CarMax, Inc vs Packaging Corporation of America — how do they compare? CarMax, Inc trades at $57.28 (market cap $7.93B), while Packaging Corporation of America trades at $228.86 (market cap $20.77B). The key difference: Packaging Corporation of America is far larger — about 2.6× CarMax, Inc's market cap, and Packaging Corporation of America pays a 2.57% dividend while CarMax, Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| KMX | PKG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $7.93B | $20.77B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Technology |
52-Week High | $63.53 | $246.31 |
52-Week Low | $30.88 | $191.41 |
Enterprise Value | $26.44B | $24.59B |
Dividend Yield | — | 2.57% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
CarMax (KMX) trades at $55.89, down 2.51% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages but a neutral stance from oscillators. The company reported mixed earnings, with a Q2 2025 miss but subsequent beats in Q3 2025 and Q1 2026. Revenue has trended down from $31.9B in 2022 to $26.35B in 2025, though net income margin improved slightly to 1.89%. Recent news highlights a strategic turnaround under new CEO Keith Barr, with insider buying and positive analyst updates despite an ongoing legal investigation.
The outlook for KMX hinges on successful execution of its four-pillar strategy to boost volume and efficiency, offering potential upside if targets are met. However, high debt levels, margin pressure, and legal scrutiny pose significant risks. Analyst consensus is cautious with a hold-heavy rating and a price target of $48.91 below the current price, indicating skepticism about near-term growth.
Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) trades at $228.43, down 1.99% today, with mixed technical signals showing bullish moving averages but neutral oscillators. The company reported Q1 2026 EPS of $2.40, beating estimates, but faces margin pressure with net income expected to decline to $741 million in 2026. Recent developments include a 20% dividend increase and upcoming Q2 earnings on July 22, 2026.
PKG presents a balanced outlook with strong institutional support and dividend growth offset by earnings volatility and margin compression. The consensus price target of $256.14 suggests 12% upside potential, but investors should monitor Q2 results and cost management amid inflationary pressures.
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 →Packaging Corporation of America is a leading producer of containerboard and corrugated packaging products in North America. The company also produces white papers, which include printing and writing papers. PKG operates as an integrated manufacturer, with a strong focus on high-quality and sustainable packaging solutions for e-commerce, food and beverage, and other industrial and consumer markets.
Read more on PKG →