CarMax, Inc vs Packaging Corporation of America — how do they compare? CarMax, Inc trades at $58.5 (market cap $8.34B), while Packaging Corporation of America trades at $257.2 (market cap $22.70B). The key difference: Packaging Corporation of America is far larger — about 2.7× CarMax, Inc's market cap, and Packaging Corporation of America pays a 2.36% dividend while CarMax, Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| KMX | PKG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $8.34B | $22.70B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Technology |
52-Week High | $62.17 | $256.04 |
52-Week Low | $30.88 | $191.68 |
Enterprise Value | $26.85B | $26.51B |
Dividend Yield | — | 2.36% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
CarMax (KMX) trades at $58.18, up 0.21% today, with a bullish technical signal supported by moving averages. The stock shows mixed earnings performance, beating expectations in Q3 2025 and Q1 2026 but missing in Q2 2025. Revenue has declined from $31.9B in 2022 to $26.35B in 2025, while net income margin improved slightly to 1.89%. Recent news includes partnerships to enhance customer experience and ongoing legal investigations into fiduciary duties.
Outlook is cautious with a consensus price target of $53.09 below the current price, indicating potential downside. Opportunities lie in operational improvements and AI integrations, but risks include high debt, competitive pressures, and legal scrutiny. Analyst sentiment is neutral with 68.58% hold ratings, suggesting wait-and-see approach amid volatility.
Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) trades at $256.04, up 1.3% on the day, with a bullish technical trend supported by moving averages and strong support at $252. The company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $2.35, beating estimates, driven by record corrugated shipments and contributions from the Greif acquisition, though net income margins face pressure from rising costs. A $1.50 dividend for H1-2026 reflects management's confidence, with a consensus price target of $269.33 suggesting modest upside.
Outlook: PKG benefits from robust demand and strategic acquisitions, but cost headwinds and a high P/E of 33.08 pose valuation risks. Analyst sentiment is mixed with 34.6% buy ratings, indicating cautious optimism amid margin compression and economic uncertainties. Key risks include freight and input cost inflation, competitive pricing pressure, and execution of integration synergies.
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 →