CarMax, Inc vs Ross Stores, Inc. — how do they compare? CarMax, Inc trades at $55.91 (market cap $7.93B), while Ross Stores, Inc. trades at $233.99 (market cap $75.63B). The key difference: Ross Stores, Inc. is far larger — about 9.5× CarMax, Inc's market cap, and Ross Stores, Inc. pays a 0.75% dividend while CarMax, Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| KMX | ROST | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $7.93B | $75.63B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $63.53 | $240.13 |
52-Week Low | $30.88 | $134.02 |
Enterprise Value | $26.44B | $76.23B |
Dividend Yield | — | 0.75% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
CarMax (KMX) trades at $57.61, up 0.49% on the day, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and a strong ADX signal. Recent Q1 2026 earnings beat expectations, driven by cost control and revenue growth, though net income margins remain thin at 0.84%. The company's four-pillar strategy focuses on volume, digital sales, and efficiency, with positive analyst coverage highlighting value and momentum potential.
The stock's upside is supported by operational improvements and insider buying, but risks include high debt levels, margin pressure, and a pending legal investigation. Analyst consensus is cautious with a $48.91 price target below the current price, suggesting limited near-term upside amid execution risks.
Ross Stores (ROST) trades at $235.78, up 1.05% today, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and recent earnings beats. The company reported strong Q1 2026 results with 21% sales growth and expanding margins, while expanding its store footprint with 47 new locations in mid-2026. Valuation metrics show a P/E of 32.93 and robust profitability with a 38.98% ROE, though the stock trades near analyst price targets.
The outlook remains positive due to consistent earnings outperformance and store expansion, but risks include high valuation multiples and competitive retail pressures. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $259 price target, suggesting moderate upside potential from current levels amid broader market volatility.
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 →Ross Stores is a leading American off-price apparel and home fashion retailer, operating over 1,920 stores (at the end of fiscal 2021) across the Ross Dress for Less and dd's Discounts banners. Ross offers a variety of name-brand products and targets undercutting conventional retailers' regular prices by 20%-70%. The company uses an opportunistic, flexible merchandising approach
Read more on ROST →