CarMax, Inc vs VanEck Rare Earth/Strategic Metals — how do they compare? CarMax, Inc trades at $52.72 (market cap $7.64B), while VanEck Rare Earth/Strategic Metals trades at $61 (market cap $1.75B). The key difference: CarMax, Inc is far larger — about 4.4× VanEck Rare Earth/Strategic Metals's market cap, and CarMax, Inc is trading nearer its 52-week high, VanEck Rare Earth/Strategic Metals nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold CarMax, Inc for 49 Days and VanEck Rare Earth/Strategic Metals for 50 Days on average.
| KMX | REMX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $7.64B | $1.75B |
Volume | 3,610,116 | 930,523 |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Sector/Thematic |
52-Week High | $64.22 | $109.53 |
52-Week Low | $30.88 | $60.58 |
Typical Hold Time | 49 Days | 50 Days |
Enterprise Value | $25.34B | — |
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.
REMX (VanEck Rare Earth and Strategic Metals ETF) trades at $60.97, down 1.47% with a bearish technical outlook. The ETF faces selling pressure across moving averages and oscillators, though RSI readings below 14 suggest potential oversold conditions. Recent news highlights strategic importance of rare earth metals amid U.S. efforts to reduce dependence on China, with Bank of America increasing its stake by 72.1% in the latest quarter.
The ETF offers exposure to 38 global rare earth companies but carries high volatility (~50% annualized) and significant China exposure. While geopolitical trends support long-term demand, current technical weakness and sector-specific risks warrant caution. The reshoring trade provides structural tailwinds, but investors should be prepared for elevated price swings.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →REMX invests in global companies involved in producing, refining, and recycling rare earth and strategic metals. It provides targeted exposure to critical minerals used in high-tech and green energy, with top holdings like Albemarle and Pilbara Minerals.
Read more on REMX →