Fact based stock research
CarMax (NYSE:KMX)
US1431301027
How to read the free ranks
For every stock, we judge its performance against its peers and rank it on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the rank, the better the stock performs than its peers. And, we do this for six investment strategies:
Value - shows how good of a value the stock is. Green is "inexpensive"; red is "expensive".
Growth - shows a company's growth potential. Green is "high growth" expected; red is "tough times ahead".
Safety - relates to the amount of debt a company has. Green is low debt level; red is high debt level.
Combined Financial - this isn't an average of the first three ranks but rather a consolidated view across several financial indicators. Green = good; red = tread carefully.
(NEW) Sentiment - quantifies professional analyst ratings and holdings as well as market pulse. Green = positive sentiment; red = skepticism (Only available to Premium Subscribers).
(NEW) 360° View - the ultimate rating with all financial and non-financial indicators.
CarMax stock research in summary
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 29 (worse than 71% compared with investment alternatives), CarMax (Automotive Retail, USA) shares have somewhat below-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of CarMax are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 21 (worse than 79% of alternatives). But they show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 51) and are safely financed (Safety Rank of 50, which means below-average debt burdens). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 29, is a hold recommendation based on CarMax's financial characteristics. Investors looking for growth and low financial risk may find this stock attractive. While the company CarMax exhibits low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 21), which means that the stock price is rather high, it also demonstrates above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 51). This is a typical case, as high-growth companies are often expensive. Good financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 50) are a double-edged sword: if the company continues growing, low debt limits shareholder returns. But if the company increases its debt, it will also increase risk. In other words, this is an investment on the safer side, despite the above-average price (low value). Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
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360° Viewnew| Country | USA |
| Industry | Automotive Retail |
| Index | S&P US Luxury, S&P 500 |
| Size class | XX-Large |
14-Nov-2024. Stock data may be delayed. Log in or sign up to get the most recent research.
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Review the performance ranks of the individual metrics that form each investment strategy.
Research History: CarMax
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 22 |
|
25 |
|
20 |
|
21 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 89 |
|
13 |
|
83 |
|
51 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 9 |
|
47 |
|
33 |
|
50 |
|
| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | n/a |
|
35 |
|
34 |
|
new |
|
| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | n/a |
|
9 |
|
34 |
|
new |
|
Combined financial peformance in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 29 (worse than 71% compared with investment alternatives), CarMax (Automotive Retail, USA) shares have somewhat below-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of CarMax are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 21 (worse than 79% of alternatives). But they show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 51) and are safely financed (Safety Rank of 50, which means below-average debt burdens). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 29, is a hold recommendation based on CarMax's financial characteristics. Investors looking for growth and low financial risk may find this stock attractive. While the company CarMax exhibits low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 21), which means that the stock price is rather high, it also demonstrates above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 51). This is a typical case, as high-growth companies are often expensive. Good financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 50) are a double-edged sword: if the company continues growing, low debt limits shareholder returns. But if the company increases its debt, it will also increase risk. In other words, this is an investment on the safer side, despite the above-average price (low value). Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 22 |
|
25 |
|
20 |
|
21 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 89 |
|
13 |
|
83 |
|
51 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 9 |
|
47 |
|
33 |
|
50 |
|
| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 26 |
|
10 |
|
29 |
|
29 |
|
Value Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 21 (worse than 79% compared with alternatives), CarMax shares are significantly more expensive than comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, where the majority of metrics are below, and only one is above average for CarMax. Price-to-Sales (P/S) is 50, which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future sales is lower than 50% of comparable companies, indicating a good value concerning to CarMax's revenue size. But all other performance indicators point in a different direction. Dividend yields have a Dividend Yield rank of 1, meaning that dividends are expected to be lower than for 99% of comparable investments. Furthermore, Price-to-Book Capital (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) is less favorable than 65% of alternatives (only 35% of peers have an even higher ratio). The same is valid for Price-to-Profit (or Price / Earnings, P/E), which is higher than for 66% of comparable companies, making the stock more expensive compared with the company's expected profit levels. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 21, is a sell recommendation based on CarMax's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Since Price-to-Sales is a stable value indicator even in challenging times, investing in CarMax could be seen as a value investment. However, there must be a good reason for the low market-to-book rank. If the company has a typical capital investment practice, the stock may be overvalued because the profit and dividend-related performance indicators are also low. The stock is only good value if investors can expect profits and dividends to pick up in the future. Else, CarMax looks like an expensive investment today. We recommend further analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks, including the 360° View, before making an investment decision, which is especially important in this case, as the financial indicators are inconclusive. ...read more
| VALUE METRICS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | 47 |
|
50 |
|
49 |
|
50 |
|
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | 47 |
|
33 |
|
30 |
|
34 |
|
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | 27 |
|
36 |
|
35 |
|
35 |
|
| DIVIDEND YIELD | ||||||||
| DIVIDEND YIELD | 1 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | 22 |
|
25 |
|
20 |
|
21 |
|
Growth Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 51 (better than 51% compared with alternatives), CarMax shows an above-average growth dynamic in its industry. Investors also speak of positive momentum. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with all but one indicator above average for CarMax. Sales Growth has a rank of 61 which means that currently, professionals expect the company to grow more than 61% of its competitors. Both Profit Growth, with a rank of 73, and Stock Returns, with a rank of 55, are also above average. But Capital Growth only has a rank of 18, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow its invested capital less than 82% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 51, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. That may be a good sign if the company is already well positioned and doesn't require more investments at this time. They may focus on growing the top (revenues) and bottom (profits) lines, recently rewarded with above-average stock returns for shareholders. But it may also be a sign of danger as the company is falling back with capital investment activities concerning competition. This requires further analysis of corporate communications. While momentum is a popular investment factor, the value aspect might be the more important one, in the longer term. We recommend analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks to arrive at a 360° View of the stock purchase case. ...read more
| GROWTH METRICS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REVENUE GROWTH | ||||||||
| REVENUE GROWTH | 91 |
|
31 |
|
77 |
|
61 |
|
| PROFIT GROWTH | ||||||||
| PROFIT GROWTH | 46 |
|
41 |
|
70 |
|
73 |
|
| CAPITAL GROWTH | ||||||||
| CAPITAL GROWTH | n/a |
|
12 |
|
45 |
|
18 |
|
| STOCK RETURNS | ||||||||
| STOCK RETURNS | 69 |
|
47 |
|
79 |
|
55 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | 89 |
|
13 |
|
83 |
|
51 |
|
Safety Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 50 (better than 50% compared with alternatives), the company CarMax has financing practices on the safer side, which mean that their overall debt burden is lower than average. This doesn't mean that the business of CarMax is safe, it only means that the company is on the safer side regarding possible bankruptcy, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, with just one indicator above average for CarMax and the other two below average. Refinancing is at 72, meaning the portion of the debt about to be refinanced is below average. It has less debt in the refinancing stage than 72% of its competitors. But Leverage is high with a rank of 24, meaning the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 76% of its competitors. Liquidity is also on the riskier side with a rank of 43, meaning the company generates less profit to service its debt than 57% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 50 (better than 50% compared with alternatives), CarMax has a financing structure that is safer than that of its competitors. A good Refinancing Rank means that the problems of the company may not be around the corner. But high Leverage is only good if things go well, and low Liquidity is a signal for caution. The financing signals for CarMax are on the riskier side, requiring the company's future to be on the safer side. Investors may want to look at Growth and Sentiment ranks before making an investment decision. In the long-term, investors may have a debt challenge with CarMax and should also compare Obermatt’s Value, Growth, and Sentiment Ranks before making a decision. ...read more
| SAFETY METRICS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 12 |
|
24 |
|
20 |
|
24 |
|
| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 63 |
|
74 |
|
74 |
|
72 |
|
| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 14 |
|
45 |
|
19 |
|
43 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 9 |
|
47 |
|
33 |
|
50 |
|
Sentiment Metrics in Detail
| SENTIMENT | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANALYST OPINIONS | ||||||||
| ANALYST OPINIONS | n/a |
|
74 |
|
56 |
|
new |
|
| OPINIONS CHANGE | ||||||||
| OPINIONS CHANGE | n/a |
|
3 |
|
16 |
|
new |
|
| PRO HOLDINGS | ||||||||
| PRO HOLDINGS | n/a |
|
15 |
|
16 |
|
new |
|
| MARKET PULSE | ||||||||
| MARKET PULSE | n/a |
|
66 |
|
47 |
|
new |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | n/a |
|
35 |
|
34 |
|
new |
|
Free stock analysis by the purely fact based Obermatt Method for CarMax from November 14, 2024.
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