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 $281.36 (market cap $78.97B), while CarMax, Inc trades at $53.88 (market cap $7.64B). The key difference: Ecolab Inc. is far larger — about 10.3× CarMax, Inc's market cap, and Ecolab Inc. pays a 1.04% dividend while CarMax, Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Ecolab Inc. for 90 Days and CarMax, Inc for 49 Days on average.
| ECL | KMX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $78.97B | $7.64B |
Volume | 974,947 | 3,610,116 |
Sector | Basic Materials | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $308.35 | $64.22 |
52-Week Low | $245.73 | $30.88 |
Typical Hold Time | 90 Days | 49 Days |
Enterprise Value | $87.75B | $25.34B |
Dividend Yield | 1.04% | — |
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 $278.10, down 0.97% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and neutral oscillators. The company reported $16.08B in 2025 revenue, with a net income margin of 12.57% and strong profitability metrics. Recent news highlights its dividend aristocrat status and growth in high-tech segments, while institutional buying and insider purchases reflect confidence.
Outlook remains positive with a consensus price target of $326.38, implying 17% upside, supported by analyst buy ratings (78%). Risks include elevated valuation multiples and increased debt from the CoolIT acquisition. Earnings growth in high-tech and digital segments is a key catalyst, though cost fluctuations pose headwinds.
CarMax (KMX) trades at $53.28, down 3.64% amid a bearish technical signal, though recent Q2 2027 earnings beat estimates with EPS of $1.16 versus $0.732 expected. The company reported 19.5% revenue growth to $7.9 billion, driven by strong unit sales and cost control. Analyst consensus is mixed with 29.73% buy ratings and a $58.89 price target, while technical indicators show support at $52-$53 and resistance at $54.
The outlook is cautiously optimistic as CarMax's turnaround strategy shows early traction, but high debt levels and thin net margins near 1% pose risks. Near-term catalysts include the November strategic update, though macroeconomic pressures on consumer spending could challenge sustained growth. The stock offers value with a P/S of 0.28, but investors should monitor execution against guidance.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →
