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Carmax Inc (KMX)
NYSE:KMX
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CarMax (KMX) AI Stock Analysis

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KMX

CarMax

(NYSE:KMX)

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Neutral 57 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:57Neutral
Price Target:
$43.00
▲(5.19% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:04/15/26
The score is primarily constrained by weaker profitability (declining revenue and thin margins) and elevated leverage, partially offset by the strong TTM free-cash-flow rebound. Technicals are neutral-to-soft with limited momentum, and valuation (25.707 P/E with no dividend yield provided) offers limited support. The latest earnings call adds modest confidence from cost-reduction targets and operational initiatives, but guidance points to continued margin pressure.
Positive Factors
Omni‑channel digital conversion
CarMax is executing targeted pricing, acquisition marketing and initial digital enhancements that improved conversion and stabilized comps. Over months this strengthens its omni‑channel moat, lowers customer acquisition costs, and helps sustain unit volumes and inventory turn across its national retail footprint.
Negative Factors
Revenue decline & thin margins
Revenue and net margin compression reflect weaker pricing power and cost pressure versus prior strong years. Persistently thin profitability limits reinvestment capacity, raises sensitivity to demand shocks, and constrains margin recovery absent sustained structural improvements in used‑vehicle economics.
Read all positive and negative factors
Positive Factors
Negative Factors
Omni‑channel digital conversion
CarMax is executing targeted pricing, acquisition marketing and initial digital enhancements that improved conversion and stabilized comps. Over months this strengthens its omni‑channel moat, lowers customer acquisition costs, and helps sustain unit volumes and inventory turn across its national retail footprint.
Read all positive factors

CarMax (KMX) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

CarMax Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description
CarMax, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a retailer of used vehicles in the United States. The company operates through two segments, CarMax Sales Operations and CarMax Auto Finance. It offers customers a range of makes and models...
How the Company Makes Money
CarMax makes money primarily through (1) used vehicle retail sales, (2) wholesale vehicle sales, and (3) financing and other ancillary products. Used vehicle retail sales generate revenue when CarMax sells reconditioned used cars to consumers; pro...

CarMax Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Gross Profit by Segment
Gross Profit by Segment
Highlights profitability across different segments, providing insight into which areas contribute most to the bottom line and where cost efficiencies or pricing power are strongest.
Chart InsightsCarMax's gross profit from the 'Used' segment shows volatility, with recent declines reflecting broader challenges in retail sales. The earnings call highlights a strategic pivot to enhance competitiveness by lowering margins and investing in digital platforms. Despite a 9% increase in CarMax Auto Finance income, the company faces headwinds from declining retail and wholesale sales. The focus on cost reduction and digital enhancements aims to counteract these pressures, but the cautious outlook suggests ongoing challenges in maintaining profitability amid market shifts.
Data provided by:The Fly

CarMax Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Apr 14, 2026
(Q4-2026)
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% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Jun 19, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The call balanced meaningful operational progress and strategic action (improved sales trends, pricing/marketing/digital levers, SG&A reduction target increased to $200M, CAF penetration growth and product redesigns) against significant near-term financial headwinds (noncash goodwill impairment, restructuring charges, reduced gross profits and margins, adjusted EPS decline, CAF income decline and elevated provisions). Management presented a clear plan to prioritize the customer, leverage technology, and materially reduce SG&A, but also acknowledged that FY'27 will see continued margin pressure and a cautious capital posture while the business rebalances.
Positive Updates
Sales Stabilization and Unit Growth
Total sales of $5.9 billion (down 1% year-over-year) while combined retail and wholesale vehicle sales were ~304,000 units, up 1% versus the prior-year fourth quarter — showing a positive change in trend versus Q2 and Q3.
Negative Updates
Net Loss and EPS Pressure
Reported a fourth-quarter net loss per diluted share of $0.85 versus prior-year EPS of $0.58; adjusted EPS was $0.34 versus $0.64 a year ago (about a 47% decline).
Read all updates
Q4-2026 Updates
Negative
Sales Stabilization and Unit Growth
Total sales of $5.9 billion (down 1% year-over-year) while combined retail and wholesale vehicle sales were ~304,000 units, up 1% versus the prior-year fourth quarter — showing a positive change in trend versus Q2 and Q3.
Read all positive updates
Company Guidance
The company guided that for FY‑27 it will take a more dynamic approach to margin management with used margins expected to decline “broadly in line” with the Q4 year‑over‑year trend (with Q1 expected to show the largest YoY decline, closer to ~$300 per unit), while rolling out its redesigned extended protection plan (EPP/MaxCare) nationally (expected to add about ~$35 per unit in FY‑27 as it ramps). Management raised its FY‑27 exit‑rate SG&A reduction target to $200 million (up from $150 million), will transition SG&A efficiency to a per‑total‑unit metric (retail + wholesale) and expects SG&A to lever in FY‑27 excluding FY‑26 restructuring charges, though roughly half of in‑year savings will be offset by the annualization of materially reduced corporate bonus and share‑based comp, inflation and new‑store growth. Capital spend is expected to be about $400 million in FY‑27 (down materially vs. the prior two years), with plans to open 4 new stores plus new off‑site reconditioning/auction capacity (two reconditioning & auction sites and two off‑site auction locations), and the company has paused buybacks while leverage sits slightly above target after repurchasing 1.3 million shares for $50 million in Q4 (approximately $1.31 billion repurchase authorization remaining at quarter end). On financing, CarMax Auto Finance plans to expand full‑spectrum penetration (Q4 origination ≈ $1.9 billion, CAF penetration 42.8% net of 3‑day payoffs, weighted avg. contract rate 11.1%, Tier‑2/3 = 25.6%), will lean on diversified/on‑ and off‑balance sheet funding (designated $100 million nonprime pool held for sale), and expects CAF to contribute to higher retained finance income while provisioning and reserves (Q4 reserves $453 million, 2.78% of loans; Q4 LLP $74 million) are managed as originations into lower credit tiers grow.

CarMax Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Mixed fundamentals: TTM revenue declined (-7%) and net margin is very thin (~1.6%) with compressed operating profit (income statement score 54). Leverage remains elevated for a cyclical model (balance sheet score 57). The key offset is a strong TTM cash-flow rebound with ~$1.8B operating cash flow and ~$1.24B free cash flow (cash flow score 68), though cash flows have been volatile.
Income Statement
54
Neutral
Balance Sheet
57
Neutral
Cash Flow
68
Positive
BreakdownFeb 2026Feb 2025Feb 2024Feb 2023Feb 2022
Income Statement
Total Revenue25.88B28.21B28.21B31.13B33.20B
Gross Profit2.81B3.22B3.04B3.24B3.88B
EBITDA768.58M1.09B1.06B1.04B1.87B
Net Income247.29M500.56M479.20M484.76M1.15B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets26.37B27.40B27.20B26.18B26.34B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments122.83M246.96M574.14M314.76M102.72M
Total Debt2.77B19.43B19.31B18.93B19.27B
Total Liabilities20.48B21.16B21.12B20.57B21.10B
Stockholders Equity5.89B6.24B6.07B5.61B5.24B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow1.24B156.50M-6.69M860.62M-2.86B
Operating Cash Flow1.78B624.44M458.62M1.28B-2.55B
Investing Cash Flow-540.04M-461.00M-467.00M-425.77M-523.75M
Financing Cash Flow-1.34B-453.54M307.79M-710.18M3.10B

CarMax Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price40.88
Price Trends
50DMA
42.84
Negative
100DMA
42.41
Negative
200DMA
47.49
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.08
Positive
RSI
44.80
Neutral
STOCH
11.84
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For KMX, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 40.88 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 42.51, below the 50-day MA of 42.84, and below the 200-day MA of 47.49, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.08 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 44.80 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 11.84 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for KMX.

CarMax Risk Analysis

CarMax disclosed 26 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. CarMax reported the most risks in the "Production" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

CarMax Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
69
Neutral
$11.17B10.4915.66%3.14%1.24%-5.59%
66
Neutral
$6.63B14.5510.61%0.64%2.37%-10.19%
63
Neutral
$3.92B4.9414.14%4.83%33.96%
63
Neutral
$7.21B8.2526.70%1.94%9.88%
61
Neutral
$18.38B12.79-2.54%3.03%1.52%-15.83%
61
Neutral
$4.20B7.6210.85%0.49%7.17%-26.51%
57
Neutral
$5.46B25.714.05%-1.64%-50.32%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
KMX
CarMax
36.88
-29.41
-44.37%
ABG
Asbury
193.35
-27.36
-12.40%
AN
AutoNation
202.66
26.82
15.25%
GPI
Group 1 Automotive
330.00
-79.68
-19.45%
LAD
Lithia Motors
282.02
-14.15
-4.78%
PAG
Penske Automotive Group
164.91
13.66
9.03%

CarMax Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
CarMax refreshes board with new independent director nominees
Positive
Apr 9, 2026
On April 8 and 9, 2026, CarMax, the largest U.S. used-car retailer, moved to refresh its board by nominating William “Bill” Cobb and Jim Kessler as independent directors for election at its 2026 annual meeting. Cobb brings decades of c...
Executive/Board ChangesRegulatory Filings and Compliance
CarMax Updates Executive Severance and Change-in-Control Terms
Neutral
Mar 2, 2026
On March 1, 2026, CarMax amended and restated severance agreements with several executive officers, including named executives Enrique Mayor-Mora, Charles Joseph Wilson and Shamim Mohammad, replacing their prior contracts. The new terms provide th...
Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board Changes
CarMax Appoints Keith Barr as New President and CEO
Positive
Feb 12, 2026
On February 10, 2026, CarMax’s board appointed former InterContinental Hotels Group chief executive Keith Barr as president and CEO, effective March 16, 2026, and named him to an expanded 10-member board with a compensation package anchored ...
Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Apr 15, 2026