Autotrader shares fall on slowing revenue and sales
Autotrader shares fell over 3 percent after the company reported flat revenue for April and a decline in retailer customer numbers. Despite the sluggish start to the year, the board plans to return 600 million pounds to shareholders in fiscal 2027 through buybacks and dividends.
AUTOTRADER GROUP PLC reported flat revenue in April as retailer customers fell 1%, signaling a sluggish start to the fiscal year. Shares fell 3.1% to 480.9 pence. The slowdown highlights weakening dealer demand despite efforts to monetize artificial intelligence tools.
### Growth Decelerates as Retailer Count Shrinks Revenue for the year ended March 31 rose 4% to £624.3 million, but the growth rate slowed to 3% in the second half. This deceleration intensified during the fourth quarter, according to the company's annual report. The total number of retailer customers fell 1% on an annual basis, offsetting gains from digital product upsells.
