Dollar Tree, Inc. vs CarMax, Inc — how do they compare? Dollar Tree, Inc. trades at $118.61 (market cap $22.26B), while CarMax, Inc trades at $54 (market cap $7.64B). The key difference: Dollar Tree, Inc. is far larger — about 2.9× CarMax, Inc's market cap, and CarMax, Inc is trading nearer its 52-week high, Dollar Tree, Inc. nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Dollar Tree, Inc. for 58 Days and CarMax, Inc for 49 Days on average.
| DLTR | KMX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $22.26B | $7.64B |
Volume | 2,317,428 | 3,610,116 |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $141.21 | $64.22 |
52-Week Low | $86.80 | $30.88 |
Typical Hold Time | 58 Days | 49 Days |
Enterprise Value | $28.87B | $25.34B |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Dollar Tree (DLTR) trades at $116.30, up 0.09% with a bullish technical signal despite bearish moving averages. The company shows strong earnings beats in recent quarters with Q2 2026 EPS of $2.70 beating expectations of $1.15. Revenue trends show recovery from 2025's $17.58B to projected $20.1B in 2026, while net income rebounds from -$3.03B to projected $1.6B. Analyst consensus is bullish with 53% buy ratings and $139.33 price target, representing 20% upside potential.
DLTR presents a compelling investment case with improving fundamentals and positive earnings momentum, though margin pressures and tariff volatility remain key risks. The stock's attractive valuation (P/E 14.54, EV/EBITDA 9.91) combined with strategic initiatives and store expansions support growth outlook, but investors should monitor cost inflation and competitive pressures in the discount retail sector.
CarMax (KMX) trades at $53.28, down 3.64% amid bearish technical signals despite recent earnings beats. The stock shows mixed fundamentals with strong revenue growth (Q2 2026 revenue up 19.5% to $7.9B) but thin net margins (1.06%). Analyst consensus leans cautious with 62% hold ratings, though price targets suggest 10.5% upside to $58.89. Recent leadership appointments and strategic updates signal management's focus on growth execution.
Outlook hinges on CarMax's ability to sustain unit sales momentum while improving profitability. The stock offers value appeal (P/S 0.28) but faces execution risks from high debt ($18.1B long-term) and competitive pressures. Near-term catalysts include November's strategic webcast and Q3 earnings.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Dollar Tree operates discount stores in the U.S. and Canada, including 8,647 shops under its namesake banner and 8,016 Family Dollar units (as of the end of fiscal 2021). The eponymous chain features branded and private-label goods, generally at a $1.25 price. Around 45% of Dollar Tree stores' fiscal 2021 sales came from consumables (including food, health and beauty, and household paper and cleaning products), nearly 50% from variety items (including toys and housewares), and just over 5% from seasonal goods. Family Dollar features branded and private-label goods at prices generally ranging from $1 to $10, with over 76% of fiscal 2021 sales from consumables, 9% from seasonal/electronic items (including prepaid phones and toys), 8% from home products, and 6% from apparel and accessories.
Read more on DLTR →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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