Stock Futures Modestly Lower as Oil Prices Fluctuate
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 2 hours ago
0mins
Should l Buy KMX?
Stock futures are modestly lower in choppy pre-market trading as traders weigh shifting oil prices and a key inflation report. Markets are trading cautiously with volatile energy prices and ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.The dominant macro driver remains the energy market. Oil prices, which spiked above $100 and briefly approached $120 earlier in the week amid fears of disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, have retreated significantly and are now trading below $90 after talk of a coordinated release of emergency reserves. The International Energy Agency is considering recommending a record release of roughly 400M barrels from global strategic stockpiles in an effort to stabilize energy markets following the conflict-driven supply shock, reports indicate.Despite the pullback in crude, markets remain sensitive to geopolitical developments. Reports of attacks on commercial vessels near the Strait of Hormuz have reinforced the fragility of global energy supply routes and kept risk sentiment unstable.Investors are also weighing inflation data that showed consumer prices rising in February. The consumer price index was up 0.3% on a month-over-month basis and up 2.4% compared to last year, both of which matched consensus.In pre-market trading, S&P 500 futures fell 0.23%, Nasdaq futures fell 0.20% and Dow futures fell 0.37%.Check out this morning's top movers from around Wall Street, compiled by The Fly.HIGHER -Nebiusup 10% after announcing $2B investment from Nvidiain strategic partnership to develop and deploy the next generation of hyperscale cloud for the AI marketUniFirstup 7% after entering into a definitive agreement under which Cintaswill acquire the company for $310.00 per share in cash and stockCarMaxup 6% after Starboard Value established a $350M stake in the companyUpstartup 2% after reporting its plan to submit an application to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to establish an insured national bankUP AFTER EARNINGS -Target Hospitalityup 11%Oracleup 9%Sprinklrup 8%DOWN AFTER EARNINGS -AeroVironmentdown 11%Groupondown 11%Campbell'sdown 5%Cadredown 5%
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Analyst Views on KMX
Wall Street analysts forecast KMX stock price to fall
13 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
10 Hold
3 Sell
Hold
Current: 42.140
Low
24.00
Averages
33.60
High
37.00
Current: 42.140
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.
Starboard Value Acquires $350 Million Stake in CarMax to Drive Turnaround
- Stake Acquisition: Starboard Value has acquired approximately $350 million in CarMax Inc (KMX), indicating confidence in the company's potential turnaround under incoming CEO Keith Barr, which could accelerate its recovery efforts.
- Board Nominations: As an activist investor, Starboard has nominated its CEO Jeff Smith and Frontdoor's chairman Bill Cobb to join the CarMax board, aiming to drive strategic changes and enhance governance through fresh leadership.
- Market Performance: Despite a 9% gain for CarMax so far in 2026, Seeking Alpha's Quant system remains cautious, assigning a 'Hold' rating, which reflects investor concerns regarding the company's valuation and competitive positioning.
- Technological Innovation: CarMax has launched a ChatGPT app to personalize the car shopping experience, aiming to enhance customer satisfaction and market competitiveness, although it faces skepticism regarding its competitive advantages.
See More
CarMax Shares Rise as Activist Investor Acquires Stake, Urges New CEO to Act Swiftly
- Investor Stake: Starboard Value, an activist investor, disclosed a stake of approximately $350 million in CarMax, a used-car retailer.
- Board Nominations: The investor has also nominated two candidates to join CarMax's board of directors.
See More
Starboard Value Urges CarMax to Restructure for Growth
- Investor Pressure: Activist investor Starboard Value has become one of CarMax's largest shareholders with a $350 million investment, urging incoming CEO Keith Barr to implement strict measures to reshape governance and enhance long-term potential, thereby driving the company towards a more efficient operational model.
- Governance Reform Proposals: Starboard recommends simplifying the digital offer process, optimizing reconditioning operations, and lowering costs, while restoring competitiveness through a responsive, data-driven pricing system that adjusts in real-time to market conditions, enhancing CarMax's competitive edge in the omnichannel buying experience.
- Management Consensus: Current leadership at CarMax, including interim CEO David McCreight, has acknowledged the company's unacceptable performance and supports Starboard's recommendations, emphasizing the need for more competitive pricing and reduced SG&A expenses to enhance business performance.
- Positive Stock Reaction: Following Starboard's suggestions and management's agreement, CarMax shares have risen over 5% ahead of Wednesday's open, reflecting market optimism regarding the company's future potential.
See More
Starboard Nominates New CEO to Unlock CarMax's Value Potential
- New CEO Appointment: Starboard has nominated Keith Barr as the new CEO of CarMax, aiming to address fixable execution gaps to unlock the company's full value potential, thereby enhancing shareholder returns.
- Board Nominations: Starboard has also nominated William C. Cobb and Jeffrey C. Smith for election to the Board at the 2026 Annual Meeting, further supporting CarMax's governance and strategic direction during its next execution phase.
- Digital Execution Opportunities: Starboard believes that CarMax's structurally superior omnichannel model is not reflected in its current performance, emphasizing the need for enhanced digital execution, reconditioning efficiencies, and dynamic pricing to drive performance improvements, which could significantly boost market competitiveness.
- Cost Control Initiatives: Starboard urges a substantially expanded SG&A reduction program to restore cost discipline and enhance long-term earnings power, indicating a need for more proactive financial management measures in the face of market challenges.
See More
S&P 500 Futures Increase in Pre-Market Activity; AeroVironment and Campbell's Underperform
Market Opening: U.S. stock markets are set to open in two hours.
Oracle Corp. Performance: Oracle Corp. (ORCL) saw a 9.5% increase in pre-market trading.
CarMax Inc. Performance: CarMax Inc. (KMX) experienced a 6.5% rise in pre-market trading.
Overall Market Sentiment: The pre-market gains for both companies indicate positive investor sentiment ahead of the market opening.
See More
Used Vehicle Market Strengthens with Price Increases
- Market Recovery Signs: The Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index rose to 212.3 in February, increasing 0.8% from January and 4% year-over-year, indicating a robust start to the spring selling season and reversing mild softness seen earlier in 2025.
- Price Increase Trend: Wholesale prices advanced 4.2% year-over-year, outpacing historical averages, reflecting strong dealer appetite for inventory, particularly with three-year-old vehicles seeing a 3.1% price increase in February and a retention rate of 100.3%.
- Sales Conversion Rate Improvement: The sales conversion rate reached 61.5%, up 1.4 percentage points from January and above the recent three-year February average, suggesting that higher prices are met with willing buyers, maintaining throughput.
- Future Demand Outlook: While recent geopolitical events may dampen consumer appetite in the short term, Cox Automotive anticipates a pickup in demand in the latter half of March, particularly driven by tax refund season, despite potential challenges from rising gas prices.
See More
Starboard Value Acquires $350 Million Stake in CarMax to Drive Turnaround
- Stake Acquisition: Starboard Value has acquired approximately $350 million in CarMax Inc (KMX), indicating confidence in the company's potential turnaround under incoming CEO Keith Barr, which could accelerate its recovery efforts.
- Board Nominations: As an activist investor, Starboard has nominated its CEO Jeff Smith and Frontdoor's chairman Bill Cobb to join the CarMax board, aiming to drive strategic changes and enhance governance through fresh leadership.
- Market Performance: Despite a 9% gain for CarMax so far in 2026, Seeking Alpha's Quant system remains cautious, assigning a 'Hold' rating, which reflects investor concerns regarding the company's valuation and competitive positioning.
- Technological Innovation: CarMax has launched a ChatGPT app to personalize the car shopping experience, aiming to enhance customer satisfaction and market competitiveness, although it faces skepticism regarding its competitive advantages.
See More
CarMax Shares Rise as Activist Investor Acquires Stake, Urges New CEO to Act Swiftly
- Investor Stake: Starboard Value, an activist investor, disclosed a stake of approximately $350 million in CarMax, a used-car retailer.
- Board Nominations: The investor has also nominated two candidates to join CarMax's board of directors.
See More
Starboard Value Urges CarMax to Restructure for Growth
- Investor Pressure: Activist investor Starboard Value has become one of CarMax's largest shareholders with a $350 million investment, urging incoming CEO Keith Barr to implement strict measures to reshape governance and enhance long-term potential, thereby driving the company towards a more efficient operational model.
- Governance Reform Proposals: Starboard recommends simplifying the digital offer process, optimizing reconditioning operations, and lowering costs, while restoring competitiveness through a responsive, data-driven pricing system that adjusts in real-time to market conditions, enhancing CarMax's competitive edge in the omnichannel buying experience.
- Management Consensus: Current leadership at CarMax, including interim CEO David McCreight, has acknowledged the company's unacceptable performance and supports Starboard's recommendations, emphasizing the need for more competitive pricing and reduced SG&A expenses to enhance business performance.
- Positive Stock Reaction: Following Starboard's suggestions and management's agreement, CarMax shares have risen over 5% ahead of Wednesday's open, reflecting market optimism regarding the company's future potential.
See More
Starboard Nominates New CEO to Unlock CarMax's Value Potential
- New CEO Appointment: Starboard has nominated Keith Barr as the new CEO of CarMax, aiming to address fixable execution gaps to unlock the company's full value potential, thereby enhancing shareholder returns.
- Board Nominations: Starboard has also nominated William C. Cobb and Jeffrey C. Smith for election to the Board at the 2026 Annual Meeting, further supporting CarMax's governance and strategic direction during its next execution phase.
- Digital Execution Opportunities: Starboard believes that CarMax's structurally superior omnichannel model is not reflected in its current performance, emphasizing the need for enhanced digital execution, reconditioning efficiencies, and dynamic pricing to drive performance improvements, which could significantly boost market competitiveness.
- Cost Control Initiatives: Starboard urges a substantially expanded SG&A reduction program to restore cost discipline and enhance long-term earnings power, indicating a need for more proactive financial management measures in the face of market challenges.
See More
S&P 500 Futures Increase in Pre-Market Activity; AeroVironment and Campbell's Underperform
Market Opening: U.S. stock markets are set to open in two hours.
Oracle Corp. Performance: Oracle Corp. (ORCL) saw a 9.5% increase in pre-market trading.
CarMax Inc. Performance: CarMax Inc. (KMX) experienced a 6.5% rise in pre-market trading.
Overall Market Sentiment: The pre-market gains for both companies indicate positive investor sentiment ahead of the market opening.
See More
Used Vehicle Market Strengthens with Price Increases
- Market Recovery Signs: The Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index rose to 212.3 in February, increasing 0.8% from January and 4% year-over-year, indicating a robust start to the spring selling season and reversing mild softness seen earlier in 2025.
- Price Increase Trend: Wholesale prices advanced 4.2% year-over-year, outpacing historical averages, reflecting strong dealer appetite for inventory, particularly with three-year-old vehicles seeing a 3.1% price increase in February and a retention rate of 100.3%.
- Sales Conversion Rate Improvement: The sales conversion rate reached 61.5%, up 1.4 percentage points from January and above the recent three-year February average, suggesting that higher prices are met with willing buyers, maintaining throughput.
- Future Demand Outlook: While recent geopolitical events may dampen consumer appetite in the short term, Cox Automotive anticipates a pickup in demand in the latter half of March, particularly driven by tax refund season, despite potential challenges from rising gas prices.
See More
