KMX vs UBER vs LYFT vs AN

For growth investors, Uber Technologies, Inc.

(UBER) is the stronger pick with 18. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 0% for CarMax, Inc. (KMX). Lyft, Inc. (LYFT) offers the better valuation at 2. 1x trailing P/E (23. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Uber Technologies, Inc. (UBER) a "Buy" — based on 61 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, Lyft, Inc.

(LYFT) is the cheapest at 2. 1x versus Uber Technologies, Inc. at 16. 2x. On forward P/E, AutoNation, Inc. is actually cheaper at 9. 7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, AutoNation, Inc.

(AN) delivered a total return of +94. 1%, compared to -71. 7% for Lyft, Inc. (LYFT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AN returned +324. 6% versus LYFT's -81. 9%. 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), AutoNation, Inc.

(AN) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 85β versus CarMax, Inc. 's 1. 32β — meaning KMX is approximately 56% more volatile than AN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Lyft, Inc. (LYFT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 39% versus 4% for AutoNation, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Uber Technologies, Inc.

(UBER) is pulling ahead at 18. 3% versus -0. 0% for CarMax, Inc. (KMX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Lyft, Inc. grew EPS 122. 6% year-over-year, compared to 0. 7% for AutoNation, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, UBER leads at 17. 7% 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.

Lyft, Inc.

(LYFT) is the more profitable company, earning 45. 0% net margin versus 1. 8% for CarMax, Inc. — meaning it keeps 45. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: UBER leads at 10. 7% versus -3. 0% for LYFT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LYFT leads at 41. 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.

On forward earnings alone, AutoNation, Inc.

(AN) trades at 9. 7x forward P/E versus 23. 8x for Lyft, Inc. — 14. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for UBER: 36. 7% to $104. 88.

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, AutoNation, Inc.

(AN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 85), +324. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AN: +324. 6%, LYFT: -81. 9%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (KMX (Consumer Cyclical) and UBER (Technology) and LYFT (Technology) and AN (Consumer Cyclical)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: KMX is a small-cap deep-value stock; UBER is a mid-cap high-growth stock; LYFT is a small-cap deep-value stock; AN 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.