CarMax, Inc vs Kohl's Corporation — how do they compare? CarMax, Inc trades at $58.78 (market cap $8.26B), while Kohl's Corporation trades at $19.17 (market cap $2.10B). The key difference: CarMax, Inc is far larger — about 3.9× Kohl's Corporation's market cap, and Kohl's Corporation pays a 2.7% dividend while CarMax, Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| KMX | KSS | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $8.26B | $2.10B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $62.17 | $24.71 |
52-Week Low | $30.88 | $11.72 |
Enterprise Value | $26.77B | $8.20B |
Dividend Yield | — | 2.7% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
CarMax (KMX) trades at $58.20, showing modest near-term weakness with a 0.99% daily decline. The stock maintains a bullish technical stance with strong moving average support and trades near key support at $58. Fundamentally, the company reported Q1 2026 earnings beat with $0.34 EPS versus $0.23 expected, though revenue trends show slight contraction from $26.4B in 2025 to projected $26.3B in 2026. Recent positive developments include AI partnership enhancements and strong institutional recognition.
CarMax presents a mixed investment case with technical strength offset by fundamental challenges. The bullish moving average configuration and recent earnings beats provide near-term support, but declining revenue trends and thin 0.84% net margin limit upside potential. Key risks include ongoing fiduciary investigations and competitive pressure in the used car market. Analyst consensus remains cautious with 68.6% hold ratings and $53.09 price target below current levels.
Kohl's (KSS) trades at $18.96, down 0.42% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages but neutral oscillators. The stock shows low valuation multiples (P/E of 7.77, P/S of 0.14) amid declining revenue, which fell to $16.22B in 2025. Recent Q1 2026 earnings beat expectations, and the company announced a $0.13 dividend for June 2026, alongside leadership changes including a new COO appointment in September 2026.
The outlook is mixed: low valuations and earnings beats offer value, but persistent sales declines and thin net margins near 1.77% pose risks. Analyst consensus is cautious with a $16.75 price target below the current price, reflecting concerns over competitive pressures and cash flow volatility. Investors should weigh cost-cutting progress against macroeconomic headwinds in retail.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →Kohl's operates 1,165 department stores in 49 states that sell moderately priced private-label and national brand clothing, shoes, accessories, cosmetics, and home furnishings. Most of these stores are in strip centers. Kohl's also operates a large digital sales business. Women's apparel is Kohl's largest category, having generated 27% of its 2021 sales. The retailer, headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, opened its first department store in 1962.
Read more on KSS →