Mister Car Wash (NYSE:MCW) Shares Gap Up – Here’s What Happened

Mister Car Wash, Inc. (NYSE:MCW) gapped up before the market opened on Wednesday . The stock had previously closed at $6.01, but opened at $6.97. Mister Car Wash shares last traded at $6.9950, with a volume of 22,497,232 shares.

Mister Car Wash News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Mister Car Wash this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Definitive buyout: Leonard Green & Partners agreed to acquire the outstanding public shares for $7.00 per share (LGP already owns ~67% of MCW). The deal sets a clear cash exit price for remaining public holders and is the primary driver of today’s share rise. Mister Car Wash to Be Taken Private
• Positive Sentiment: Q4 and FY results showed continued growth: Q4 net revenues rose 4% to $261.2M, full‑year revenue topped $1.05B (first time >$1B), adjusted EBITDA increased ~10% in Q4 and ~8% for the year, and Unlimited Wash Club memberships grew 7% to ~2.3M — supporting the company’s recurring‑revenue thesis. Q4 and Full Year 2025 Results
• Positive Sentiment: Beat on EPS: Q4 EPS of $0.11 topped the Zacks consensus of $0.10, which bolsters the operational story even though revenue missed estimates by a small margin. Q4 Earnings Beat
• Neutral Sentiment: No 2026 outlook / call canceled: Management canceled the earnings call and declined to provide 2026 guidance because of the transaction — reduces near‑term transparency even though it’s standard during M&A processes. Earnings Release (call canceled)
• Neutral Sentiment: Operational notes: comps rose modestly (Q4 comps +1.6%), the company opened new locations (net +34 in 2025) and completed sale‑leasebacks to monetise assets — positive for scale but showing moderate same‑store demand. Operational Highlights
• Negative Sentiment: Shareholder investigations: two law firms have launched fairness/fiduciary‑duty probes into the sale price and process, which could lead to litigation, delays, or a negotiated change to deal terms. That introduces legal risk and potential deal uncertainty. M&A Class Action Firm Investigation Ademi Firm Investigation
• Negative Sentiment: Balance‑sheet & liquidity flags: cash fell to ~$28.5M from $67.5M year‑over‑year and rent expense rose (more sale‑leaseback/lease liabilities), which investors should watch when assessing leverage and cash needs under private ownership. Financials / Balance Sheet

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Raymond James Financial reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $8.00 target price on shares of Mister Car Wash in a report on Thursday, October 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on Mister Car Wash from $8.50 to $8.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, November 7th. Stephens lifted their price target on Mister Car Wash from $6.25 to $7.50 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 11th. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on Mister Car Wash from $7.50 to $6.50 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group set a $5.25 target price on shares of Mister Car Wash in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Mister Car Wash has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $7.25.

Mister Car Wash Stock Up 16.2%

The firm has a market cap of $2.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.75, a P/E/G ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 1.46. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $5.80 and a 200-day moving average price of $5.51. The company has a current ratio of 0.53, a quick ratio of 0.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Mister Car Wash

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of MCW. Greenhouse Funds LLLP raised its holdings in shares of Mister Car Wash by 9.4% in the third quarter. Greenhouse Funds LLLP now owns 16,863,562 shares of the company’s stock worth $89,883,000 after acquiring an additional 1,444,691 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its stake in shares of Mister Car Wash by 9.2% during the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 6,607,392 shares of the company’s stock worth $36,738,000 after purchasing an additional 559,000 shares during the last quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company grew its holdings in shares of Mister Car Wash by 27.4% during the second quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 6,166,833 shares of the company’s stock worth $37,063,000 after buying an additional 1,327,745 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its position in shares of Mister Car Wash by 2.6% in the fourth quarter. State Street Corp now owns 3,633,753 shares of the company’s stock valued at $20,204,000 after buying an additional 92,304 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Millennium Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Mister Car Wash by 28.1% during the third quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 2,641,893 shares of the company’s stock valued at $14,081,000 after buying an additional 579,213 shares during the period.

About Mister Car Wash

Mister Car Wash, traded on the NYSE under the ticker MCW, is a leading provider of vehicle cleaning services in the United States. The company specializes in a tiered range of wash offerings, including express exterior washes, full-service interior and exterior cleaning, and premium detailing services. In addition to one-time washes, Mister Car Wash markets unlimited monthly membership plans that grant customers access to recurring washes at participating locations.

Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, Mister Car Wash has grown from a single facility to one of the largest car wash chains in the country.