MELBOURNE — Shares in CAR Group Ltd jumped nearly 10% Monday after the company behind Australia's largest online car marketplace, carsales.com.au, reported a double-digit rise in annual profit and lifted its dividend, capping a strong finish to the 2026 financial year.

The stock closed at $29.70, up $2.68, or 9.92%, on the Australian Securities Exchange, adding more than $900 million to the company's market capitalization in a single session. The rally came after CAR Group reported reported net profit after tax of $314 million for the year ended June 30, up 14% from the prior year, alongside proforma revenue of $1.253 billion, a 12% increase in constant currency terms.

Adjusted net profit after tax, the company's preferred earnings measure, reached $407 million, up 11% on a constant currency basis and 8% in Australian dollar terms after accounting for foreign exchange headwinds. The company said it maintained an EBITDA margin of 56% for the year despite continued investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure and expansion into new product categories, and reported 100% conversion of EBITDA to cash.

CAR Group also raised its final dividend to 43.5 cents per share, up from 41.5 cents a year earlier, extending a track record of dividend growth that has made the stock a consistent presence in Australian income portfolios.

Chief Executive William Elliott, who took over the role in August 2025 after Cameron McIntyre stepped down following 18 years in charge,........

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