CarMax, Inc vs MPLX LP — how do they compare? CarMax, Inc trades at $52.79 (market cap $7.64B), while MPLX LP trades at $56.27 (market cap $58.11B). The key difference: MPLX LP is far larger — about 7.6× CarMax, Inc's market cap, and MPLX LP pays a 7.51% dividend while CarMax, Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| KMX | MPLX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $7.64B | $58.11B |
Volume | 3,610,116 | 687,483 |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Energy |
52-Week High | $64.22 | $60.51 |
52-Week Low | $30.88 | $47.80 |
Typical Hold Time | 49 Days | — |
Enterprise Value | $25.34B | $83.22B |
Dividend Yield | — | 7.51% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
CarMax (KMX) trades at $52.82, down 0.86% today, with a bearish technical signal despite recent earnings beats. The company reported strong Q2 2026 results with EPS of $1.16 beating estimates by 58%, driven by 19.5% revenue growth to $7.9 billion. Valuation metrics show a P/E of 25.37 and P/S of 0.28, while profitability remains modest with 1.06% net margin. Recent news highlights the company's 'Shift into GEAR' turnaround strategy showing early success.
KMX presents a mixed outlook with improving operational performance offset by high debt levels and competitive pressures. The consensus price target of $58.89 suggests 11% upside potential, but analysts remain cautious with 62% hold ratings. Key risks include cyclical auto market exposure and interest rate sensitivity, while catalysts include continued execution of the turnaround strategy and potential share buybacks.
MPLX trades at $56.12, down 1.63% with a bearish technical signal. The stock shows strong fundamentals with a 12.33 P/E ratio, 40.45% net income margin, and consistent dividend payments. Recent earnings show mixed results with Q4 2025 beating expectations but subsequent quarters missing targets. Analyst consensus remains strongly bullish with 19 buy ratings and a $63.80 price target, representing 13.7% upside potential from current levels.
The outlook remains positive given MPLX's resilient midstream business model with fee-based revenues insulating it from energy price volatility. Key risks include potential energy market downturns and execution challenges in the Permian Basin expansion. The company's strong cash flow generation supports its 8% dividend yield, making it attractive for income investors seeking energy exposure with reduced commodity price sensitivity.
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 →MPLX LP is a Master Limited Partnership (MLP) formed by Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC). It is a diversified, growth-oriented company primarily engaged in the gathering, processing, and transportation of natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGLs), as well as the transportation, storage, and distribution of crude oil and refined petroleum products. MPLX owns and operates a network of midstream energy infrastructure assets, providing essential services to the energy industry across the United States.
Read more on MPLX →