CREDIT ACCEPTANCE CORP
CACCAbout the company
Credit Acceptance Corporation engages in the provision of financing programs, and related products and services in the United States. It advances money to automobile dealers in exchange for the right to service the underlying consumer loans; and buys the consumer loans from the dealers and keeps the amount collected from the consumers.
Investment snapshot
Positive
6
BUY / PASS
Neutral / negative
7 / 3
NEUTRAL / FAIL
Median fair value
$463.46
-8.2% vs price
Models with upside
3 / 16
Positive margin of safety
Strongest signal
All 3 investors pass CACC's efficiency
Key risk
Split decision: 7 NEUTRAL · 4 BUY · 3 FAIL · 2 PASS
Framework analysis
| Verdict | Meaning |
|---|---|
| BUY | Positive purchase signal: the framework's buy requirements are met. |
| PASS | The company clears the framework's checklist or screen, but the framework does not produce a buy signal. For valuation frameworks this often means margin of safety is missing, insufficient, or unavailable; some screen-only frameworks have no intrinsic-value BUY state. |
| NEUTRAL | Neither a positive nor negative conclusion. It does not mean to hold an existing position. |
| FAIL | The company does not clear the framework's requirements. |
| Ranked | Ranked strategies do not use PASS: selected cohort is BUY, outside the cohort is FAIL, and unranked is NEUTRAL. |
Current investor scores use trailing 12-month flows and the latest balance sheet where supported. Multi-year and EPS tests retain annual history; each framework shows its financial basis below. Intrinsic values use annual financials.
| Metric | Graham Defensive Value | Buffett Quality Compounder | Lynch GARP | Piotroski F-Score | Dreman Contrarian Value | Munger Quality Focus | Pabrai Dhandho Framework | Akre Three-Legged Stool | Marks Risk-Aware Value | Ackman Activist Value | Templeton Global Bargain Hunter | Sleep Scale Economies Shared | Asness Systematic Factors | Neff Low-P/E Total Return | Schloss Asset-Value Discipline | O'Shaughnessy Systematic Factor Composite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verdict | FAIL | FAIL | NEUTRAL | BUY | NEUTRAL | BUY | NEUTRAL | PASS | NEUTRAL | BUY | PASS | BUY | NEUTRAL | NEUTRAL | FAIL | NEUTRAL |
| Score | ||||||||||||||||
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| Intrinsic Value (annual) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||||||||
| Margin of Safety | -48.1% | N/A | -51.4% | N/A | -29.0% | +75.8% | N/A | +67.0% | -10.3% | +74.3% | -7.5% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Financial Basis | TTM ended 2026-09-30 · Annual history · FY 2025 Latest source filing: 2026-10-29 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 Latest source filing: 2026-02-13 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · TTM ended 2026-09-30 vs 2025-09-30 · TTM ended 2026-09-30 Latest source filing: 2026-10-29 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 Latest source filing: 2026-02-13 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · TTM ended 2026-09-30 · Market data at 2026-11-01 Latest source filing: 2026-10-29 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Qualitative assessment · Annual history · FY 2025 · TTM ended 2026-09-30 Latest source filing: 2026-10-29 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Qualitative assessment · Annual history · FY 2025 Latest source filing: 2026-02-13 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · Qualitative assessment · TTM ended 2026-09-30 Latest source filing: 2026-10-29 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · Qualitative assessment Latest source filing: 2026-02-13 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · TTM ended 2026-09-30 · Market data at 2026-11-01 Latest source filing: 2026-10-29 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · Price history 2025-01-01–2026-11-01 · Balance sheet at 2026-09-30 Latest source filing: 2026-10-29 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · Qualitative assessment Latest source filing: 2026-02-13 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | TTM ended 2026-09-30 · Balance sheet at 2026-09-30 · Price history 2025-01-01–2026-11-01 · Annual history · FY 2025 Latest source filing: 2026-10-29 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · TTM ended 2026-09-30 Latest source filing: 2026-10-29 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · Balance sheet at 2026-09-30 Latest source filing: 2026-10-29 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | TTM ended 2026-09-30 · Annual history · FY 2025 · Price history 2025-01-01–2026-11-01 Latest source filing: 2026-10-29 Score computed: 2026-11-14 |
Where It Passes
- Efficiency100% pass✓ 3▾
All 3 investors pass CACC's efficiency
Revenue / Total Assets Change YoY0.24x -> 0.27x✓PiotroskiImproved YoYReinvestment Rate x ROIC27.8% (RR=100% x ROIC=27.8%)✓AkreReinvestment Rate * ROIC > 10%ROE (5-year)5/5 years above 12% (latest 27.8%)✓SleepROE > 12% in a majority of years - Cash Flow90% pass✓ 11✗ 1▾
9 of 10 pass — Buffett objects
Free Cash Flow Proxy✗BuffettPositive and growingFCF Positive and Growing$1.3B✓LynchPositive and growingOperating Cash Flow$1.1B✓PiotroskiCFO > 0(CFO / Total Assets) vs ROACFO/Assets=12.22%, ROA=4.91%✓PiotroskiCFO/Assets > ROAPrice / (CFO / Shares)5.1x✓Dreman< 8xP/E or FCF YieldP/E=13.9x, FCF Yield=20.6%✓PabraiP/E < 15 or FCF Yield > 10%FCF Positive17/17 years FCF positive✓MarksPositive FCF in majority of recent years(OCF - CapEx) / Market Cap23.2%✓Ackman>= 4%Price / FCF per Share5.2x✓Ackman<= 25Positive Operating Cash Flow frequency21/21 years positive✓SleepPositive OCF in >= 70% of available yearsOperating Cash Flow - Capital Expenditures$1.3B✓Neff> $0 (app proxy for a strong fundamental case)(Operating cash flow - capex) / market capitalization+24.56%; #228/4519 (top 5.0%)✓OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section - Verdicts67% pass✓ 6✗ 3▾
Split decision: 7 NEUTRAL · 4 BUY · 3 FAIL · 2 PASS
Overall verdict✗GrahamFAIL (1/7)✗BuffettFAIL (1/6)•LynchNEUTRAL (3/4)✓PiotroskiBUY (F-Score 7)•DremanNEUTRAL (6/9)✓MungerBUY (3/3)•PabraiNEUTRAL (2/3)✓AkrePASS (2/5)•MarksNEUTRAL (3/4)✓AckmanBUY (7/8)✓TempletonPASS (4/8)✓SleepBUY (5/6)•AsnessNEUTRAL (Not ranked)•NeffNEUTRAL (4/6)✗SchlossFAIL (2/7)•OshaughnessyNEUTRAL (Not ranked) - Profitability56% pass✓ 21✗ 14▾
9 of 16 pass — Graham, Buffett, Lynch +4 more object
Return on Equity24.3%✓Munger> 15%✗AkreROE > 20% (3-year avg)Net income / market capitalization+6.59%; #1264/6340 (top 19.9%)✓AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-sectionPositive EPS (10 years)17/24 years positive✗GrahamPositive EPS every year for 10 yearsEPS Growth (3-yr avg, 10-yr window)✗Graham>= 33% growthNet Income Positive (10+ years)23/24 years positive✗BuffettPositive every year for 10+ yearsROE (up to 5-year arithmetic mean)28.8%✓Buffett> 15% arithmetic mean (app rule)Operating Margin (10-yr trend)24.4% (latest)✗BuffettStable or rising over 10 yearsFree Cash Flow Proxy✗BuffettPositive and growingEarnings Variance (10-yr CoV)0.66✗BuffettCoV < 0.3Retained Earnings Effectiveness✗Buffett$1 retained -> > $1 market value createdBasic earnings-growth PEG (dividends excluded)1.51✗Lynch< 1.0 (ideally < 0.5)3-5 Year EPS CAGR9.2%✓Lynch15-30% (Fast Grower); > 0% to passROE24.3%✓Lynch> 15%Net Income / Total Assets4.91%✓PiotroskiROA > 0ROA Change YoY2.80% -> 4.91% (delta: +2.11%)✓PiotroskiCurrent ROA > Prior ROA(CFO / Total Assets) vs ROACFO/Assets=12.22%, ROA=4.91%✓PiotroskiCFO/Assets > ROAPre-Tax Income / Revenue18.2%✓Dreman>= 8%Net Income / Shareholders' Equity24.3%✓Dreman> 12%Margin of SafetyP/E=13.9x, P/TBV=3.6x✓PabraiP/TBV < 1.5 or P/E < 15ROE (high and growing)FY2023: ROE=16.3%; FY2024: ROE=14.2%; FY2025: ROE=27.8%✗AkreLatest 3 consecutive FYs: ROE > 15% in eachDiscount to Intrinsic Value-29.0% (IV=$391.25 vs Price=$504.63)✗Marks>= 20% below intrinsic valuePositive Net Income Frequency23/23 years positive✓MarksPositive net income in >= 7 of last 10 yearsOperating Income / Revenue24.4%✓Ackman>= 15%Net Income / Shareholders Equity24.3%✓Ackman>= 15%5-Year EPS CAGR9.2% CAGR over 5 years✓Templeton> 0% (5-year EPS CAGR)Operating Margin Trend19.3% (2023) -> 24.4% (2025)✓TempletonNon-negative operating-margin trend over 3 yearsRevenue growth vs. gross and operating margin trendrevenue up, operating margin 19.3% -> 24.4%✓SleepRevenue rising; gross margin flat or falling; operating margin holdingROE (5-year)5/5 years above 12% (latest 27.8%)✓SleepROE > 12% in a majority of yearsGross profit / total assets✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-sectionNet income / positive book equity+24.26%; #627/5226 (top 12.0%)✓AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-sectionNegative 5-year standard deviation of ROA-0.0389; #2254/5884 (top 38.3%)✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section3-5 Year Diluted EPS CAGR9.2% over 5 years✓Neff7%-20% annualizedPositive Diluted-EPS Years10/10 years positive✓Schloss>= 70% positive over 5-10 observed years (app rule)
Where It Falls Short
- Debt & Leverage25% pass✓ 1✗ 4▾
3 of 4 flag CACC's debt & leverage — Templeton, Asness and Schloss
LT Debt / Total Assets Change0.00% -> 0.00%✓PiotroskiDecreased YoYTotal Debt / Shareholders' Equity3.89✗Templeton< 1.0 (fixed cap; proxy for below-sector-median leverage)✗SchlossD/E < 1.00xNegative debt-to-equity (higher means less debt)-3.8914; #4024/4210 (top 95.6%)✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-sectionCurrent Assets / Current Liabilities✗SchlossCurrent ratio >= 1.50x (app cutoff) - Valuation25% pass✓ 10✗ 16▾
9 of 12 flag CACC's valuation — Graham, Lynch, Dreman +6 more
Net income / market capitalization+6.59%; #1264/6340 (top 19.9%)✓AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-sectionPrice / 3-yr avg EPS19.3x✗Graham<= 15xPrice-to-Tangible-Book Ratio3.6x✗Graham<= 1.5xP/E x P/TBV68.90✗Graham<= 22.5Basic earnings-growth PEG (dividends excluded)1.51✗Lynch< 1.0 (ideally < 0.5)Price / EPS13.9x✗Dreman< 12x✗Templeton< 12x (fixed ceiling; proxy for the market's cheapest 40%)Price / (CFO / Shares)5.1x✓Dreman< 8xPrice / Tangible Book Value per Share3.6x✗Dreman< 1.2x✗SchlossP/TBV <= 1.00x (app cutoff)Valuation ReasonablenessP/E=13.9x✓MungerP/E < 25 or Owner Earnings Yield > 5%P/E or FCF YieldP/E=13.9x, FCF Yield=20.6%✓PabraiP/E < 15 or FCF Yield > 10%P/B or P/E vs. Historical AverageP/E=13.9x, P/B=3.6x✓MarksP/E < 15 or P/B < 2.0Discount to Intrinsic Value-29.0% (IV=$391.25 vs Price=$504.63)✗Marks>= 20% below intrinsic valuePrice / FCF per Share5.2x✓Ackman<= 25Price vs. Trailing Low119% of trailing low ($423.46)✓Templeton<= 120% of trailing low (certified split-adjusted live window)Price / Book Value per Share3.6x✗Templeton< 1.5x✗SchlossP/B <= 0.80x (app cutoff)Positive book equity / market capitalization+0.2716; #3827/6449 (top 59.3%)✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-sectionPrice / Diluted EPS13.9x✓NeffP/E <= 15x (app proxy for a P/E 40%-60% below the market)(EPS CAGR % + Dividend Yield %) / P/E✗Neff> 0.7 (Neff's published traditional edge)Book Value per Share Change+3.6%✓SchlossLatest BVPS >= earliest BVPS over >= 3 years (app rule)Revenue / market capitalization+0.4578; #2756/5247 (top 52.5%)✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section(Operating cash flow - capex) / market capitalization+24.56%; #228/4519 (top 5.0%)✓OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-sectionTrailing six-month price return through the evaluation date+8.49%; #1937/6202 (top 31.2%)✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section - Valuation models38% pass✓ 3✗ 5▾
Models split on CACC at $504.63 — fair values range $333.30–$2084.34
Graham fair value$340.64✗Graham-48.1% margin vs $504.63Lynch fair value$333.30✗Lynch-51.4% margin vs $504.63Dreman fair value$391.25✗Dreman-29.0% margin vs $504.63Munger fair value$2084.34✓Munger+75.8% margin vs $504.63Akre fair value$1527.04✓Akre+67.0% margin vs $504.63Marks fair value$457.31✗Marks-10.3% margin vs $504.63Ackman fair value$1960.49✓Ackman+74.3% margin vs $504.63Templeton fair value$469.60✗Templeton-7.5% margin vs $504.63 - Growth50% pass✓ 8✗ 4▾
4 of 8 pass — Graham, Lynch, Ackman +1 more object
EPS Growth (3-yr avg, 10-yr window)✗Graham>= 33% growthBasic earnings-growth PEG (dividends excluded)1.51✗Lynch< 1.0 (ideally < 0.5)3-5 Year EPS CAGR9.2%✓Lynch15-30% (Fast Grower); > 0% to passEPS Growth Direction$4.62 (2009) -> $36.38 (2025)✓DremanPositive over recent yearsEPS CAGR13.8% CAGR over 16 years✓Dreman> 5% annualizedPositive Net Income Frequency23/23 years positive✓MarksPositive net income in >= 7 of last 10 years3yr Median Revenue Growth7.2%✓Ackman>= 5%Positive EPS Growth Frequency2/5 years with positive EPS growth✗AckmanPositive EPS growth in >= 3 of last 5 years5-Year EPS CAGR9.2% CAGR over 5 years✓Templeton> 0% (5-year EPS CAGR)Revenue growth vs. gross and operating margin trendrevenue up, operating margin 19.3% -> 24.4%✓SleepRevenue rising; gross margin flat or falling; operating margin holding5-year Revenue CAGR6.8%✗SleepCAGR > 7%3-5 Year Diluted EPS CAGR9.2% over 5 years✓Neff7%-20% annualized
Business & financials
Financial snapshot: annual FY 2025. Current investor scores may use newer quarterly data.
Company Profile
Financial Snapshot
Leverage is a bank’s business model and current accounts don’t exist on its balance sheet, so debt and liquidity tests are omitted and tangible book value and ROE replace their industrial analogs.
Shareholder Return
Fiscal 2025
Retired 10.7% of shares last year, 12.6% over two.
- Buybacks
- $725.4M
- Dividends
- —
What drove EPS
A buyback raises earnings per share without the company earning more. This splits each year's change into the two.
The two parts do not sum exactly to the total — the difference is the cross-term, plus preferred capital where the company has any. It is left visible rather than distributed into the other two.
Share count is the denominator the filer used for diluted EPS, recovered as net income ÷ EPS — not the balance-sheet count, which is a point-in-time figure and would put the timing difference into this split. Years with a loss are omitted: a smaller share count makes a loss per share larger, so the decomposition inverts.
Company Financials
Latest TTM and quarters alongside annual years
TTM sums four consecutive quarters and uses the latest quarter-end balances. Quarter columns show three-month results; annual columns show full-year totals. Growth compares the same period a year earlier. EPS is not added for TTM; full-year ratios are blank for quarters.
The latest annual period end is unavailable. Showing the latest fiscal cycle’s quarters; quarter and annual columns may overlap. Quarterly shows the full quarter history.
| Metric | TTM · 2026-09-30 2025-10-01 – 2026-09-30 Sources · derived quarter valuesDerived from cumulative filings: revenue, net income, pre tax income, interest expense, operating cash flow, capex, buybacks. | Q3 FY 2026 2026-07-01 – 2026-09-30 Sources · derived quarter valuesDerived from cumulative filings: operating cash flow, capex, buybacks. | Q2 FY 2026 2026-04-01 – 2026-06-30 Sources · derived quarter valuesDerived from cumulative filings: operating cash flow, capex, buybacks. | Q1 FY 2026 2026-01-01 – 2026-03-31 Sources | FY 2025Sources
| FY 2024Sources
| FY 2023Sources
| FY 2022Sources
| FY 2021Sources
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap | $5.1Bcurrent | -- | -- | -- | $5.4Best. | $6.1Best. | $6.7Best. | $5.9Best. | $7.6Best. |
| Revenue | $2.3B↑2% | $594.6M↑2% | $587.4M↑1% | $580.0M↑2% | $2.3B↑7% | $2.2B↑14% | $1.9B↑4% | $1.8B↓1% | $1.9B |
| Operating Income | -- | -- | -- | -- | $565.4M↑72% | $329.5M↓10% | $367.6M↓48% | $711.7M↓44% | $1.3B |
| Net Income | $337.1M↓26% | -$56.6M↓152% | $135.9M↑55% | $135.8M↑28% | $423.9M↑71% | $247.9M↓13% | $286.1M↓47% | $535.8M↓44% | $958.3M |
| EPS (Diluted) | -- | $-5.43↓158% | $12.66↑71% | $12.40↑43% | $36.38↑83% | $19.88↓10% | $21.99↓44% | $39.32↓34% | $59.52 |
| Gross Margin | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Operating Margin | — | — | — | — | 24.4%↑60% | 15.2%↓21% | 19.3%↓50% | 38.8%↓43% | 67.9% |
| ROE | 24.3%↓16% | — | — | — | 27.8%↑96% | 14.2%↓13% | 16.3%↓51% | 33.0%↓37% | 52.5% |
| Total Debt | $5.4B↑5% | $5.4B↑5% | $5.0B↓7% | $5.1B↓9% | $5.2B↓4% | $5.4B↑34% | $4.0B↑6% | $3.8B↓1% | $3.8B |
| Shareholders' Equity | $1.4B↓12% | $1.4B↓12% | $1.6B↑2% | $1.5B↓12% | $1.5B↓13% | $1.7B | $1.8B↑8% | $1.6B↓11% | $1.8B |
| Current Ratio | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Debt / Equity | 3.89↑20% | 3.89↑20% | 3.16↓9% | 3.37↑3% | 3.39↑10% | 3.06↑35% | 2.28↓2% | 2.31↑11% | 2.09 |
| Operating Cash Flow | $1.3B↑16% | $335.5M↑12% | $309.5M↑122% | $346.8M | $1.1B↓7% | $1.1B↓5% | $1.2B↓3% | $1.2B↑16% | $1.1B |
| Free Cash Flow | $1.3B↑15% | $334.1M↑12% | $307.9M↑121% | $345.5M | $1.1B↓7% | $1.1B↓5% | $1.2B↓3% | $1.2B↑16% | $1.1B |
Score history
Historical Score Timeline
Industry peers
Industry Peers
Similar companies in Banking
CACC vs Peers — Financial Grading
| Company | Market Cap | Price | Revenue | Net Income | ROE | D/E | Op. Margin | Curr. Ratio | Graham | Buffett | Lynch | Piotroski | Dreman |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MITSUBISHI UFJ FINANCIAL GROUP INCMUFG | $245.7B | $21.83 | $74.2B | $10.8B | 8.8% | 1.12 | 19.9% | — | 2/7 | 1/6 | 1/4 | F-Score 5 | 3/9 |
| AMERICAN EXPRESS COAXP | $215.0B | $320.60 | $41.3B | $10.8B | 32.4% | 1.68 | — | — | 2/7 | 3/6 | 3/4 | F-Score 4 | 3/9 |
| Banco Santander, S.A.SAN | $175.9B | $12.21 | — | $16.6B | 12.5% | 0.02 | — | — | 2/7 | 1/6 | 2/4 | F-Score 4 | 5/9 |
| BARCLAYS BANK PLCATMP | $82.1B | $35.04 | $13.1B | $6.3B | 7.5% | 0.01 | — | — | 2/7 | 1/6 | 0/4 | F-Score 7 | 4/9 |
| BARCLAYS PLCBCS | $76.0B | $22.87 | $15.0B | $9.7B | 9.2% | 0.02 | — | — | 1/7 | 0/6 | 0/4 | F-Score 7 | 2/9 |
| FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES INC /DE/FCNCA | $25.7B | $2324.25 | $9.5B | $2.2B | 9.9% | 1.62 | — | — | 5/7 | 3/6 | 1/4 | F-Score 5 | 2/9 |
| KEYCORP /NEW/KEY | $22.7B | $21.46 | $7.5B | $1.8B | 9.0% | 0.49 | — | — | 2/7 | 1/6 | 1/4 | F-Score 6 | 4/9 |
| WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPWBS | $12.6B | $77.57 | $2.9B | $1.0B | 10.6% | 0.08 | 50.7% | — | 2/7 | 1/6 | 1/4 | F-Score 7 | 2/9 |