CarMax, Inc vs 3M Company — how do they compare? CarMax, Inc trades at $52.61 (market cap $7.64B), while 3M Company trades at $159.96 (market cap $84.36B). The key difference: 3M Company is far larger — about 11× CarMax, Inc's market cap, and 3M Company pays a 1.91% dividend while CarMax, Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold CarMax, Inc for 49 Days and 3M Company for 169 Days on average.
| KMX | MMM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $7.64B | $84.36B |
Volume | 3,610,116 | 2,325,301 |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Industrials |
52-Week High | $64.22 | $183.79 |
52-Week Low | $30.88 | $141.10 |
Typical Hold Time | 49 Days | 169 Days |
Enterprise Value | $25.34B | $93.58B |
Dividend Yield | — | 1.91% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
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.
3M (MMM) trades at $159.96, down 1.33% on the day, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings, beating estimates with EPS of $2.40 versus $2.25 expected, and maintains a robust net income margin of 11.9%. Recent news highlights operational momentum, including raised guidance and progress on litigation management. Cash flow from operations improved to $2.31 billion in 2025, though net cash flow was negative $319 million due to financing activities.
The outlook is mixed; analyst consensus is a Buy with a $191 price target, implying 19% upside, but technical indicators suggest near-term pressure. Key risks include high debt levels, weak consumer segment demand, and cost pressures. Earnings growth and margin expansion remain critical for sustained stock appreciation amid competitive and macroeconomic challenges.
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 →3M Company conducts operations in electronics, telecommunications, industrial, consumer and office, health care, safety, and other markets. The Company businesses share technologies, manufacturing operations, marketing channels, and other resources. 3M serves customers worldwide.
Read more on MMM →