ACV Auctions Q1 2025 slides: Revenue jumps 25%, EBITDA triples as AI drives growth

ACV Auctions Inc. (NASDAQ:ACVA) presented its first quarter 2025 earnings results on May 7, showing accelerated profitability and continued strong revenue growth as the company leverages artificial intelligence across its digital wholesale automotive marketplace.

Quarterly Performance Highlights

ACV Auctions reported Q1 2025 revenue of $183 million, representing a 25% year-over-year increase from $146 million in Q1 2024. The company’s marketplace units grew to 208,000, up from 175,000 in the same period last year.

Most notably, ACV’s profitability metrics showed substantial improvement, with Adjusted EBITDA more than tripling to $14 million (8% margin) compared to $4 million in Q1 2024. Non-GAAP Net Income grew to $7 million (4% margin), up from $1 million in the prior year period.

As shown in the following performance highlights chart:

"We are executing on our growth strategy while simultaneously improving profitability," said George Chamoun, Chief Executive Officer of ACV Auctions, during the earnings presentation. "Our focus on delivering innovative AI-powered solutions is resonating with dealers and commercial partners alike."

The company’s revenue diversification strategy continues to yield results, with growth across multiple business segments:

Strategic Initiatives

ACV Auctions highlighted its three-pillar strategy focused on Growth, Innovation, and Scale. The company is expanding its product offerings while leveraging AI technology to enhance its competitive advantage.

A key growth driver has been the company’s AI-powered solutions, which are improving marketplace guidance, enhancing seller experiences, and optimizing the bidding process:

The company’s transportation segment achieved record performance, with ACV Transport handling over 110,000 vehicle transports during the quarter. The service now offers 95% lane coverage with AI-optimized pricing and has expanded its margin by 460 basis points year-over-year.

"ACV Transport continues to be a strong growth driver for us," noted Chamoun. "We’re seeing increased adoption of our off-platform transportation services as well, which expands our addressable market."

Similarly, ACV Capital reported accelerating revenue growth exceeding 30% year-over-year. The company has also introduced new data products including ClearCar, which provides instant vehicle pricing, and ACV MAX, a comprehensive appraisal calculator for dealers.

Detailed Financial Analysis

The company’s financial performance showed improvement across multiple metrics. Operating expenses as a percentage of revenue declined, contributing to margin expansion:

This improvement reflects ACV’s ability to scale efficiently while continuing to invest in growth initiatives. The company has demonstrated a consistent trend of improving Adjusted EBITDA margins:

ACV’s balance sheet remains strong, with $342 million in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities as of March 31, 2025. Total (EPA:TTEF) assets stood at $1.15 billion against total liabilities of $713 million. Operating cash flow increased by 56% year-over-year to $67 million.

Bill Zerella, Chief Financial Officer, emphasized the company’s financial discipline: "We’re successfully balancing growth investments with margin improvement. Our operating leverage is becoming increasingly evident as we scale, with non-GAAP operating expenses declining as a percentage of revenue."

Forward-Looking Statements

ACV Auctions provided guidance for both Q2 2025 and the full year, maintaining its optimistic outlook:

For Q2 2025, the company expects revenue between $193 million and $198 million, representing 20-23% year-over-year growth. Adjusted EBITDA is projected to be between $18 million and $20 million.

The full-year 2025 guidance remains unchanged from previous communications, with expected revenue of $765-785 million (20-23% growth) and Adjusted EBITDA of $65-75 million.

"We’re confident in our ability to continue gaining market share while improving profitability," said Zerella. "Our diversified revenue streams and AI-powered solutions position us well for sustainable growth."

The stock closed at $15.44 on May 7 and was trading up 1.59% at $15.91 in after-hours trading, suggesting a positive market reaction to the results. This represents a recovery from the previous quarter when the stock declined despite strong results, possibly indicating growing investor confidence in ACV’s execution and profitability trajectory.

As ACV continues to expand its AI capabilities and diversify its revenue streams, the company appears well-positioned to maintain its growth momentum throughout 2025 while delivering on its profitability targets.

Full presentation:

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