Compare Ecolab Inc. (ECL) vs CarMax, Inc (KMX) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Ecolab Inc. vs CarMax, Inc — how do they compare? Ecolab Inc. trades at $273.79 (market cap $76.06B), while CarMax, Inc trades at $58.65 (market cap $8.36B). The key difference: Ecolab Inc. is far larger — about 9.1× CarMax, Inc's market cap, and Ecolab Inc. pays a 1.08% dividend while CarMax, Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ECL | KMX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $76.06B | $8.36B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $308.35 | $63.53 |
52-Week Low | $245.73 | $30.88 |
Enterprise Value | $84.81B | $26.87B |
Dividend Yield | 1.08% | — |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ECL trades at $273.62, up 1.43% with a bearish technical signal despite strong analyst support. The company shows solid fundamentals with $16.08B revenue, 12.8% net margin, and 22.31% ROE. Recent Q1 2026 earnings met expectations while Q2 2026 results are pending. The $4.75B CoolIT acquisition strengthens AI cooling capabilities, positioning for long-term growth in high-tech markets.
ECL presents a compelling growth story with improving profitability and strategic acquisitions, though current valuation multiples appear elevated. Key risks include execution of recent acquisitions and rising cost pressures. With 76% analyst buy ratings and a $327.43 consensus target suggesting 20% upside, the stock offers potential for patient investors despite near-term technical weakness.
CarMax (KMX) stock trades at $59.87, up 7.43% in the last session, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages. The company reported Q1 2026 earnings that beat expectations, with revenue of $26.35 billion and net income of $500.56 million in 2025. However, net income margin remains thin at 0.84%, and the stock trades at a P/E of 36.61, which is elevated relative to historical norms. Recent news highlights a four-pillar strategic turnaround under new CEO Keith Barr, though an ongoing legal investigation adds uncertainty.
The outlook for KMX hinges on successful execution of its growth strategy amid a challenging used car market. Upside potential exists if cost controls and digital initiatives improve profitability, but risks include high debt levels, margin pressure, and the pending legal probe. Analyst consensus is mixed, with a Hold rating predominant and a price target of $48.91 below the current price, suggesting caution despite recent positive momentum.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
About Ecolab Inc.
Ecolab produces and markets cleaning and sanitation products for the hospitality, healthcare, and industrial markets. The firm is the global market share leader in this category with a wide array of products and services, including dish and laundry washing systems, pest control, and infection control products. The company has a strong hold on the U.S. market and is looking to increase its profitability abroad. Additionally, Ecolab serves customers in water, manufacturing, and life sciences end markets, selling customized solutions.
Read more on ECL →About CarMax, Inc
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.
Read more on KMX →
