CARG vs KMX

For growth investors, CarGurus, Inc.

(CARG) is the stronger pick with 5. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 0% for CarMax, Inc. (KMX). CarMax, Inc. (KMX) offers the better valuation at 12. 4x trailing P/E (14. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate CarGurus, Inc. (CARG) a "Buy" — based on 23 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, CarMax, Inc.

(KMX) is the cheapest at 12. 4x versus CarGurus, Inc. at 24. 6x. On forward P/E, CarMax, Inc. is actually cheaper at 14. 8x.

Over the past 5 years, CarGurus, Inc.

(CARG) delivered a total return of +39. 5%, compared to -69. 3% for CarMax, Inc. (KMX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CARG returned +38. 4% versus KMX's -22. 1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), CarGurus, Inc.

(CARG) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 89β versus CarMax, Inc. 's 1. 32β — meaning KMX is approximately 49% more volatile than CARG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, CarGurus, Inc. (CARG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 51% versus 3% for CarMax, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), CarGurus, Inc.

(CARG) is pulling ahead at 5. 0% versus -0. 0% for CarMax, Inc. (KMX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: CarGurus, Inc. grew EPS 675. 0% year-over-year, compared to 6. 3% for CarMax, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, KMX leads at -5. 3% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

CarGurus, Inc.

(CARG) is the more profitable company, earning 16. 6% net margin versus 1. 8% for CarMax, Inc. — meaning it keeps 16. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CARG leads at 20. 7% versus 2. 8% for KMX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CARG leads at 89. 0%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, CarMax, Inc.

(KMX) trades at 14. 8x forward P/E versus 15. 1x for CarGurus, Inc. — 0. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CARG: -1. 9% to $37. 42.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, CarGurus, Inc.

(CARG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 89)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CARG: +38. 4%, KMX: -22. 1%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Consumer Cyclical sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: CARG is a small-cap quality compounder stock; KMX is a small-cap deep-value stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.