CAVA Group Inc vs CarMax, Inc — how do they compare? CAVA Group Inc trades at $69.46 (market cap $7.08B), while CarMax, Inc trades at $58.65 (market cap $8.26B). The key difference: CarMax, Inc is the larger of the two by market cap, and CarMax, Inc is trading nearer its 52-week high, CAVA Group Inc nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CAVA | KMX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $7.08B | $8.26B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $97.39 | $62.17 |
52-Week Low | $43.59 | $30.88 |
Enterprise Value | $7.23B | $26.77B |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
CAVA stock surged 12.32% to $69.165, driven by strong Q2 2026 earnings that beat estimates with $0.19 EPS and 31.3% revenue growth. Despite a bearish technical signal, fundamentals show robust expansion with same-store sales up 9% and net income margin at 4.79%. Analyst consensus remains strongly bullish with a $89.75 price target, though high valuations like a P/E of 108.59 pose concerns.
Outlook is positive due to earnings momentum and market share gains, but risks include valuation sensitivity and competitive pressures. Investors should weigh growth potential against premium multiples, with institutional support underscoring long-term confidence amid near-term volatility.
CarMax (KMX) trades at $58.20, showing modest near-term weakness with a 0.99% daily decline. The stock maintains a bullish technical stance with strong moving average support and trades near key support at $58. Fundamentally, the company reported Q1 2026 earnings beat with $0.34 EPS versus $0.23 expected, though revenue trends show slight contraction from $26.4B in 2025 to projected $26.3B in 2026. Recent positive developments include AI partnership enhancements and strong institutional recognition.
CarMax presents a mixed investment case with technical strength offset by fundamental challenges. The bullish moving average configuration and recent earnings beats provide near-term support, but declining revenue trends and thin 0.84% net margin limit upside potential. Key risks include ongoing fiduciary investigations and competitive pressure in the used car market. Analyst consensus remains cautious with 68.6% hold ratings and $53.09 price target below current levels.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
CAVA is a Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant brand in the US. It offers customizable bowls, salads, and pitas featuring healthy ingredients, while also selling its signature dips and dressings in grocery stores.
Read more on CAVA →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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