Why Copart Stock Dropped on Earnings Today

Core Viewpoint - Copart's stock has declined despite better-than-expected earnings, indicating potential investor disappointment with sales figures [1][4]. Financial Performance - Analysts had forecasted Copart to earn $0.36 per share on $1.14 billion in sales, but the company reported earnings of $0.41 per share with sales of $1.13 billion [2]. - For the fiscal fourth quarter, Copart achieved a 5% year-over-year sales growth and a 24% increase in profits [4]. - Total sales growth for the full year approached 10%, but the Q4 growth rate slowed to half of that [5]. - Full-year earnings were reported at $1.59 per share, reflecting a 14% growth compared to fiscal 2024 [5]. Valuation and Investment Outlook - Copart's stock is currently priced at 33 times earnings, which is considered high given the annual growth rate of 14% [6]. - The company's free cash flow stands at $1.2 billion, approximately 20% less than reported earnings, leading to a valuation closer to a 40x multiple based on free cash flow [6][7]. - Analysts predict a long-term growth rate closer to 13%, suggesting that the current stock price may be too high [7].