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Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2025

Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]

Schedule of Stock-based Compensation Expense

Information related to stock-based compensation expense is as follows (in thousands):

		Year Ended December 31,
		2025				2024				2023
Stock-based compensation expense		$	31,327			$	30,553			$	28,491
Income tax benefit related to stock-based    compensation expense			6,563				5,138				4,505

Summary of Stock-based Compensation Expense by Financial Statement

Stock-based compensation expense by financial statement line item on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income is as follows (in thousands):

		Year Ended December 31,
		2025				2024				2023
Cost of revenue and operations		$	820			$	871			$	1,487
Product and technology			8,656				10,684				8,814
Marketing and sales			6,034				5,381				5,740
General and administrative			15,817				13,617				12,450
Total (1)		$	31,327			$	30,553			$	28,491

(1)For the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, $0.1 million, $0.3 million, and $0.3 million, respectively, of capitalized internally developed technology costs is excluded from stock-based compensation expense.

Schedule of Outstanding Stock-based Compensation Awards

Information related to outstanding stock-based compensation awards as of December 31, 2025 for restricted share units ("RSUs"), performance share units ("PSUs"), stock options and the Cars.com, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan ("ESPP") is as follows (in thousands, except for weighted-average remaining period):

		Unearned Compensation				Weighted-Average Remaining Period (in years)
RSUs		$	33,301				2.0
PSUs			4,111				2.5
Stock Options			—				—
ESPP			350				0.4
Total		$	37,762

Summary of RSU Activity

RSU activity for the year ended December 31, 2025 is as follows (in thousands, except for weighted-average grant date fair value):

		Number of RSUs				Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding as of December 31, 2024			3,637			$	16.52
Granted			3,266				11.74
Vested and delivered			(1,582	)			16.06
Forfeited			(721	)			14.08
Outstanding as of December 31, 2025 (1)			4,600			$	13.67

(1)Includes 441 RSUs that were vested, but not yet delivered.

Summary of PSU Activity

PSU activity for the year ended December 31, 2025 is as follows (in thousands, except for weighted-average grant date fair value):

		Number of PSUs				Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding as of December 31, 2024			931			$	16.37
Granted			698				12.91
Vested and delivered (1)			—				—
Forfeited			(596	)			14.17
Outstanding as of December 31, 2025			1,033			$	15.30

(1)The actual amount of shares that become common shares outstanding as of the date of vesting and delivery and will vary based on the attainment percentage of the relevant performance conditions.

Summary of Stock Option Activity

Stock option activity for the year ended December 31, 2025 is as follows (in thousands, except for weighted-average grant date fair value and weighted-average remaining contractual term):

		Number of Options				Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value				Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years)				Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding as of December 31, 2024			1,067			$	6.28				5.98			$	7,346
Granted			—				—				—				—
Exercised			—				—				—				—
Forfeited			—				—				—				—
Outstanding as of December 31, 2025			1,067				6.28				4.98				3,490
Exercisable as of December 31, 2025			1,067				6.28				4.98				3,490

Summary of Fair Value of Stock Options Granted are Estimated Using Black Scholes Option Pricing Model

The fair value of the stock options granted during the year ended December 31, 2023 were estimated on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, using the following assumptions:

		2023
Risk-free interest rate			2.21	%
Weighted-average volatility			65.22	%
Dividend yield			0	%
Expected years until exercise			6.5

Schedule of Information Related to ESPP

Information related to the ESPP is as follows (in thousands):

		Year Ended December 31,
		2025				2024				2023
Shares issued related to the ESPP			246				187				179
Stock-based compensation expense related to the ESPP		$	824			$	705			$	760

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