It has been a fair while since investors last heard from Auto Trader (AUTO), the UK’s biggest digital automotive marketplace that allows users to buy and sell a range of vehicles.

Steered by chief executive Nathan Coe, the FTSE 100 constituent motored in with forecast-beating first-half results back in November, with outperformance driven by the core business with both ARPR (average revenue per retailer) and customer numbers topping analysts’ estimates.

Auto Trader also issued a confident outlook for the second half, so expectations are high heading into the print. And with the shares up 70% from their pandemic lows, there is scant room for disappointment when this highly-profitable company delivers results for the year to March 2024 on 30 May.

Investors will be hanging on management’s pronouncements when it comes to the competitive landscape - the bulls believe Auto Trader has a moat wide enough to keep an array of rivals ranging from GumTree and eBay to Google at bay - as well as the health of the UK car market and Auto Trader’s retailer customer base at a time when the market is shifting towards electric vehicles.

Analysts will also be interested in the progress made in scaling Deal Builder, Auto Trader’s service which allows car buyers to value their part-exchange, apply for finance and reserve their chosen vehicle online.

UK UPDATES OVER THE NEXT 7 DAYS

FIRST-HALF RESULTS

18 May: Victorian Plumbing

FULL-YEAR RESULTS

24 May: Volvere

28 May: Griffin Mining

29 May: Pets at Home

30 May: Auto Trader

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

24 May: Intertek

28 May: Impax Asset Management

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