CarMax, Inc vs Synopsys, Inc. — how do they compare? CarMax, Inc trades at $55.91 (market cap $7.93B), while Synopsys, Inc. trades at $389.5 (market cap $72.47B). The key difference: Synopsys, Inc. is far larger — about 9.1× CarMax, Inc's market cap, and CarMax, Inc is trading nearer its 52-week high, Synopsys, Inc. nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| KMX | SNPS | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $7.93B | $72.47B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Technology |
52-Week High | $63.53 | $645.59 |
52-Week Low | $30.88 | $378.46 |
Enterprise Value | $26.44B | $80.82B |
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.
Synopsys (SNPS) trades at $388.84, up 1.19% on the day, with a bearish technical signal despite recent earnings beats. The stock faces headwinds from semiconductor sector volatility but maintains strong analyst support with an 82.76% buy rating. Recent news highlights the company's strategic pivot toward AI design tools and margin expansion following its Ansys integration, positioning it as a key enabler in the chip design ecosystem despite near-term price pressure.
Outlook remains positive long-term due to SNPS's dominant EDA market position and AI-driven growth opportunities, though investors face risks from cyclical semiconductor demand and integration execution. The consensus price target of $559.50 implies significant upside if the company delivers on its AI strategy and margin improvements.
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 →Synopsys is a provider of electronic design automation software, intellectual property, and software integrity products. EDA software automates the chip design process, enhancing design accuracy, productivity, and complexity in a full-flow end-to-end solution. The firm's growing SI business allows customers to continuously manage and test the code base for security and quality. Synopsys' comprehensive portfolio is benefiting from a mutual convergence of semiconductor companies moving up-stack toward systems-like companies, and systems companies moving down-stack toward in-house chip design. The resulting expansion in EDA customers alongside secular digitalization of various end markets benefits EDA vendors like Synopsys.
Read more on SNPS →