CarMax, Inc vs PPG Industries, Inc. — how do they compare? CarMax, Inc trades at $52.72 (market cap $7.64B), while PPG Industries, Inc. trades at $104.27 (market cap $23.44B). The key difference: PPG Industries, Inc. is far larger — about 3.1× CarMax, Inc's market cap, and PPG Industries, Inc. pays a 2.81% 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 PPG Industries, Inc. for 68 Days on average.
| KMX | PPG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $7.64B | $23.44B |
Volume | 3,610,116 | 2,064,777 |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Basic Materials |
52-Week High | $64.22 | $131.56 |
52-Week Low | $30.88 | $94.34 |
Typical Hold Time | 49 Days | 68 Days |
Enterprise Value | $25.34B | $29.31B |
Dividend Yield | — | 2.81% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
CarMax (KMX) trades at $52.61, down 1.26% amid bearish technical signals despite recent earnings beats. The stock shows mixed fundamentals with a P/E of 25.37 and net margin of 1.06%, while revenue trends downward from $31.9B in 2022 to $26.4B in 2025. Recent Q2 2026 earnings of $1.16 per share beat expectations by 58%, driven by 19.5% revenue growth and improved unit sales under the 'Shift into GEAR' strategy.
The outlook remains cautious with analyst consensus at Hold (62%) and $58.89 price target suggesting 12% upside. Key risks include declining profit margins, high debt load ($18.14B long-term), and competitive pressures. Positive catalysts include continued execution of turnaround strategy and November 3 strategic update.
PPG Industries trades at $103.96, down 1.07% today, with mixed technical signals showing bearish momentum but neutral oscillators. The company maintains solid fundamentals with a P/E of 15.13, net income margin of 9.57%, and consistent dividend payments. Recent earnings show volatility with Q2 2026 missing expectations, while analyst consensus remains bullish with a $130 price target representing 25% upside potential.
PPG presents a balanced investment case with strong profitability metrics and analyst support, though near-term headwinds in automotive refinish and European markets create uncertainty. The stock's current valuation appears reasonable relative to historical levels, but investors should monitor Q3 2026 earnings on October 27 for confirmation of growth trajectory amid ongoing margin 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 →PPG is a global producer of coatings. The company is the world's largest producer of coatings after the purchase of selected Akzo Nobel assets. PPG's products are sold to a wide variety of end users, including the automotive, aerospace, construction, and industrial markets. The company has a footprint in many regions around the globe, with less than half of sales coming from North America in recent years. PPG is focused on its coatings and specialty products and expansion into emerging regions, as exemplified by the Comex acquisition.
Read more on PPG →