Booking Holdings Inc vs CarMax, Inc — how do they compare? Booking Holdings Inc trades at $175.06 (market cap $135.49B), while CarMax, Inc trades at $56.3 (market cap $7.91B). The key difference: Booking Holdings Inc is far larger — about 17.1× CarMax, Inc's market cap, and Booking Holdings Inc pays a 0.92% dividend while CarMax, Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| BKNG | KMX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $135.49B | $7.91B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $231.02 | $63.53 |
52-Week Low | $154.13 | $30.88 |
Enterprise Value | $138.41B | $26.42B |
Dividend Yield | 0.92% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Booking Holdings (BKNG) trades at $175.80, down 1.45% on the day, with a bearish technical signal but strong fundamentals including a 22.23% net income margin and consistent revenue growth. Recent earnings show mixed results with a Q1 2026 beat but a Q4 2025 miss, while analyst consensus remains strongly bullish with a $220.88 price target. The company maintains robust cash flow from operations at $9.41B for 2025 and continues to innovate in travel services, as highlighted by recent OpenTable initiatives.
The outlook for BKNG is positive based on solid profitability and growth prospects, though risks include high debt levels with a 64.02% debt-to-asset ratio and competitive pressures. Investment opportunity lies in its dominant market position and earnings potential, but investors should monitor execution risks and macroeconomic factors affecting travel demand.
CarMax (KMX) trades at $54.87, up 2.58% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a neutral oscillator stance. The company reported Q1 2026 earnings that beat expectations, with EPS of $0.34 versus $0.23 expected, driven by cost controls and strategic execution. Revenue for 2025 was $26.35 billion, with net income of $500.56 million, though margins remain thin. Recent news highlights a four-pillar turnaround strategy under new CEO Keith Barr, with insider buying and positive analyst updates supporting sentiment.
The outlook for KMX hinges on successful execution of its growth strategy amid competitive pressures and margin challenges. While technical indicators suggest near-term strength, fundamental risks include high debt levels and fluctuating profitability. Analyst consensus is cautious with a hold-heavy rating, but the stock offers potential for recovery if operational improvements sustain. Investors should weigh the bullish technical setup against fundamental headwinds and ongoing investigations.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Booking is the world's largest online travel agency by revenue, offering booking and payment services for hotel and alternative accommodation rooms, airline tickets, rental cars, restaurant reservations, cruises, experiences, and other vacation packages. The company operates a number of branded travel booking sites, including Booking.com, Agoda, OpenTable, and Rentalcars.com, and has expanded into travel media with the acquisitions of Kayak and Momondo. Transaction fees for online bookings account for the bulk of revenue and profits.
Read more on BKNG →CarMax sells, finances, and services used and new cars through a chain of over 230 used retail stores. It was formed in 1993 as a unit of Circuit City and spun off into an independent company in late 2002. Used-vehicle sales typically account for about 83% of revenue and wholesale about 13%, with the remaining portion composed of extended service plans and repair. In fiscal 2022, the company retailed and wholesaled 924,338 and 706,212 used vehicles, respectively. CarMax is the largest used-vehicle retailer in the U.S. but still estimates that it has only about 4% U.S. market share of vehicles 0-10 years old in 2021. It seeks over 5% share by the end of calendar 2025 and revenue between $33 billion to $45 billion by fiscal 2026. CarMax is based in Richmond, Virginia.
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