Block & Leviton Investigates Carvana for Potential Securities Violations
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 28 2026
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Should l Buy CVNA?
Source: Newsfilter
- Stock Price Plunge: Carvana's shares fell over 15% on January 28, primarily due to a Gotham City Research report alleging that its profitability relies on undisclosed related-party transactions, undermining investor confidence.
- Financial Manipulation Allegations: The report claims that DriveTime burned over $1 billion in cash while leveraging 20x to 40x EBITDA to subsidize Carvana's earnings, potentially raising serious questions about Carvana's financial health.
- Legal Investigation Initiated: Block & Leviton is investigating whether Carvana violated securities laws and plans to file actions to recover losses for affected investors, demonstrating a commitment to protecting investor rights.
- Whistleblower Reward Program: Block & Leviton encourages whistleblowers with non-public information to assist in the investigation, with potential rewards of up to 30% of any successful recovery from the SEC, further incentivizing participation.
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Analyst Views on CVNA
Wall Street analysts forecast CVNA stock price to rise
18 Analyst Rating
16 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 361.530
Low
395.00
Averages
497.94
High
550.00
Current: 361.530
Low
395.00
Averages
497.94
High
550.00
About CVNA
Carvana Co. is a holding company. The Company operates an e-commerce platform for buying and selling used cars. The Company primarily acquires used vehicle inventory directly from customers, used car auctions, and wholesale used vehicle suppliers, including retail marketplace partners. Once it acquires a vehicle, the Company leverages its in-house logistics network or a vendor to transport the vehicle to one of its inspection and reconditioning centers (IRC) or auction locations with reconditioning capabilities, at which point the vehicle enters its inventory management system. It offers a mobile-optimized Website, where prospective retail car buyers can immediately begin browsing, researching, filtering, and identifying their vehicle of choice, where it offers an annotated virtual vehicle tour, which includes a 360-degree view of the interior and exterior of the actual vehicle. The Company also offers integrated financing using its loan origination platform.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Company Performance: Carvana shares have fallen by 6% following the announcement of a profit miss in the fourth quarter.
- Market Reaction: The decline in share value reflects investor concerns over the company's financial performance and future outlook.
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- Carvana's Stock Performance: Shares of Carvana fell significantly in after-hours trading following the release of their quarterly results.
- Quarterly Results Overview: The company's financial report showed mixed results, contributing to the decline in stock value.
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- Net Income Surge: Carvana reported a Q4 net income of $951 million, reflecting a 58% year-over-year increase and surpassing market expectations by $340 million, indicating robust performance in retail unit sales and Adjusted EBITDA.
- Adjusted EBITDA Metrics: The company achieved an Adjusted EBITDA of $511 million with a margin of 9.1%, demonstrating significant progress in operational efficiency and profitability, thereby enhancing its competitive position in the market.
- 2025 Strategic Goals: Carvana is focused on three key objectives for 2025: substantial growth in retail units and Adjusted EBITDA, fundamental improvements in unit economics and customer experience, and the development of foundational capabilities to support sustainable growth.
- Future Outlook: Looking ahead to 2026, Carvana anticipates continued significant growth in both retail units sold and Adjusted EBITDA, particularly in Q1 2026, assuming stable market conditions, which will further solidify its leadership in the industry.
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- Investigation Background: Block & Leviton is investigating Carvana Co. for potential securities law violations after its shares fell over 20% on January 28, indicating increasing investor concerns about the company's financial transparency.
- Profitability Concerns: A report from Gotham City Research alleges that Carvana's reported profitability relies on undisclosed related-party transactions with DriveTime and Bridgecrest, with DriveTime reportedly burning over $1 billion in cash, leading to diminished market confidence in Carvana's financial health.
- Investor Rights: Any investor who purchased Carvana common stock and has incurred losses may be eligible for assistance from Block & Leviton, highlighting the firm's commitment to protecting investor rights and recovering losses.
- Whistleblower Incentives: Block & Leviton encourages whistleblowers with non-public information to assist in the investigation, with potential rewards of up to 30% of any successful recovery from the SEC, further incentivizing participation from potential informants.
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