CarMax, Inc vs Marqeta Inc — how do they compare? CarMax, Inc trades at $52.61 (market cap $7.64B), while Marqeta Inc trades at $18.11 (market cap $1.82B). The key difference: CarMax, Inc is far larger — about 4.2× Marqeta Inc's market cap, and CarMax, Inc is more actively traded (3,610,116 versus 1,126,466). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold CarMax, Inc for 49 Days and Marqeta Inc for 44 Days on average.
| KMX | MQ | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $7.64B | $1.82B |
Volume | 3,610,116 | 1,126,466 |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Technology |
52-Week High | $64.22 | $20.32 |
52-Week Low | $30.88 | $15.04 |
Typical Hold Time | 49 Days | 44 Days |
Enterprise Value | $25.34B | $1.13B |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
CarMax (KMX) trades at $53.79, up 0.96% with recent earnings beats driving positive momentum. The stock shows bearish technical signals but strong fundamental improvements with Q2 2026 EPS of $1.16 beating estimates by 58%. Revenue grew 19.5% to $7.9 billion in the latest quarter, while the company's Shift into GEAR strategy shows early success. Valuation metrics remain reasonable with P/E of 25.37 and P/S of 0.28, though net margins remain thin at 1.06%.
KMX presents a turnaround story with improving operational execution but faces margin pressure and high debt levels. The consensus price target of $58.89 suggests 9.5% upside potential, though analyst sentiment remains cautious with 62% hold ratings. Key risks include used car market volatility and interest rate sensitivity, while catalysts include continued execution of the growth strategy and potential share buybacks.
Marqeta (MQ) trades at $17.44, up 2.23% today, showing strong momentum after beating earnings expectations for three consecutive quarters. The stock displays a bullish technical outlook with positive moving average signals, though valuation metrics remain elevated with a P/E of 193.83. Recent partnerships with BVNK for stablecoin cards and Google for kids' wallets highlight ongoing business expansion despite mixed analyst sentiment.
MQ presents a high-risk, high-reward opportunity with improving fundamentals but premium valuation. Revenue growth has recovered from 2024 lows, and cash flow turned positive in 2025. However, the stock trades above most analyst targets, and contract renewals in Q3 2026 create near-term uncertainty. Investors should weigh growth potential against valuation concerns.
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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 →Headquartered in Oakland, California, and founded in 2010, Marqeta provides its clients with a card-issuing platform that offers the infrastructure and tools necessary to offer digital, physical, and tokenized payment options without the need for a traditional bank. The company's open APIs are designed to allow third parties like DoorDash, Klarna, and Block to rapidly develop and deploy innovative card-based products and payment services without the need to develop the underlying technology. The company generates revenue primarily through processing and ATM fees for cards issued on its platform.
Read more on MQ →