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America's Car - Mart Reports First Quarter Fiscal Year 2027 Results EXHIBIT 99.1 ROGERS , Ark . , Sept. 09 , 2026 ( GLOBE NEWSWIRE ) -- America's Car - Mart , Inc. ( NASDAQ : CRMT ) ( " we , " " Car - Mart ” or the “ Company ” ) , today reported financial results for the first quarter ended July 31 , 2026 . President and CEO Doug Campbell commentary : Our first quarter results reflect the capital constraints that have defined our results over the last several quarters . With limited capacity to purchase inventory and fund originations , retail units were down 81.9 % and revenue was down 57.3 % . Inventory ended the quarter at $ 35.2 million against $ 112.5 million a year ago . This is a capital structure story , not a demand story . Application volume was limited by the vehicles we had available to sell . Credit performance was also weaker . Net charge - offs were 9.5 % of average finance receivables against 6.6 % a year ago , and accounts over 30 days past due were 4.6 % against 4.1 % . Three things drive that : the contraction of the portfolio , continued fuel and cost - of - living pressure on our customers , and the transition of a small portion of the book to centralized collections , which we completed this quarter alongside the dealership consolidations . The transition work is now behind us . Resolving our capital structure remains our first priority . The Special Committee , together with its advisors and management , continues to evaluate the range of financing and strategic alternatives available , including discussions with third parties . We do not intend to comment further on that process . First Quarter Business Review Note : Discussions in each section provide information for the first quarter of fiscal year 2027 , compared to the first quarter of fiscal year 2026 , unless otherwise noted . SALES VOLUME Retail units sold decreased 81.9 % to 2,450 units compared to the prior year's quarter , reflecting the Company's decision to manage capital and inventory at minimal levels , which declined 68.7 % to $ 35.2 million at July 31 , 2026 from $ 112.5 million a year earlier , and from $ 54.1 million at April 30 , 2026. The decline in retail units sold exceeded the decline in ending inventory because inventory was drawn down over the course of the quarter , resulting in an average balance well below historical levels . These results were also impacted by the consolidation of 60 dealership locations during fiscal 2026 , which reduced the Company's dealership count from 154 to 94 . Application volume processed through credit decisioning was constrained by the inventory available for sale , which was limited by the Company's reduced ability to purchase vehicles during the period , and not by a decline in customer demand . TOTAL REVENUE – Total revenue for the quarter was $ 145.8 million , a decrease of 57.3 % year - over - year . The decline was primarily driven by lower retail unit volume consistent with the reduction in inventory purchases and the store consolidations discussed above partially offset by a 7.0 % increase in the average retail sales price of the vehicle , excluding ancillary products , from $ 17,319 to $ 18,530 , as the Company prioritized sales of select inventory to higher credit quality customers . The decline in retail volume was partially offset by an increase in third - party wholesale sales , which rose to $ 21.0 million from $ 10.8 million . The increase primarily reflects a change in disposition strategy rather than a change in repossession activity . With limited capital available to fund new originations , the Company began wholesaling substantially all repossessed vehicles in late May to accelerate cash conversion , rather than retaining a portion of those units for retail sale , as it had historically . Interest income decreased 14.2 % to $ 55.8 million , primarily due to the $ 325 million decrease in the portfolio size . GROSS PROFIT – Gross profit margin as a percentage of sales was 21.8 % , compared to 36.6 % in the prior year quarter . Total gross profit per retail unit sold increased by 7.5 % to $ 8,015 . The decline in gross profit margin reflects two primary factors . First , third - party wholesale sales , which carry lower margins , represented 23.4 % of total sales compared to 3.9 % in the prior year quarter , resulting in an aggregate loss of $ 4.7 million as the Company made a decision to sell more repossessed vehicles through wholesale channels , rather than re - retailing them , as part of its capital management strategy . Second , the fixed and semi - fixed components of cost of sales were spread over a substantially reduced retail sales base . Total gross profit per retail unit sold is calculated based on total gross profit , which includes the loss on third - party wholesale sales , divided by a retail unit count that declined 81.9 % .