Diageo plc vs CarMax, Inc — how do they compare? Diageo plc trades at $82.69 (market cap $45.41B), while CarMax, Inc trades at $59.48 (market cap $7.91B). The key difference: Diageo plc is far larger — about 5.7× CarMax, Inc's market cap, and Diageo plc pays a 4.02% dividend while CarMax, Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| DEO | KMX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $45.41B | $7.91B |
Sector | Technology | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $115.33 | $63.53 |
52-Week Low | $72.47 | $30.88 |
Enterprise Value | $66.23B | $26.42B |
Dividend Yield | 4.02% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Diageo (DEO) trades at $82.50, up 0.57% today, with a bullish technical trend and strong profitability metrics including a 12.19% net margin and 22.29% ROE. Recent earnings show mixed results with a Q4 2025 beat but a Q2 2025 miss, while analyst sentiment is positive with 49% buy ratings. The stock faces headwinds from weak U.S. spirits demand and promotional pressures, as noted in recent Deutsche Bank and UBS reports from July 2026.
The outlook hinges on management's strategy reset in August 2026 to address U.S. volume declines and margin pressures. Investment appeal lies in its discounted valuation relative to historical multiples and dividend yield, but risks include sustained consumer moderation trends and execution challenges in key markets.
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
Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, and Guinness. It operates a vast portfolio of spirits and beers across more than 180 countries.
Read more on DEO →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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