CarMax, Inc vs Lowe`s Companies Inc — how do they compare? CarMax, Inc trades at $57.69 (market cap $8.26B), while Lowe`s Companies Inc trades at $215.94 (market cap $124.06B). The key difference: Lowe`s Companies Inc is far larger — about 15× CarMax, Inc's market cap, and Lowe`s Companies Inc pays a 2.26% dividend while CarMax, Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| KMX | LOW | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $8.26B | $124.06B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $62.17 | $287.39 |
52-Week Low | $30.88 | $201.92 |
Enterprise Value | $26.77B | $165.81B |
Dividend Yield | — | 2.26% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
CarMax (KMX) trades at $58.78, up 1.03% today, with a bullish technical signal and strong analyst support. Recent earnings have beaten expectations, with Q3 2025 and Q1 2026 EPS surpassing estimates, though Q2 2025 missed. Revenue remains stable around $26.4 billion, but net income margin is thin at 0.84%. The stock is near its consensus price target of $53.09, with a high target of $66.00. Positive news includes a Zacks Strong Buy rating and partnerships to enhance customer experience.
The outlook for KMX is cautiously optimistic, driven by earnings beats and bullish technicals, but high debt and margin pressures pose risks. Investment opportunity lies in continued execution and market share gains, while risks include competitive pressures and economic sensitivity. Analyst consensus leans Hold, with 68.58% holding, suggesting a wait-and-see approach for further growth confirmation.
Lowe's (LOW) trades at $218.84, down 2.02% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a neutral RSI. The company has beaten earnings estimates for the last three quarters, with Q2 2026 results expected on August 19. Revenue declined to $83.67 billion in 2025, but net income margin remained healthy at 7.51%. A $1.25 dividend is scheduled for payment on August 5, 2026.
The outlook is supported by strong analyst consensus, with a $257.06 price target implying 17% upside. Risks include high debt levels and competitive pressures. Earnings growth in the professional segment is a key catalyst, but macroeconomic headwinds could challenge DIY sales momentum.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →Lowe's is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world, operating 1,969 stores and servicing around 230 dealer-owned stores throughout the United States and Canada. The firm's stores offer products and services for home decorating, maintenance, repair, and remodeling, with maintenance and repair accounting for two thirds of products sold. Lowe's targets retail do-it-yourself (around 75% of sales) and do-it-for-me customers as well as commercial and professional business clients (around 25% of sales). We estimate Lowe's captures a low-double-digit share of the domestic home improvement market, based on U.S. Census data and management's estimates for market size.
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