Carvana stock drops to start 2026 as insider sale filings hit tape; what CVNA investors watch next

Carvana Co shares ended the first trading day of 2026 down 5.2% and last traded at $400.25 after the close, after ranging from $390.87 to $426.90 in the session. The stock finished 2025 at $422.02, according to Nasdaq data. Nasdaq

NEW YORK, January 2, 2026, 18:19 ET — After-hours

  • Carvana shares fell 5.2% in Friday’s session, underperforming used-car peers.
  • Two post-close filings showed planned sales totaling 22,750 shares under SEC Rule 144.
  • Traders now shift focus to next week’s U.S. jobs data and Carvana’s next earnings window.

Carvana Co shares ended the first trading day of 2026 down 5.2% and last traded at $400.25 after the close, after ranging from $390.87 to $426.90 in the session. The stock finished 2025 at $422.02, according to Nasdaq data.

The move matters because Carvana entered the year after a sharp 2025 run and a late-December addition to the S&P 500, a shift that can draw steady demand from index-tracking funds.

It also lands as investors reassess richly valued consumer names early in the year, with any sign of insider selling drawing extra scrutiny after a long rally.

The broader market closed mixed, with the Dow and S&P 500 ending higher while the Nasdaq finished nearly flat, according to Reuters. Consumer discretionary stocks were among the pockets that weighed on the main index.

Carvana’s drop stood out against a steadier tape in parts of the auto retail space. CarMax rose 1.7%, AutoNation was little changed and CarGurus fell 1.9% on the day.

After the bell, a filing showed Carvana executive officer Mark Jenkins filed a Form 144 notice to sell up to 12,750 shares, with an aggregate market value listed as about $5.38 million. The notice said the shares were acquired on January 2 via an exercise of stock options and listed Morgan Stanley Smith Barney as broker.

A second Form 144 notice showed BHJC Trust filed to sell up to 10,000 shares, with an aggregate market value listed as about $4.22 million. The notice also listed recent sales under a 10b5-1 plan, including transactions in December and early November.

Form 144 is a notice tied to SEC Rule 144, which governs how affiliates and other holders can resell restricted or “control” stock. It signals an intent to sell but does not guarantee a sale will occur.

The filings referenced 10b5-1 plans, which are pre-set trading instructions designed to allow insiders to buy or sell shares on a schedule, even when they later may be in possession of nonpublic information.

Next week’s macro calendar is also in focus because interest-rate expectations shape auto affordability and lending markets. “The market is looking for direction,” Matthew Maley, chief market strategist at Miller Tabak, told Reuters, as investors look ahead to the January 9 U.S. jobs report and January 13 consumer price index. Reuters

For Carvana-specific catalysts, Nasdaq lists February 18 as the estimated next earnings date, while noting that the timing is derived from an algorithm rather than a company announcement.

For now, traders are watching whether CVNA can hold the $400 area after dipping below that level during the session, and whether further filings or sector moves add fuel to the stock’s early-year volatility.

Khadija Saeed

Khadija Saeed is a financial markets reporter at TS2.tech. Her coverage ranges from stocks and technology to emerging industries and developments across global markets. She studied economics and finance at the London School of Economics and worked in market research before becoming a financial journalist. Follow Khadija Saeed on Google News.

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