H2O America vs CarMax, Inc — how do they compare? H2O America trades at $58.48 (market cap $2.43B), while CarMax, Inc trades at $52.61 (market cap $7.64B). The key difference: CarMax, Inc is far larger — about 3.1× H2O America's market cap, and H2O America pays a 3.03% dividend while CarMax, Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold H2O America for 40 Days and CarMax, Inc for 49 Days on average.
| HTO | KMX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $2.43B | $7.64B |
Volume | 593,883 | 3,610,116 |
Sector | Utilities | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $65.43 | $64.22 |
52-Week Low | $44.44 | $30.88 |
Typical Hold Time | 40 Days | 49 Days |
Enterprise Value | $4.22B | $25.34B |
Dividend Yield | 3.03% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
HTO trades at $58.48, up 0.86% with a bearish technical signal despite bullish oscillators. The company shows stable fundamentals with 12.91% net margin and consistent earnings beats in recent quarters. Recent Texas acquisitions signal growth strategy, though cash flow trends show heavy investment activity. Analyst consensus remains strongly bullish with 83% buy ratings and $66.50 price target.
HTO presents a compelling value opportunity with strong analyst support and strategic expansion, though execution risks from recent acquisitions and bearish technical indicators warrant caution. The stock's current discount to consensus target offers potential upside for patient investors willing to navigate near-term volatility.
CarMax (KMX) trades at $52.61, down 1.26% amid bearish technical signals despite recent earnings beats. The stock shows mixed fundamentals with a P/E of 25.37 and net margin of 1.06%, while revenue trends downward from $31.9B in 2022 to $26.4B in 2025. Recent Q2 2026 earnings of $1.16 per share beat expectations by 58%, driven by 19.5% revenue growth and improved unit sales under the 'Shift into GEAR' strategy.
The outlook remains cautious with analyst consensus at Hold (62%) and $58.89 price target suggesting 12% upside. Key risks include declining profit margins, high debt load ($18.14B long-term), and competitive pressures. Positive catalysts include continued execution of turnaround strategy and November 3 strategic update.
Trailing returns across standard periods
H2O America is a utility company that provides essential water and wastewater services, primarily in the United States. The company operates a network of regulated water and wastewater systems, focusing on responsible resource management and high-quality service delivery. HTO aims to expand its operational footprint through acquisitions and internal growth, serving residential, commercial, and industrial customers.
Read more on HTO →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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