Autotrader Group plc

LSE:AUTO Stock Report

Market Cap: UK£3.8b

Autotrader Group Management

Management criteria checks 3/4

Autotrader Group's CEO is Nathan Coe, appointed in Mar 2020, has a tenure of 6.33 years. total yearly compensation is £1.64M, comprised of 43.3% salary and 56.7% bonuses, including company stock and options. directly owns 0.45% of the company’s shares, worth £16.98M. The average tenure of the management team and the board of directors is 6.3 years and 2.6 years respectively.

Key information

Nathan Coe

Chief executive officer

UK£1.6m

Total compensation

CEO salary percentage43.33%
CEO tenure6.3yrs
CEO ownership0.4%
Management average tenure6.3yrs
Board average tenure2.6yrs

Recent management updates

Recent updates

Narrative Update Jul 16

AUTO: Future Earnings Quality And Dividend Returns Will Support Repriced P/E

Autotrader Group's analyst price target has been adjusted modestly to £5.66, as analysts refine fair value, discount rate and P/E assumptions, while pointing to a mix of higher and lower recent targets from firms taking both positive and cautious views on the stock. Analyst Commentary Recent research on Auto Trader Group shows a split in how analysts see the risk and reward trade off, with some highlighting upside potential in the business model and others flagging valuation and execution questions.
Narrative Update Jun 26

AUTO: 2026 Execution Risks Will Pressure Pricing Power Despite Supportive EPS Outlook

The analyst price target for Auto Trader Group has been reset lower to reflect a fair value cut from £4.70 to £4.10, with analysts citing a higher discount rate, more cautious assumptions on revenue growth and margins, and a lower future P/E multiple, even as recent research includes both reduced and newly initiated Buy targets across the stock. Analyst Commentary Recent research on Auto Trader Group shows a mix of views, with several bearish analysts flagging valuation and execution risks alongside more positive coverage from large banks such as Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan.
Narrative Update Jun 12

AUTO: Confident Sector Views And Buybacks Will Drive Future Repricing

Analysts have trimmed the blended price target for Auto Trader Group to reflect an updated fair value estimate of £8.22 per share from £8.90, balancing recent target cuts from JPMorgan and Deutsche Bank with fresh Buy ratings and higher targets from Goldman Sachs and Peel Hunt. These moves highlight continued confidence in classifieds portals despite AI related concerns.
Narrative Update May 29

AUTO: Future EPS Support And Margins Will Underpin Repriced P/E

Analysts have adjusted the implied fair value on Auto Trader Group to £5.84 from £6.54, reflecting updated assumptions on revenue growth, margins and future P/E, even as recent Street research shows a mix of higher and lower price targets, including revisions to £7.94, £6.30 and £4.45. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Auto Trader Group reflects a split view, with both bullish and bearish analysts adjusting their targets and ratings as they rework assumptions around growth, execution and valuation.
Analysis Article May 26

UK£6.11: That's What Analysts Think Autotrader Group plc (LON:AUTO) Is Worth After Its Latest Results

Shareholders might have noticed that Autotrader Group plc ( LON:AUTO ) filed its yearly result this time last week. The...
Narrative Update May 06

AUTO: Future Margin Resilience Will Support Repriced P/E Despite Recent Downgrades

Analysts have trimmed the Autotrader Group price target by £1.19 per share. This reflects a slightly lower fair value estimate and a higher discount rate, along with modest adjustments to long term P/E assumptions following recent target cuts and a downgrade from several banks.
Narrative Update Apr 21

AUTO: Future Margin Resilience Will Support Repriced P/E And Fair Value Estimate

Narrative Update The analyst price target for Auto Trader Group has been reduced to £5.15, reflecting a series of target cuts from multiple banks as analysts factor in a slightly lower fair value estimate and a modestly adjusted future P/E assumption. Analyst Commentary Recent research updates point to a more cautious stance on Auto Trader Group, with several firms adjusting price targets and ratings to reflect a reassessment of fair value and execution risks.
Narrative Update Apr 07

AUTO: Future Margin Resilience Will Support Repriced P/E Multiple

Autotrader Group's updated analyst price target moves lower, with fair value now at £6.98 from £8.60. Analysts factor in a higher discount rate, slightly softer revenue growth expectations, modestly lower profit margins and a reduced future P/E of 21.63x from 25.22x, in line with recent target cuts from Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan, Berenberg and Morgan Stanley.
Narrative Update Mar 24

AUTO: Recent Rating Shifts Will Set Up A Future Repricing Opportunity

Auto Trader Group's analyst price target has been marked down, reflected in a fair value move from about £10.05 to £8.90, as analysts point to lower price targets across several firms and slightly adjusted assumptions for discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin and future P/E. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Auto Trader Group has leaned cautious on price targets, but there are still some clear positives that stand out for you as an investor.
Narrative Update Mar 10

AUTO: 2026 Pricing Power And Execution Risks Will Temper Market Optimism

The analyst price target for Auto Trader Group has been cut by £1.65 per share to reflect lower fair value assumptions, slightly higher discount rates and modestly softer expectations for revenue growth, profit margins and future P/E multiples that are broadly in line with recent target reductions from several research houses. Analyst Commentary Recent research updates on Auto Trader Group point to a more cautious tone, with several bearish analysts trimming price targets and, in some cases, lowering ratings.
Narrative Update Feb 24

AUTO: 2026 Pricing Power And Execution Risks Will Shape Market Expectations

The analyst price target for Auto Trader Group has been cut by £0.96, with recent Street research pointing to lower fair value estimates and P/E assumptions, alongside questions around pricing and leading brokers trimming their targets into the £630 to £665 range and shifting stances toward more neutral ratings. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research points to a more cautious tone around Auto Trader Group, with several bearish analysts reducing price targets and questioning how much upside is left at current P/E assumptions.
Narrative Update Feb 09

AUTO: Street Downgrades Will Set Up A Repricing Opportunity

The updated analyst price target for Auto Trader Group shows a modest reset, with fair value edging from £10.40 to about £10.05 as analysts factor in slightly lower revenue growth assumptions, a higher discount rate, and recent Street target cuts, while forecast profit margins and future P/E expectations remain broadly supportive. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Auto Trader Group has shifted toward a more cautious stance overall, with several firms trimming price targets and, in some cases, downgrading their recommendations.
Analysis Article Jan 27

Autotrader Group plc's (LON:AUTO) Share Price Not Quite Adding Up

It's not a stretch to say that Autotrader Group plc's ( LON:AUTO ) price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 15.7x right...
Narrative Update Jan 26

AUTO: 2026 Pricing Power And Capital Returns Will Shape Market Expectations

Analysts have trimmed their fair value estimate for Auto Trader Group from £6.35 to £5.95, reflecting a lower blended price target across recent research as firms reset assumptions on revenue growth, margins and future P/E multiples. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Auto Trader Group shows a clear tilt toward more cautious assumptions on pricing power, growth prospects and valuation multiples, even where ratings have been maintained or slightly improved.
Narrative Update Jan 10

AUTO: 2026 Pricing Debate And Dividend Actions Will Shape Future Expectations

Our analyst price target for Auto Trader Group has edged down from £6.36 to £6.35. This reflects a blend of recent Street moves, with several firms resetting targets to around £6.30 to £6.50 and flagging questions around 2026 pricing, while still seeing room for more balanced risk and reward in the shares.
Analysis Article Jan 09

Here's Why Auto Trader Group (LON:AUTO) Has Caught The Eye Of Investors

For beginners, it can seem like a good idea (and an exciting prospect) to buy a company that tells a good story to...
Narrative Update Dec 26

AUTO: Diverging Broker Views And Dividend Actions Will Shape Future Expectations

Analysts have modestly reduced their price target on Auto Trader Group to about £6.30 per share from roughly £7.70, citing a slightly higher discount rate despite marginal improvements in long term revenue growth and profit margin expectations. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research reflects a cautious reassessment of Auto Trader Group, with bearish analysts highlighting a less compelling risk reward profile at current levels.
Narrative Update Dec 12

AUTO: Cautious Outlook Will Shape Expectations After Key Price Objective Cut

Analysts have trimmed their price target on Auto Trader Group from approximately 770 GBp to around 630 GBp, reflecting more cautious assumptions on revenue growth, profit margins, and valuation multiples, despite some supportive broker commentary. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Auto Trader Group highlights a mixed but increasingly cautious backdrop, with the latest price target moves pointing to heightened scrutiny of the company’s valuation and execution risks.
Analysis Article Nov 24

Why Auto Trader Group plc (LON:AUTO) Could Be Worth Watching

Auto Trader Group plc ( LON:AUTO ), is not the largest company out there, but it received a lot of attention from a...
Analysis Article Nov 09

Auto Trader Group plc (LON:AUTO) Half-Yearly Results Just Came Out: Here's What Analysts Are Forecasting For This Year

Auto Trader Group plc ( LON:AUTO ) shareholders are probably feeling a little disappointed, since its shares fell 3.7...
Analysis Article Nov 01

Estimating The Intrinsic Value Of Auto Trader Group plc (LON:AUTO)

Key Insights The projected fair value for Auto Trader Group is UK£8.17 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity...
Analysis Article Oct 11

Should You Be Adding Auto Trader Group (LON:AUTO) To Your Watchlist Today?

The excitement of investing in a company that can reverse its fortunes is a big draw for some speculators, so even...
Analysis Article Aug 12

Auto Trader Group plc (LON:AUTO) Investors Are Less Pessimistic Than Expected

When close to half the companies in the United Kingdom have price-to-earnings ratios (or "P/E's") below 16x, you may...
Analysis Article Jul 25

Calculating The Fair Value Of Auto Trader Group plc (LON:AUTO)

Key Insights Auto Trader Group's estimated fair value is UK£7.83 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity Auto Trader...
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New Narrative Nov 25

Co-Driver AI And Electric Innovations Empower Revenue Growth Amid Market Challenges

Strategic focus on enhancing Deal Builder and Co-Driver AI suite likely to drive revenue growth and improve net margins through customer engagement and operational efficiency.

CEO Compensation Analysis

How has Nathan Coe's remuneration changed compared to Autotrader Group's earnings?
DateTotal CompensationSalaryCompany Earnings
Mar 31 2026UK£2mUK£711k

UK£294m

Dec 31 2025n/an/a

UK£294m

Sep 30 2025n/an/a

UK£294m

Jun 30 2025n/an/a

UK£288m

Mar 31 2025UK£2mUK£682k

UK£283m

Dec 31 2024n/an/a

UK£281m

Sep 30 2024n/an/a

UK£280m

Jun 30 2024n/an/a

UK£268m

Mar 31 2024UK£3mUK£619k

UK£257m

Dec 31 2023n/an/a

UK£246m

Sep 30 2023n/an/a

UK£236m

Jun 30 2023n/an/a

UK£235m

Mar 31 2023UK£1mUK£592k

UK£234m

Dec 31 2022n/an/a

UK£236m

Sep 30 2022n/an/a

UK£238m

Jun 30 2022n/an/a

UK£241m

Mar 31 2022UK£2mUK£577k

UK£245m

Dec 31 2021n/an/a

UK£220m

Sep 30 2021n/an/a

UK£196m

Jun 30 2021n/an/a

UK£162m

Mar 31 2021UK£523kUK£497k

UK£128m

Dec 31 2020n/an/a

UK£142m

Sep 30 2020n/an/a

UK£156m

Jun 30 2020n/an/a

UK£180m

Mar 31 2020UK£968kUK£393k

UK£205m

Compensation vs Market: Nathan's total compensation ($USD2.19M) is below average for companies of similar size in the UK market ($USD4.14M).

Compensation vs Earnings: Nathan's compensation has been consistent with company performance over the past year.


CEO

Nathan Coe (48 yo)

6.3yrs
Tenure
UK£1,641,000
Compensation

Mr. Nathan James Coe has been the Chief Executive Officer of Auto Trader Group PLC since March 1, 2020. Mr. Coe served as the Chief Financial Officer of Auto Trader Group plc from July 2017 to March 1, 202...


Leadership Team

NamePositionTenureCompensationOwnership
Nathan Coe
CEO & Executive Director6.3yrsUK£1.64m0.45%
£ 17.0m
James Warner
CFO & Director6.3yrsUK£903.00k0.025%
£ 937.0k
Chris Kelly
Chief Technology Officer12.8yrsno datano data
Alison Ross
Chief People & Operations Director3yrsno datano data
Karolina Edwards-Smajda
Chief Product Officer3yrsno datano data
Claire Baty
Company Secretary & Director of Governance9.7yrsno datano data
6.3yrs
Average Tenure
48yo
Average Age

Experienced Management: AUTO's management team is seasoned and experienced (6.3 years average tenure).


Board Members

NamePositionTenureCompensationOwnership
Nathan Coe
CEO & Executive Director9.3yrsUK£1.64m0.45%
£ 17.0m
James Warner
CFO & Director6.3yrsUK£903.00k0.025%
£ 937.0k
Matthew Davies
Chairman of the Board3yrsUK£340.00k0.0031%
£ 116.9k
Geeta Gopalan
Senior Independent Director2.2yrsUK£98.00k0.00070%
£ 26.5k
Adam Douglas Jay
Independent Non-Executive Director1yrUK£50.00k0.0014%
£ 52.2k
Megan Siegler
Independent Non-Executive Director1yrUK£60.00k0.0014%
£ 52.6k
Amanda James
Independent Non-Executive Director2yrsUK£86.00k0.00070%
£ 26.5k
Jasvinder Gakhal
Independent Non-Executive Director4.5yrsUK£67.00k0.00071%
£ 26.9k
2.6yrs
Average Tenure
49yo
Average Age

Experienced Board: AUTO's board of directors are not considered experienced ( 2.6 years average tenure), which suggests a new board.


Company Analysis and Financial Data Status

DataLast Updated (UTC time)
Company Analysis2026/07/24 17:34
End of Day Share Price 2026/07/24 00:00
Earnings2026/03/31
Annual Earnings2026/03/31

Data Sources

The data used in our company analysis is from S&P Global Market Intelligence LLC. The following data is used in our analysis model to generate this report. Data is normalised which can introduce a delay from the source being available.

PackageDataTimeframeExample US Source *
Company Financials10 years
  • Income statement
  • Cash flow statement
  • Balance sheet
Analyst Consensus Estimates+3 years
  • Forecast financials
  • Analyst price targets
Market Prices30 years
  • Stock prices
  • Dividends, Splits and Actions
Ownership10 years
  • Top shareholders
  • Insider trading
Management10 years
  • Leadership team
  • Board of directors
Key Developments10 years
  • Company announcements

* Example for US securities, for non-US equivalent regulatory forms and sources are used.

Unless specified all financial data is based on a yearly period but updated quarterly. This is known as Trailing Twelve Month (TTM) or Last Twelve Month (LTM) Data. Learn more.

Analysis Model and Snowflake

Details of the analysis model used to generate this report is available on our Github page, we also have guides on how to use our reports and tutorials on Youtube.

Learn about the world class team who designed and built the Simply Wall St analysis model.

Industry and Sector Metrics

Our industry and section metrics are calculated every 6 hours by Simply Wall St, details of our process are available on Github.

Analyst Sources

Autotrader Group plc is covered by 26 analysts. 16 of those analysts submitted the estimates of revenue or earnings used as inputs to our report. Analysts submissions are updated throughout the day.

AnalystInstitution
Andrew RossBarclays
William LarwoodBerenberg
Annick MaasBernstein