CarMax, Inc vs Norfolk Southern Corporation — how do they compare? CarMax, Inc trades at $52.61 (market cap $7.64B), while Norfolk Southern Corporation trades at $317.79 (market cap $71.20B). The key difference: Norfolk Southern Corporation is far larger — about 9.3× CarMax, Inc's market cap, and Norfolk Southern Corporation pays a 1.7% 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 Norfolk Southern Corporation for 33 Days on average.
| KMX | NSC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $7.64B | $71.20B |
Volume | 3,610,116 | 555,248 |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Industrials |
52-Week High | $64.22 | $352.98 |
52-Week Low | $30.88 | $278.19 |
Typical Hold Time | 49 Days | 33 Days |
Enterprise Value | $25.34B | $86.75B |
Dividend Yield | — | 1.7% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
CarMax (KMX) trades at $53.79, up 0.96% with a bearish technical outlook despite recent earnings beats. The company reported strong Q2 2027 results with EPS of $1.16 beating expectations 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 challenged with a 1.06% net margin. The stock faces resistance near $54-55 with support at $52-53 levels.
KMX shows early turnaround progress with improved sales volume and earnings, but faces margin pressure and high debt levels. The consensus price target of $58.89 suggests 9.5% upside potential, though analyst sentiment is cautious with 62% hold ratings. Key risks include competitive pricing pressure and macroeconomic sensitivity to used car demand.
Norfolk Southern (NSC) trades at $316.99, up 1.21% with bullish technical indicators and strong institutional support. The company demonstrates solid fundamentals with consistent earnings beats, a 21.02% net income margin, and robust cash flow from operations. Recent news highlights momentum for the proposed Union Pacific merger, with regulatory review advancing and over 500 customer endorsements supporting the combination's potential benefits.
NSC presents a favorable risk-reward profile with analyst consensus target of $361.86 offering 14% upside. Key opportunities include freight share gains from trucking and merger synergies, while risks involve fuel price pressures and regulatory hurdles for the combination. The stock remains well-positioned for long-term growth with dividend stability.
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 →Norfolk Southern Corporation is a major North American railroad company operating one of the largest freight rail networks in the eastern United States. The company transports a diverse range of commodities, including coal, intermodal containers, and various industrial products. NSC is a critical link in the nation's supply chain, providing efficient, long-haul transportation services to and from ports and industrial centers.
Read more on NSC →