Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Carvana Co. (CVNA) vs MarineMax, Inc. (HZO) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | CVNA | 48.6% revenue growth vs HZO's -5.0% |
| Value | HZO | Lower P/E (40.1x vs 45.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | CVNA | 3.4% net margin vs HZO's -1.4% |
| Stability / Safety | HZO | Beta 1.68 vs CVNA's 2.41 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | CVNA | +43.4% vs HZO's +20.3% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CVNA | 6.4% ROA vs HZO's -1.3%, ROIC 34.3% vs 3.8% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Carvana is an online-only used car retailer that sells vehicles directly to consumers through its e-commerce platform. It makes money primarily from vehicle sales — which account for over 90% of revenue — with additional income from financing, warranty products, and vehicle service contracts. Its key advantage is a vertically integrated model that controls the entire customer experience, from acquisition to reconditioning to delivery, bypassing traditional dealership infrastructure.
MarineMax is the largest recreational boat and yacht retailer in the United States, operating dealerships that sell new and used boats while providing related services. The company generates revenue primarily from boat sales—both new and used—which account for roughly 80% of sales, supplemented by parts/accessories, service/repair, and brokerage/charter services. Its competitive advantage lies in its extensive dealership network—the largest in the industry—which provides geographic reach, brand partnerships, and service capabilities that smaller regional players cannot match.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
CVNA leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). HZO leads in 3 (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
CVNA is the larger business by revenue, generating $18.3B annually — 7.9x HZO's $2.3B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 3.4% (CVNA) to -1.4% (HZO). On growth, CVNA holds the edge at +54.5% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CVNACarvana Co. | HZOMarineMax, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $18.3B | $2.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.0B | $81M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $629M | -$32M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $546M | $12M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +20.7% | +32.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +9.5% | +1.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +3.4% | -1.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +3.0% | +0.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +54.5% | -1.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +60.9% | -123.4% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, HZO's 11.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CVNA's 12.6x.
| Metric | CVNACarvana Co. | HZOMarineMax, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $25.4B | $667M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $23.7B | $1.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 39.55x | -21.33x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 45.43x | 40.12x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 12.62x | 11.44x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.25x | 0.29x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 17.83x | 0.71x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 28.61x | 55.85x |
Profitability & Efficiency
CVNA delivers a 21.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $21 in annual profit, vs $-3 for HZO. CVNA carries lower financial leverage with a 0.15x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to HZO's 1.31x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CVNA scores 6/9 vs HZO's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | CVNACarvana Co. | HZOMarineMax, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +21.3% | -3.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.4% | -1.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +34.3% | +3.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +20.0% | +6.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.15x | 1.31x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$1.7B | $1.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $2.3B | $170M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $633M | $1.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.98x | 1.09x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in CVNA five years ago would be worth $10,713 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $6,263 for HZO. Over the past 12 months, CVNA leads with a +43.4% total return vs HZO's +20.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CVNA at 2.3% vs HZO's -3.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CVNACarvana Co. | HZOMarineMax, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -16.5% | +26.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +43.4% | +20.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +3447.3% | -9.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +7.1% | -37.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +2910.5% | +71.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +2.3% | -3.2% |
Risk & Volatility
HZO is the less volatile stock with a 1.68 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CVNA's 2.41 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. HZO currently trades 96.5% from its 52-week high vs CVNA's 68.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CVNACarvana Co. | HZOMarineMax, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.41x | 1.68x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $486.89 | $31.60 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $148.25 | $16.85 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +68.6% | +96.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 42.8 | 56.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.4M | 334K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CVNA as "Buy" and HZO as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 39.3% upside for CVNA (target: $465) vs 1.6% for HZO (target: $31).
| Metric | CVNACarvana Co. | HZOMarineMax, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $465.33 | $31.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 44 | 17 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.3% | +4.1% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carvana Co. (CVNA) | 100 | 495.25 | +395.3% |
| MarineMax, Inc. (HZO) | 100 | 182.93 | +82.9% |
Carvana Co. (CVNA) returned +7% over 5 years vs MarineMax, Inc. (HZO)'s -37%. A $10,000 investment in CVNA 5 years ago would be worth $10,713 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carvana Co. (CVNA) | $365M | $20.3B | +5465.4% |
| MarineMax, Inc. (HZO) | $942M | $2.3B | +145.1% |
Carvana Co.'s revenue grew from $365M (2016) to $20.3B (2025) — a 56.3% CAGR. MarineMax, Inc.'s revenue grew from $942M (2016) to $2.3B (2025) — a 10.5% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carvana Co. (CVNA) | -2.8% | 6.9% | +349.1% |
| MarineMax, Inc. (HZO) | 2.4% | -1.4% | -157.1% |
Carvana Co.'s net margin went from -3% (2016) to 7% (2025). MarineMax, Inc.'s net margin went from 2% (2016) to -1% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carvana Co. (CVNA) | 70.6 | 49.9 | -29.3% |
| MarineMax, Inc. (HZO) | 19.9 | 17.5 | -12.1% |
Carvana Co. has traded in a 50x–128x P/E range over 3 years; current trailing P/E is ~40x. MarineMax, Inc. has traded in a 4x–20x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~-21x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carvana Co. (CVNA) | -0.68 | 8.45 | +1342.6% |
| MarineMax, Inc. (HZO) | 0.91 | -1.43 | -257.1% |
Carvana Co.'s EPS grew from $-0.68 (2016) to $8.45 (2025). MarineMax, Inc.'s EPS grew from $0.91 (2016) to $-1.43 (2025) — a NaN% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Carvana Co. generated $889M FCF in 2025 (+128% vs 2021). MarineMax, Inc. generated $12M FCF in 2025 (-97% vs 2021).
CVNA vs HZO: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CVNA or HZO a better buy right now?
Carvana Co. (CVNA) offers the better valuation at 39.5x trailing P/E (45.4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Carvana Co. (CVNA) a "Buy" — based on 44 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.
02Which has the better valuation — CVNA or HZO?
On forward P/E, MarineMax, Inc. is actually cheaper at 40.1x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CVNA or HZO?
Over the past 5 years, Carvana Co. (CVNA) delivered a total return of +7.1%, compared to -37.4% for MarineMax, Inc. (HZO). A $10,000 investment in CVNA five years ago would be worth approximately $11K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CVNA returned +29.1% versus HZO's +71.9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — CVNA or HZO?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), MarineMax, Inc. (HZO) is the lower-risk stock at 1.68β versus Carvana Co.'s 2.41β — meaning CVNA is approximately 44% more volatile than HZO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Carvana Co. (CVNA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 15% versus 131% for MarineMax, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — CVNA or HZO?
Carvana Co. (CVNA) is the more profitable company, earning 6.9% net margin versus -1.4% for MarineMax, Inc. — meaning it keeps 6.9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CVNA leads at 9.3% versus 4.5% for HZO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HZO leads at 32.5%, 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.
06Is CVNA or HZO more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, MarineMax, Inc. (HZO) trades at 40.1x forward P/E versus 45.4x for Carvana Co. — 5.3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CVNA: 39.3% to $465.33.
07Which pays a better dividend — CVNA or HZO?
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.
08Is CVNA or HZO better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, MarineMax, Inc. (HZO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding. Carvana Co. (CVNA) carries a higher beta of 2.41 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (HZO: +71.9%, CVNA: +29.1%), 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.
09What are the main differences between CVNA and HZO?
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. 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.
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