W W Grainger Inc vs CarMax, Inc — how do they compare? W W Grainger Inc trades at $1,397.84 (market cap $64.75B), while CarMax, Inc trades at $60.09 (market cap $8.36B). The key difference: W W Grainger Inc is far larger — about 7.7× CarMax, Inc's market cap, and W W Grainger Inc pays a 0.68% dividend while CarMax, Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| GWW | KMX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $64.75B | $8.36B |
Sector | Technology | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $1.39K | $63.53 |
52-Week Low | $918.18 | $30.88 |
Enterprise Value | $66.84B | $26.87B |
Dividend Yield | 0.68% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
GWW trades at $1,398.30, up 1.99% on the day, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and strong momentum indicators. The company reported robust Q1 2026 earnings of $11.65 per share, beating estimates, and raised its full-year guidance. Revenue growth and profitability remain solid, with a net income margin of 9.7% and ROE of 48.1% for 2025. Recent news highlights its inclusion in high-quality dividend and momentum stock lists, reflecting positive market recognition.
The outlook for GWW is positive, driven by earnings beats and upward guidance revisions, though valuation multiples like a P/E of 36.88 suggest premium pricing. Risks include competitive pressures in the industrial services sector and reliance on MRO market demand. Analyst consensus is cautious with a hold-heavy rating, but the average price target of $1,260 implies modest upside potential from current levels.
CarMax (KMX) trades at $55.73, up 1.57% with bullish technical signals from moving averages. The company shows mixed fundamentals with a high P/E of 36.61 but attractive P/S of 0.32, while recent Q1 2026 earnings beat expectations. Revenue has declined from $31.9B in 2022 to $26.35B in 2025, though net income improved to $500.56M. Technical analysis indicates bullish momentum with support at $55 and resistance at $56.
Outlook remains cautious with analyst consensus at Hold (62.86%) and price target of $48.91 below current levels. Key risks include ongoing margin pressure and high debt load of $18.14B. Positive catalysts include the four-pillar turnaround strategy gaining traction and insider buying activity.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Grainger is a leading broad-line distributor of maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) products. It serves millions of customers worldwide through an integrated network of branches and digital platforms.
Read more on GWW →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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