating, estimating that the company’s emerging solutions business is currently worth $100 million, or roughly $1 per share.

CarGurus Inc. (NASDAQ:CARG) is an online automotive platform for buying and selling vehicles. The company’s car listings marketplace features digital retail solutions and the CarOffer digital wholesale platform. CarGurus operates through segments, including the customer-facing U.S. Marketplace and the Digital Wholesale division, which provides dealer-to-dealer services and products sold on the CarOffer platform.

While we acknowledge the risk and potential of CARG as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than CARG and that has 10,000% upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.