WallStSmart

CarMax Inc (KMX)vsTesla Inc (TSLA)

VS

Smart Verdict

WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison

Tesla Inc generates 253% more annual revenue ($97.88B vs $27.76B). TSLA leads profitability with a 4.0% profit margin vs 0.9%. KMX appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.38. KMX earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 52/100 (C-).

KMX

Buy

52

out of 100

Grade: C-

Growth: 2.0Profit: 4.0Value: 8.7Quality: 4.5
Piotroski: 3/9Altman Z: 1.53

TSLA

Avoid

33

out of 100

Grade: F

Growth: 6.7Profit: 4.0Value: 2.0Quality: 7.5
Piotroski: 3/9Altman Z: 2.45
IV

Intrinsic Value Comparison

Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula

KMXUndervalued (+83.0%)

Margin of Safety

+83.0%

Fair Value

$270.07

Current Price

$39.91

$230.16 discount

UndervaluedFair: $270.07Overvalued
TSLASignificantly Overvalued (-57.7%)

Margin of Safety

-57.7%

Fair Value

$261.17

Current Price

$411.79

$150.62 premium

UndervaluedFair: $261.17Overvalued

Key Strengths & Concerns

Side-by-side fundamental analysis

Key Strengths

KMX2 strengths · Avg: 10.0/10
PEG RatioValuation
0.3810/10

Growing faster than its price suggests

Price/BookValuation
1.0x10/10

Reasonable price relative to book value

TSLA4 strengths · Avg: 8.8/10
Market CapQuality
$1.47T10/10

Mega-cap, among the largest globally

Debt/EquityHealth
0.109/10

Conservative balance sheet, low leverage

Revenue GrowthGrowth
15.8%8/10

15.8% revenue growth

Free Cash FlowQuality
$1.44B8/10

Generating 1.4B in free cash flow

Areas to Watch

KMX4 concerns · Avg: 3.3/10
Altman Z-ScoreHealth
1.534/10

Distress zone — elevated risk

Return on EquityProfitability
4.1%3/10

ROE of 4.1% — below average capital efficiency

Profit MarginProfitability
0.9%3/10

0.9% margin — thin

Operating MarginProfitability
1.8%3/10

Operating margin of 1.8%

TSLA4 concerns · Avg: 3.3/10
Price/BookValuation
18.8x4/10

Trading at 18.8x book value

Return on EquityProfitability
4.9%3/10

ROE of 4.9% — below average capital efficiency

Profit MarginProfitability
4.0%3/10

4.0% margin — thin

Operating MarginProfitability
4.2%3/10

Operating margin of 4.2%

Comparative Analysis Report

WallStSmart Research

Bull Case : KMX

The strongest argument for KMX centers on PEG Ratio, Price/Book. PEG of 0.38 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.

Bull Case : TSLA

The strongest argument for TSLA centers on Market Cap, Debt/Equity, Revenue Growth. Revenue growth of 15.8% demonstrates continued momentum.

Bear Case : KMX

The primary concerns for KMX are Altman Z-Score, Return on Equity, Profit Margin. Debt-to-equity of 2.75 is elevated, increasing financial risk. Thin 0.9% margins leave little buffer for downturns.

Bear Case : TSLA

The primary concerns for TSLA are Price/Book, Return on Equity, Profit Margin. A P/E of 358.6x leaves little room for execution misses. Thin 4.0% margins leave little buffer for downturns.

Key Dynamics to Monitor

KMX profiles as a value stock while TSLA is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.

TSLA carries more volatility with a beta of 1.92 — expect wider price swings.

TSLA is growing revenue faster at 15.8% — sustainability is the question.

TSLA generates stronger free cash flow (1.4B), providing more financial flexibility.

Bottom Line

KMX scores higher overall (52/100 vs 33/100). Both earn "Buy" and "Avoid" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.

This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.

CarMax Inc

CONSUMER CYCLICAL · AUTO & TRUCK DEALERSHIPS · USA

CarMax is a used vehicle retailer based in the United States. It operates two business segments: CarMax Sales Operations and CarMax Auto Finance.

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Tesla Inc

CONSUMER CYCLICAL · AUTO MANUFACTURERS · USA

Tesla, Inc. is an American electric vehicle and clean energy company based in Palo Alto, California. Tesla's current products include electric cars, battery energy storage from home to grid-scale, solar panels and solar roof tiles, as well as other related products and services. In 2020, Tesla had the highest sales in the plug-in and battery electric passenger car segments, capturing 16% of the plug-in market (which includes plug-in hybrids) and 23% of the battery-electric (purely electric) market. Through its subsidiary Tesla Energy, the company develops and is a major installer of solar photovoltaic energy generation systems in the United States. Tesla Energy is also one of the largest global suppliers of battery energy storage systems, with 3 GWh of battery storage supplied in 2020.

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