CarMax, Inc vs Warner Music Group Corp — how do they compare? CarMax, Inc trades at $57.79 (market cap $7.93B), while Warner Music Group Corp trades at $28.06 (market cap $14.64B). The key difference: Warner Music Group Corp is the larger of the two by market cap, and Warner Music Group Corp pays a 2.71% dividend while CarMax, Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| KMX | WMG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $7.93B | $14.64B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Media |
52-Week High | $63.53 | $34.72 |
52-Week Low | $30.88 | $23.65 |
Enterprise Value | $26.44B | $18.84B |
Dividend Yield | — | 2.71% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
CarMax (KMX) trades at $55.89, down 2.51% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages but a neutral stance from oscillators. The company reported mixed earnings, with a Q2 2025 miss but subsequent beats in Q3 2025 and Q1 2026. Revenue has trended down from $31.9B in 2022 to $26.35B in 2025, though net income margin improved slightly to 1.89%. Recent news highlights a strategic turnaround under new CEO Keith Barr, with insider buying and positive analyst updates despite an ongoing legal investigation.
The outlook for KMX hinges on successful execution of its four-pillar strategy to boost volume and efficiency, offering potential upside if targets are met. However, high debt levels, margin pressure, and legal scrutiny pose significant risks. Analyst consensus is cautious with a hold-heavy rating and a price target of $48.91 below the current price, indicating skepticism about near-term growth.
Warner Music Group (WMG) trades at $28.08, down 0.88% on the day, with a bearish technical signal and mixed earnings history. Revenue growth is steady, reaching $6.71B in 2025, but net income margin has declined to 5.44%. Recent developments include a strategic renewal with NetEase Cloud Music and the acquisition of AI startup Sureel AI, enhancing IP monetization capabilities in the evolving music industry.
The stock offers a 44% upside to the consensus price target of $40.40, supported by strong analyst buy ratings (66.66%), but faces risks from competitive pressures and margin compression. Investors should weigh the high P/E ratio of 33.73 against growth initiatives and cash flow improvements projected for 2026.
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 →Warner Music Group is the third largest of the three major global record labels, with Vivendi's Universal Music in first and Sony Music in second. Warner's larger segment, recorded music, consists of iconic labels like Atlantic Records, Warner Records, and Parlophone Records and popular artists such as Ed Sheeran, Cardi B, Dua Lipa, and Blake Shelton. Warner Chappell, the firm's publishing arm, is the home to over 65,000 composers and songwriters with over a million copyrights represented. Warner is controlled by Access Industries, which owns an 84% economic interest and 99% of voting rights.
Read more on WMG →