Kimelman & Baird Acquires New Position in Openlane
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 24 2026
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Should l Buy OPLN?
Source: Fool
- New Investment Disclosure: Investment advisor Kimelman & Baird disclosed a new position in Openlane (OPLN) on February 5, 2026, acquiring 809,840 shares in an estimated $24.12 million trade, reflecting confidence in the company's future prospects.
- Significant Position: This acquisition accounts for 1.8529% of Kimelman & Baird's reportable U.S. equity assets, indicating a strategic move to diversify their investment portfolio while capitalizing on Openlane's growth potential.
- Strong Company Performance: Openlane reported a 9% year-over-year revenue growth and a 14% increase in net income in Q4 2025, with a gross merchandise volume of $7.1 billion, showcasing its robust performance in the used vehicle market.
- Optimistic Market Outlook: Openlane anticipates earnings per share between $0.95 and $1.09 for 2026, improving from a net loss of $0.96 per share in 2025, and Wall Street rates the stock as a consensus buy with a price target of $34, suggesting a potential growth of 28%.
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Analyst Views on OPLN
Wall Street analysts forecast OPLN stock price to fall
4 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 37.670
Low
29.00
Averages
31.13
High
32.50
Current: 37.670
Low
29.00
Averages
31.13
High
32.50
About OPLN
OPENLANE, Inc. provides sellers and buyers across the global wholesale used vehicle industry with technology-driven remarketing solutions. The Company offers a digital marketplace for used vehicles, connecting sellers and buyers across North America and Europe. Its end-to-end platform supports the whole car, financing, logistics and other ancillary and related services. Its segments include Marketplace and Finance. Marketplace segment serves its customer base through digital marketplaces in the United States, Canada and Europe and vehicle logistics center locations across Canada. This segment includes private label remarketing solutions, which are offered to automobile manufacturers, captive finance companies and other commercial customers to offer vehicles digitally. Through Automotive Finance Corporation, the Finance segment provides short-term, inventory-secured financing, known as floorplan financing, primarily to independent vehicle dealers throughout the United States and Canada.
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.
- Significant Revenue Growth: OPENLANE's total revenue reached $528 million in Q1, reflecting a 15% year-over-year increase that surpassed analysts' expectations of $492 million, indicating robust market demand and solidifying the company's leadership in the digital marketplace.
- Adjusted EBITDA Increase: The company reported adjusted EBITDA of $97 million, a 17% increase, which not only reflects strong performance in the Marketplace segment but also provides ample funding for future investments and expansions.
- Market Share Expansion: In the Marketplace segment, vehicle sales grew by 19%, gross merchandise value increased by 32% to $9.1 billion, and adjusted EBITDA reached $52 million, indicating that the company has gained a larger market share in a competitive environment.
- Optimistic Outlook: Management raised the 2026 adjusted EBITDA guidance to a range of $365 million to $385 million, primarily benefiting from strong Marketplace performance and the repeal of the Canadian digital service tax, demonstrating confidence in future growth.
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- Earnings Announcement Date: KAR Auction (OPLN) is scheduled to release its Q1 2023 earnings on May 5 before market open, with a consensus EPS estimate of $0.30, reflecting a 3.2% year-over-year decline, indicating potential profitability challenges.
- Revenue Expectations: The revenue estimate for Q1 stands at $492.72 million, representing a 7.1% year-over-year increase, showcasing the company's resilience in revenue growth despite broader market challenges.
- Historical Performance Review: Over the past two years, OPLN has beaten EPS estimates 75% of the time and revenue estimates 63% of the time, indicating a degree of reliability and market confidence in the company's financial performance.
- Expectation Revision Dynamics: In the last three months, EPS estimates have seen one upward revision and four downward revisions, while revenue estimates have experienced five upward revisions with no downward adjustments, reflecting market divergence and adjustments regarding the company's future performance.
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- Dover's Underperformance: Dover (DOV) has seen organic revenue disappoint over the past two years, with an annual EPS growth of only 5.8%, indicating a struggling core business that may require acquisitions for growth; its stock price of $228.62 reflects a 3.4x forward price-to-sales ratio, raising concerns about future growth prospects.
- OPENLANE's Challenges: OPENLANE (OPLN) facilitated the sale of approximately 1.3 million used vehicles in 2023, yet its sales have declined by 2.4% annually over the past five years, with a 6.6 percentage point drop in free cash flow margin, indicating increased capital intensity amid rising competition; trading at $31.67 per share, it has a forward P/E of 24, suggesting investment risks.
- Chipotle's Growth Potential: Chipotle (CMG) boasts a 16.2% operating margin and a massive revenue base of $11.93 billion, with same-store sales growth averaging 2.9% over the past two years, indicating effective expansion strategies that attract customers; its stock price of $33.90 reflects a forward P/E of 30.9, highlighting its market influence.
- Market Disparity Intensifies: The current market is rapidly distinguishing quality stocks from overvalued ones, with AI technology swiftly transforming multiple sectors; investors should focus on emerging stocks, as StockStory's AI system has successfully identified several potential winners, illustrating the dynamic changes in the market.
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- Declining Revenue: OPENLANE's average annual revenue has decreased by 2.4% over the past five years, indicating weak long-term demand and suggesting lower business quality, which may undermine investor confidence.
- Dropping Free Cash Flow Margin: The company's free cash flow margin has fallen by 6.6 percentage points over the last five years; although it has recently ticked higher, the potential for increased investment needs and capital intensity remains a concern.
- High Debt Levels Increase Risk: With $2.35 billion in debt significantly exceeding $141.5 million in cash, OPENLANE's 7× net-debt-to-EBITDA ratio indicates over-leverage, raising the risk of credit rating downgrades if profitability declines.
- High Market Valuation: Trading at a forward P/E of 23.2× and a share price of $30.77, OPENLANE appears overvalued, suggesting that the market may be overly optimistic about its future performance, prompting investors to reconsider their positions.
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- Earnings Release Schedule: OPENLANE will announce its Q1 2026 financial results before the market opens on May 5, 2026, providing investors with insights into its latest financial health and operational performance.
- Conference Call Details: Following the earnings release, CEO Peter Kelly and CFO Brad Herring will host a conference call at 8:30 a.m. ET, aimed at discussing the financial results and addressing investor inquiries.
- Webcast Availability: Investors can access the live webcast of the conference call through the investor relations section of OPENLANE's website, ensuring that all stakeholders can stay updated on the company's latest developments.
- Company Background: OPENLANE is a leading operator of digital marketplaces for wholesale used vehicles, connecting automotive manufacturers, dealers, and financial institutions to provide a fast, fair, and transparent transaction experience.
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- Earnings Release Schedule: OPENLANE will announce its Q1 2026 financial results before the market opens on May 5, 2026, providing investors with critical performance metrics and market analysis to assess the company's financial health.
- Conference Call Details: Following the earnings release, OPENLANE will host a conference call at 8:30 AM ET on the same day, led by CEO Peter Kelly and CFO Brad Herring, expected to delve into financial results and future outlook, thereby bolstering investor confidence.
- Webcast Availability: The conference call will be accessible via a live webcast on the company's investor relations website, allowing real-time information access, with a replay available post-call to ensure that all investors can obtain essential insights.
- Company Background: OPENLANE is a leading operator of digital marketplaces for wholesale used vehicles, connecting automotive manufacturers, dealers, and rental companies, committed to delivering a fast, fair, and transparent trading experience that enhances customer decision-making and market competitiveness.
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