CarMax Q1 Earnings Exceed Expectations with Strong Revenue Growth
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1 hour ago
0mins
Source: seekingalpha
- Earnings Beat: CarMax reported Q1 GAAP EPS of $1.31, surpassing estimates by $0.37, indicating strong profitability that may attract increased investor interest.
- Significant Revenue Growth: The company achieved revenue of $8.01 billion, a 6.1% year-over-year increase, exceeding market expectations by $580 million, demonstrating effective sales strategies that enhance competitive positioning.
- Sales Unit Increase: Combined retail and wholesale unit sales totaled 392,357, up 3.3% year-over-year, reflecting stable market demand despite a slight decline in retail used unit sales, indicating resilience in overall sales performance.
- Increased Protection Plan Margins: The Extended Protection Plans (EPP) margin per retail unit rose to $580, an increase of $8 per unit, showcasing improved profitability in ancillary services that further strengthens customer loyalty.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy KMX?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on KMX
Wall Street analysts forecast KMX stock price to fall
13 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
10 Hold
3 Sell
Hold
Current: 52.210
Low
24.00
Averages
33.60
High
37.00
Current: 52.210
Low
24.00
Averages
33.60
High
37.00
About KMX
CarMax, Inc. is a retailer of used autos. The Company operates through two segments: CarMax Sales Operations and CarMax Auto Finance (CAF). The CarMax Sales Operations segment consists of all aspects of its auto merchandising and service operations. The CarMax Sales Operations segment sells used vehicles, purchases used vehicles from customers and other sources, sells related products and services, and arranges financing options for customers. The CAF segment consists solely of its own finance operation that provides financing for customers buying retail vehicles from the Company. The CAF segment also services all auto loans, it originates and is responsible for providing billing statements, collecting payments, maintaining contact with delinquent customers, and arranging for the repossession of vehicles securing defaulted loans. It provides customers with a range of other related products and services, including extended protection plan (EPP) products and vehicle repair services.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Earnings Announcement Date: CarMax (KMX) is scheduled to release its Q1 earnings on June 17 after market close, with a consensus EPS estimate of $0.98, reflecting a significant 29% year-over-year decline, indicating potential profitability challenges.
- Revenue Expectations Decline: The anticipated revenue for Q1 is $7.43 billion, down 1.6% year-over-year, which suggests a weakening overall market demand that could impact the company's sales strategies and inventory management.
- Historical Performance Review: Over the past two years, CarMax has beaten EPS estimates 63% of the time and revenue estimates 88% of the time, demonstrating some resilience amid market fluctuations, although recent estimate revisions may affect investor confidence.
- Estimate Revision Dynamics: In the last three months, EPS estimates have seen one upward revision and two downward adjustments, while revenue estimates experienced six upward revisions and one downward, indicating a divergence in analysts' outlook on the company's future performance.
See More
- Revenue Growth: CarMax reported a 6.2% increase in net revenues to $8.0 billion for Q1, indicating robust performance despite competitive pressures in the automotive retail sector.
- Unit Sales Performance: Combined retail and wholesale unit sales reached 392,357, up 3.3%, with wholesale unit sales increasing by 8.4%, reflecting effective inventory management and sales strategies.
- Cost Control: SG&A expenses decreased by 3.7% to $635.2 million, primarily due to ongoing cost reduction efforts, which will enhance the company's profitability and operational efficiency moving forward.
- Strategic Framework: CEO Keith Barr introduced a four-pillar strategy aimed at improving customer experience and operational efficiency, thereby driving sustainable growth and strengthening the company's competitive position in the used car market.
See More
- Significant Revenue Growth: CarMax's total revenue for Q1 increased by 6.1% year-over-year to $8.01 billion, surpassing consensus estimates by $580 million, indicating strong performance under new CEO Keith Barr's leadership.
- Used Vehicle Sales Increase: Combined retail and wholesale used vehicle unit sales reached 392,357, up 3.3% from the previous year, with retail used vehicle sales slightly rising to 230,293 units, reflecting stable market demand.
- Digital Sales Support: Digital capabilities supported 84% of retail unit sales, with online retail sales accounting for 14%, demonstrating significant progress in the company's digital transformation and enhancing customer experience.
- Gross Margin Changes: Although the gross margin for Q1 was 10.7%, down from 11.8% a year ago, the GAAP EPS of $1.31 beat consensus estimates by $0.37, showcasing resilience in profitability despite margin pressures.
See More
- Strong Earnings Report: CarMax reported GAAP earnings per share of $1.31 for Q1 FY2027, surpassing analyst expectations of $0.94, indicating a robust rebound in profitability.
- Revenue Growth: The company achieved net revenues of $8.01 billion, a 6.2% year-on-year increase, significantly exceeding the consensus forecast of $7.43 billion, reflecting sustained strong market demand.
- Sales Performance: Combined retail and wholesale unit sales rose 3.3% year-on-year to 392,357 vehicles, with wholesale vehicle sales jumping 8.4%, driving a 14% increase in wholesale revenues, showcasing strong commercial demand.
- Cost Control Commitment: Management reiterated that its target of $200 million in SG&A savings remains on track, demonstrating the company's commitment to cost control and potential for enhanced future profitability.
See More
- Profit Decline: CarMax reported a net profit of $185.63 million for Q1, translating to an EPS of $1.31, which is a decrease from last year's $210.38 million and $1.38 per share, indicating pressure on the company's profitability.
- Revenue Growth: Despite the profit decline, CarMax's revenue increased by 6.2% to $8.014 billion compared to $7.547 billion last year, suggesting that the company still has growth potential in sales.
- Performance Comparison: The EPS dropped by $0.07 compared to last year, reflecting potential negative impacts from rising costs or intensified market competition, necessitating attention to future profitability recovery.
- Market Reaction: Investors should closely monitor CarMax's subsequent performance, particularly how the company plans to improve profit levels against the backdrop of revenue growth, which will be crucial for its future strategy.
See More
- Earnings Beat: CarMax reported Q1 GAAP EPS of $1.31, surpassing estimates by $0.37, indicating strong profitability that may attract increased investor interest.
- Significant Revenue Growth: The company achieved revenue of $8.01 billion, a 6.1% year-over-year increase, exceeding market expectations by $580 million, demonstrating effective sales strategies that enhance competitive positioning.
- Sales Unit Increase: Combined retail and wholesale unit sales totaled 392,357, up 3.3% year-over-year, reflecting stable market demand despite a slight decline in retail used unit sales, indicating resilience in overall sales performance.
- Increased Protection Plan Margins: The Extended Protection Plans (EPP) margin per retail unit rose to $580, an increase of $8 per unit, showcasing improved profitability in ancillary services that further strengthens customer loyalty.
See More







