CARMAX INC (KMX)
SIC breadcrumb: Retail Trade > SIC Major Group 55 > SIC 5500 Retail-Auto Dealers & Gasoline Stations
SEC company page: https://www.sec.gov/edgar/browse/?CIK=1170010. Latest filing source: 0001170010-26-000021.
Informational only - descriptive public-record data, not investment advice.
Business
Read KMX's verbatim Item 1 Business section from its latest 10-K: Business.
Risk Factors
Read KMX's verbatim Item 1A Risk Factors from its latest 10-K: Risk Factors.
Selected Fundamentals
| Metric | Value | Unit | FY | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 25,881,131,000 | USD | 2026 | 2026-04-15 |
| Net income | 247,290,000 | USD | 2026 | 2026-04-15 |
| Assets | 26,367,903,000 | USD | 2026 | 2026-04-15 |
Financials
Annual standardized facts from SEC companyfacts as of latest extracted filing date 2026-04-15. Source: https://data.sec.gov/api/xbrl/companyfacts/CIK0001170010.json. Derived margins, ratios, and free cash flow are computed from the extracted annual SEC facts.
| Metric | 2012 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 15,875,118,000 | 17,120,209,000 | 18,173,100,000 | 20,319,987,000 | 18,950,149,000 | 31,900,412,000 | 29,684,873,000 | 26,536,040,000 | 26,353,420,000 | 25,881,131,000 | |
| Net income | 626,970,000 | 664,112,000 | 842,413,000 | 888,433,000 | 746,919,000 | 1,151,297,000 | 484,762,000 | 479,204,000 | 500,556,000 | 247,290,000 | |
| Gross profit | 2,183,294,000 | 2,328,859,000 | 2,480,591,000 | 2,722,340,000 | 2,379,125,000 | 3,287,542,000 | 2,800,203,000 | 2,713,209,000 | 2,897,901,000 | 2,806,593,000 | |
| Diluted EPS | 3.26 | 3.60 | 4.79 | 5.33 | 4.52 | 6.97 | 3.03 | 3.02 | 3.21 | 1.68 | |
| Operating cash flow | -62,164,000 | -80,550,000 | 162,971,000 | -236,606,000 | 667,760,000 | -2,549,450,000 | 1,283,332,000 | 458,617,000 | 624,439,000 | 1,783,847,000 | |
| Capital expenditures | 418,144,000 | 296,816,000 | 304,636,000 | 331,896,000 | 164,536,000 | 308,534,000 | 422,710,000 | 465,307,000 | 467,939,000 | 540,989,000 | |
| Share buybacks | 564,337,000 | 579,570,000 | 904,726,000 | 567,747,000 | 229,938,000 | 576,478,000 | 333,932,000 | 94,086,000 | 428,453,000 | 642,786,000 | |
| Assets | 16,279,356,000 | 17,486,272,000 | 18,717,867,000 | 21,082,182,000 | 21,541,541,000 | 26,338,264,000 | 26,182,736,000 | 27,196,797,000 | 27,404,206,000 | 26,367,903,000 | |
| Liabilities | 13,170,776,000 | 14,169,423,000 | 15,360,839,000 | 17,313,307,000 | 17,176,928,000 | 21,102,825,000 | 20,569,659,000 | 21,123,057,000 | 21,161,218,000 | 20,479,047,000 | |
| Stockholders' equity | 3,108,580,000 | 3,316,849,000 | 3,357,028,000 | 3,768,875,000 | 4,364,613,000 | 5,235,439,000 | 5,613,077,000 | 6,073,740,000 | 6,242,988,000 | 5,888,856,000 | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 38,416,000 | 44,525,000 | 46,938,000 | 58,211,000 | 132,319,000 | 102,716,000 | 314,758,000 | 574,142,000 | 246,960,000 | 122,826,000 | |
| Free cash flow | -377,366,000 | -141,665,000 | -568,502,000 | 503,224,000 | -2,857,984,000 | 860,622,000 | -6,690,000 | 156,500,000 | 1,242,858,000 |
Ratios
| Metric | 2012 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net margin | 3.95% | 3.88% | 4.64% | 4.37% | 3.94% | 3.61% | 1.63% | 1.81% | 1.90% | 0.96% | |
| Return on equity | 20.17% | 20.02% | 25.09% | 23.57% | 17.11% | 21.99% | 8.64% | 7.89% | 8.02% | 4.20% | |
| Return on assets | 3.85% | 3.80% | 4.50% | 4.21% | 3.47% | 4.37% | 1.85% | 1.76% | 1.83% | 0.94% | |
| Liabilities / equity | 4.24 | 4.27 | 4.58 | 4.59 | 3.94 | 4.03 | 3.66 | 3.48 | 3.39 | 3.48 | |
| Current ratio | 2.60 | 2.61 | 2.45 | 2.39 | 2.42 | 3.20 | 2.60 | 2.26 | 2.31 | 2.20 |
Industry Peer Context
Net margin peer context
ROE peer context
ROA peer context
Financial Bridges
Free cash flow = operating cash flow - capital expenditures
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts FY 2026. Operating cash flow: accession 0001170010-26-000021; concept NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities; source concepts us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities | Capital expenditures: accession 0001170010-26-000021; concept PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment; source concepts us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment | Free cash flow: accession 0001170010-26-000021; concept NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities - PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment; source concepts us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities; us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment
Financial Charts
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-02-28; accession 0001170010-26-000021; filed 2026-04-15. Concept: Revenues. Source concepts: us-gaap:Revenues.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-02-28; accession 0001170010-26-000021; filed 2026-04-15. Concept: NetIncomeLoss. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetIncomeLoss.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-02-28; accession 0001170010-26-000021; filed 2026-04-15. Concept: GrossProfit. Source concepts: us-gaap:GrossProfit.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-02-28; accession 0001170010-26-000021; filed 2026-04-15. Concept: EarningsPerShareDiluted. Source concepts: us-gaap:EarningsPerShareDiluted.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-02-28; accession 0001170010-26-000021; filed 2026-04-15. Concept: NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-02-28; accession 0001170010-26-000021; filed 2026-04-15. Concept: PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment. Source concepts: us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-02-28; accession 0001170010-26-000021; filed 2026-04-15. Concept: PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock. Source concepts: us-gaap:PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-02-28; accession 0001170010-26-000021; filed 2026-04-15. Concept: Assets. Source concepts: us-gaap:Assets.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-02-28; accession 0001170010-26-000021; filed 2026-04-15. Concept: Liabilities. Source concepts: us-gaap:Liabilities.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-02-28; accession 0001170010-26-000021; filed 2026-04-15. Concept: StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest. Source concepts: us-gaap:StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-02-28; accession 0001170010-26-000021; filed 2026-04-15. Concept: CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue. Source concepts: us-gaap:CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-02-28; accession 0001170010-26-000021; filed 2026-04-15. Concept: NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities - PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities; us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment.
Quarterly
Quarterly standardized facts from SEC companyfacts as of latest extracted filing date 2026-06-24. Source: https://data.sec.gov/api/xbrl/companyfacts/CIK0001170010.json.
| Quarter | End Date | Revenue | Net Income | Diluted EPS | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-Q2 | 2022-08-31 | 0.79 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2023-Q3 | 2022-11-30 | 0.24 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2024-Q1 | 2023-05-31 | 1.44 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2024-Q2 | 2023-05-31 | 228,298,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2024-Q2 | 2023-08-31 | 7,073,836,000 | 0.75 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2024-Q3 | 2023-08-31 | 118,635,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2024-Q3 | 2023-11-30 | 6,148,538,000 | 0.52 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2024-Q4 | 2024-02-29 | 5,626,603,000 | 50,268,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | |
| 2025-Q1 | 2024-05-31 | 7,113,397,000 | 152,440,000 | 0.97 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2025-Q2 | 2024-05-31 | 152,440,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2025-Q2 | 2024-08-31 | 7,013,529,000 | 0.85 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2025-Q3 | 2024-08-31 | 132,809,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2025-Q3 | 2024-11-30 | 6,223,371,000 | 0.81 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2025-Q4 | 2025-02-28 | 6,003,123,000 | 89,866,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | |
| 2026-Q1 | 2025-05-31 | 7,546,541,000 | 210,381,000 | 1.38 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2026-Q2 | 2025-05-31 | 210,381,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2026-Q2 | 2025-08-31 | 6,594,684,000 | 0.64 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2026-Q3 | 2025-08-31 | 95,378,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2026-Q3 | 2025-11-30 | 5,793,946,000 | 0.43 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2026-Q4 | 2026-02-28 | 5,945,960,000 | -120,684,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | |
| 2027-Q1 | 2026-05-31 | 8,013,519,000 | 185,627,000 | 1.31 | reported discrete quarter |
Quarterly Charts
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2027 ended 2026-05-31; accession 0001170010-26-000055; filed 2026-06-24. Concept: Revenues. Source concepts: us-gaap:Revenues.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2027 ended 2026-05-31; accession 0001170010-26-000055; filed 2026-06-24. Concept: NetIncomeLoss. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetIncomeLoss.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2027 ended 2026-05-31; accession 0001170010-26-000055; filed 2026-06-24. Concept: EarningsPerShareDiluted. Source concepts: us-gaap:EarningsPerShareDiluted.
Macro Cross-References
- CPIAUCSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items in U.S. City Average
- UNRATE - Unemployment Rate
- FEDFUNDS - Federal Funds Effective Rate
- CES0500000003 - Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees, Total Private
- DFEDTARU - Federal Funds Target Range - Upper Limit
- DFEDTARL - Federal Funds Target Range - Lower Limit
- DGS3MO - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 3-Month Constant Maturity
- DGS2 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 2-Year Constant Maturity
- DGS10 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 10-Year Constant Maturity
- DGS30 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 30-Year Constant Maturity
- T10Y2Y - 10-Year Treasury Constant Maturity Minus 2-Year Treasury Constant Maturity
- CPILFESL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items Less Food and Energy
- CPIUFDSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Food
- CPIENGSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Energy
- CUSR0000SAH1 - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Shelter
- PCEPI - Personal Consumption Expenditures: Chain-type Price Index
- PCEPILFE - Personal Consumption Expenditures Excluding Food and Energy: Chain-type Price Index
- PPIACO - Producer Price Index by Commodity: All Commodities
- T10YIE - 10-Year Breakeven Inflation Rate
- U6RATE - Total Unemployed, Plus All Marginally Attached Workers Plus Total Employed Part Time for Economic Reasons
- PAYEMS - All Employees, Total Nonfarm
- CIVPART - Labor Force Participation Rate
- EMRATIO - Employment-Population Ratio
- UNEMPLOY - Unemployed
- CE16OV - Employment Level
- ICSA - Initial Claims
- JTSJOL - Job Openings: Total Nonfarm
- JTSQUR - Quits: Total Nonfarm
- GDPC1 - Real Gross Domestic Product
- A191RL1Q225SBEA - Real Gross Domestic Product: Percent Change from Preceding Period
- INDPRO - Industrial Production: Total Index
- TCU - Capacity Utilization: Total Index
- HOUST - New Privately-Owned Housing Units Started: Total Units
- PERMIT - New Privately-Owned Housing Units Authorized in Permit-Issuing Places: Total Units
- RSAFS - Advance Retail Sales: Retail Trade
- PCE - Personal Consumption Expenditures
- DSPIC96 - Real Disposable Personal Income
- PSAVERT - Personal Saving Rate
- M2SL - M2
- BOPGSTB - U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services: Balance
- MSPUS - Median Sales Price of Houses Sold for the United States
- HSN1F - New One Family Houses Sold: United States
- RHORUSQ156N - Homeownership Rate in the United States
- TTLCONS - Total Construction Spending: Total Construction in the United States
- RRVRUSQ156N - Rental Vacancy Rate in the United States
- TOTALSL - Total Consumer Credit Owned and Securitized
- REVOLSL - Revolving Consumer Credit Owned and Securitized
- DRCCLACBS - Delinquency Rate on Credit Card Loans, All Commercial Banks
- GDP - Gross Domestic Product
- GPDI - Gross Private Domestic Investment
- GCE - Government Consumption Expenditures and Gross Investment
- PCEC - Personal Consumption Expenditures
- NETEXP - Net Exports of Goods and Services
- GFDEBTN - Federal Debt: Total Public Debt
- GFDEGDQ188S - Federal Debt: Total Public Debt as Percent of Gross Domestic Product
- FYFSD - Federal Surplus or Deficit
- FGRECPT - Federal Government Current Receipts
- FGEXPND - Federal Government: Current Expenditures
- MANEMP - All Employees, Manufacturing
- USCONS - All Employees, Construction
- USTRADE - All Employees, Retail Trade
- USFIRE - All Employees, Financial Activities
- USGOVT - All Employees, Government
- AWHAETP - Average Weekly Hours of All Employees, Total Private
- DGORDER - Manufacturers' New Orders: Durable Goods
- NEWORDER - Manufacturers' New Orders: Nondefense Capital Goods Excluding Aircraft
- BUSINV - Total Business Inventories
- EXPGS - Exports of Goods and Services
- IMPGS - Imports of Goods and Services
- IR - Import Price Index (End Use): All Commodities
- PPIFIS - Producer Price Index by Commodity: Final Demand
Latest quarter (10-Q)
Latest 10-Q source: 0001170010-26-000055.
ITEM 2.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) is provided as a supplement to, and should be read in conjunction with, our audited consolidated financial statements, the accompanying notes and the MD&A included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2026 (“fiscal 2026”), as well as our unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes included in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q. Note references are to the notes to unaudited interim consolidated financial statements included in Item 1. All references to net earnings per share are to diluted net earnings per share. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation. Amounts and percentages may not total due to rounding.
OVERVIEW
CarMax is the nation’s largest retailer of used vehicles. We operate in two reportable segments: CarMax Sales Operations and CarMax Auto Finance (“CAF”). Our CarMax Sales Operations segment consists of all aspects of our auto merchandising and service operations, excluding financing provided by CAF. Our CAF segment consists solely of our own finance operation that provides financing to customers buying retail vehicles from CarMax.
CarMax Sales Operations
Our sales operations segment consists of retail sales of used vehicles and related products and services, such as wholesale vehicle sales; the sale of extended protection plan (“EPP”) products, which include extended service plans (“ESPs”) and guaranteed asset protection (“GAP”); advertising and subscription revenues; and vehicle repair service. We offer competitive, no-haggle prices; a broad selection of CarMax Quality Certified used vehicles; value-added EPP products; and superior customer service. Our sales platform leverages our scale, nationwide footprint and infrastructure and empowers our customers to buy a vehicle on their terms, whether online, in-store or through a combination of both. Our associates, stores, technology and digital capabilities tied together enable us to provide the most customer-centric car buying and selling experience, a key differentiator in a large and fragmented market.
Our customers finance the majority of the retail vehicles purchased from us, and availability of on-the-spot financing is a critical component of the sales process. We provide financing to qualified retail customers through CAF and our arrangements with industry-leading third-party finance providers. All of the finance offers, whether by CAF or our third-party providers, are backed by a 3-day payoff option.
CarMax Auto Finance
In addition to third-party finance providers, we provide vehicle financing through CAF, which offers financing solely to customers buying retail vehicles from CarMax. CAF allows us to manage our reliance on third-party finance providers and to leverage knowledge of our business to provide qualifying customers a competitive financing option. As a result, we believe CAF enables us to capture additional profits, cash flows and sales. CAF income primarily reflects the interest and fee income generated by the auto loans held for investment and auto loans held for sale less the interest expense associated with the debt issued to fund these loans, a provision for estimated loan losses on loans held for investment, direct expenses and income related to the sale of auto loans. CAF income does not include any allocation of indirect costs. After the effect of 3-day payoffs and vehicle returns, CAF financed 43.3% of our retail used vehicle unit sales in the first three months of fiscal 2027. As of May 31, 2026, CAF serviced approximately 1.1 million customer accounts, which includes its $16.71 billion portfolio of auto loans and $700 million of auto loans that have previously been sold.
Management regularly analyzes CAF’s operating results by assessing the competitiveness of our consumer offer, profitability, the performance of its auto loans, including trends in credit losses and delinquencies, and CAF direct expenses.
Page 30
Revenues and Profitability
The sources of revenue and gross profit from the CarMax Sales Operations segment for the first three months of fiscal 2027 are as follows:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Net Sales and Operating Revenues | Gross Profit |
A high-level summary of our financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2027 as compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2026 is as follows (1):
| (Dollars in millions except per share or per unit data) | Three Months Ended May 31, 2026 | Change from Three Months Ended May 31, 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income statement information | ||||||
| Net sales and operating revenues | $ | 8,013.5 | 6.2 | % | ||
| Gross profit | $ | 854.4 | (4.4) | % | ||
| CAF income | $ | 140.2 | (1.0) | % | ||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | $ | 635.2 | (3.7) | % | ||
| Net earnings | $ | 185.6 | (11.8) | % | ||
| Unit sales information | ||||||
| Used unit sales | 230,293 | — | % | |||
| Change in used unit sales in comparable stores | (0.8) | % | N/A | |||
| Wholesale unit sales | 162,064 | 8.4 | % | |||
| Per unit information | ||||||
| Used gross profit per unit | $ | 2,177 | (9.6) | % | ||
| Wholesale gross profit per unit | $ | 1,046 | (0.1) | % | ||
| SG&A per total unit | $ | 1,619 | (6.8) | % | ||
| Per share information | ||||||
| Net earnings per diluted share | $ | 1.31 | (5.1) | % | ||
| Online sales metrics | ||||||
| Digitally enabled transactions (2) | 84 | % | 4 | % | ||
| Omni sales (3) | 70 | % | 4 | % | ||
| Online retail sales (4) | 14 | % | — | % | ||
| Unit buys information | ||||||
| Total vehicle purchases | 321,654 | (4.4) | % | |||
| Vehicles purchased from consumers | 280,693 | (2.5) | % | |||
| Vehicles purchased from dealers | 40,961 | (15.4) | % |
(1) Where applicable, amounts are net of intercompany eliminations.
(2) A digitally enabled transaction is defined as either an omni retail sale or an online retail sale, as defined below.
Page 31
(3) An omni retail sale is defined as a sale where customers complete at least one, but not all, of the four activities listed in note (4) below online, or additional steps that can be completed online, including pre-qualifying for financing, setting appointments and signing up for notifications of cars coming soon.
(4) An online retail sale is defined as a sale where the customer completes all four of the following activities online: reserving the vehicle; financing the vehicle, if needed; trading-in or opting out of a trade-in; and creating an online sales order.
Liquidity
Our primary ongoing sources of liquidity include funds provided by operations, proceeds from non-recourse funding vehicles and borrowings under our revolving credit facility or through other financing sources. In addition to funding our operations, this liquidity has been used to fund our capital expenditures and the repurchase of common stock under our share repurchase program.
Our current capital allocation strategy is to focus on funding the business to drive unit sales and earnings growth that enables us to consistently reward our shareholders. We continue to take a disciplined approach to our capital structure, including managing our net leverage to preserve efficient access to the capital markets for both CAF and CarMax overall. With leverage slightly above our targeted range, and as we focus on improving the business during this transitional period, we paused our share buybacks during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026. For the first quarter of fiscal 2027, our leverage remained slightly above our targeted range. We remain committed to returning capital to shareholders and intend to resume share repurchases in the future at the appropriate time depending upon market conditions, our leverage and our capital needs, among other factors. We believe we have the appropriate liquidity, access to capital and financial strength to support our operations and continue investing in our business for the next 12 months and thereafter for the foreseeable future.
Strategic Update and Future Outlook
We possess an award-winning, people-first culture, an iconic brand, an irreplaceable national footprint and meaningful digital capabilities. When fully harnessed, this combination enhances our competitive advantage and will drive our market share growth and financial returns in one of the largest consumer markets in the nation. Despite these advantages, it is clear that there are some key areas that have impeded our ability to perform to our full potential. Our core operations are not yet fast and efficient enough, retail prices and selection must continue to improve and our costs remain too high. In addition, our digital experience is too complex and not seamlessly connected to the in-person experience. This has put friction in the customer experience, ultimately impacting conversion and preventing us from fully leveraging our unmatched scale and store network.
In order to move forward, we have established our strategy for growth, built around four pillars with the objective of delivering strong unit sales and earnings growth that enables CarMax to consistently reward shareholders. The four pillars place the customer at the center of everything we do and are designed to meaningfully improve how we operate at scale and support consistently strong performance. Our four pillars are:
•Great Offering - give customers every reason to choose CarMax. We plan to ensure our pricing remains competitive across demand cycles while we both grow our saleable inventory and provide customers faster access to our vehicles.
•Easy Experience - make it easy to do business with us through a seamless experience. We plan to better connect digital capabilities with in-store experiences to improve conversion and customer satisfaction.
•Add Value On Each Transaction - grow profitability by maximizing value across all aspects of our business. This includes our CAF full spectrum ambitions as well as the extended protection plan redesign initiatives that are already underway.
•Run Lean - continue to reimagine our cost structure to enable a great offering. We plan to lower reconditioning costs through technology and operational efficiency while continuing to deliver the high-quality vehicles customers expect from CarMax. We are also working to enhance our logistics network and continuing to reduce our SG&A expenses.
We plan to host a strategic update in late fall to share additional details on key initiatives and milestones underlying our strategy for growth.
While this work will take time, we are encouraged that the progress we have been making across the four pillars is already translating into improved trends that we expect will continue this fiscal year. For the first quarter of fiscal 2027, on a year-over-year basis and compared to our strongest quarter from fiscal 2026, retail unit sales delivered slight growth, reflecting the near-term steps we have been taking across pricing, marketing and conversion to strengthen the business and drive performance. In addition, we levered SG&A expense on a total unit basis, expanded CAF penetration and increased EPP margin, all while improving our year-over-year EPS trend.
Page 32
Regarding SG&A expenses, our goal is to achieve $200 million in exit rate savings in SG&A expense by the end of fiscal 2027. However, the year-over-year savings within fiscal 2027 are expected to be offset as we annualize over materially reduced corporate bonus and share-based compensation expense in fiscal 2026, which offsets approximately half of the anticipated savings in fiscal 2027. The savings are also expected to be impacted by inflationary pressures and new location growth. We expect the full
[Excerpt truncated for page length; source filing is linked above.]
Latest 10-K MD&A
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) is provided as a supplement to, and should be read in conjunction with, our audited consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes presented in Item 8. Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. Note references are to the notes to consolidated financial statements included in Item 8. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation. All references to net earnings per share are to diluted net earnings per share. Amounts and percentages may not total due to rounding.
OVERVIEW
See Part I, Item 1 for a detailed description and discussion of the company’s business.
CarMax is the nation’s largest retailer of used vehicles. We operate in two reportable segments: CarMax Sales Operations and CarMax Auto Finance (“CAF”). Our CarMax Sales Operations segment consists of all aspects of our auto merchandising and service operations, excluding financing provided by CAF. Our CAF segment consists solely of our own finance operation that provides financing to customers buying retail vehicles from CarMax.
CarMax Sales Operations
Our sales operations segment consists of retail sales of used vehicles and related products and services, such as wholesale vehicle sales; the sale of extended protection plan (“EPP”) products, which include extended service plans (“ESPs”) and guaranteed asset protection (“GAP”); advertising and subscription revenues; and vehicle repair service. We offer competitive, no-haggle prices; a broad selection of CarMax Quality Certified used vehicles; value-added EPP products; and superior customer service. Our omni-channel experience provides a common platform across all of CarMax that leverages our scale, nationwide footprint and infrastructure and empowers our customers to buy a vehicle on their terms, whether online, in-store or through a seamless combination of both. Our associates, stores, technology and digital capabilities seamlessly tied together enable us to provide the most customer-centric car buying and selling experience, a key differentiator in a large and fragmented market.
Our customers finance the majority of the retail vehicles purchased from us, and availability of on-the-spot financing is a critical component of the sales process. We provide financing to qualified retail customers through CAF and our arrangements with industry-leading third-party finance providers. All of the finance offers, whether by CAF or our third-party providers, are backed by a 3-day payoff option.
CarMax Auto Finance
In addition to third-party finance providers, we provide vehicle financing through CAF, which offers financing solely to customers buying retail vehicles from CarMax. CAF allows us to manage our reliance on third-party finance providers and to leverage knowledge of our business to provide qualifying customers a competitive financing option. As a result, we believe CAF enables us to capture additional profits, cash flows and sales. CAF income primarily reflects the interest and fee income generated by the auto loans held for investment and auto loans held for sale less the interest expense associated with the debt issued to fund these loans, a provision for estimated loan losses on loans held for investment and direct expenses. CAF income does not include any allocation of indirect costs. After the effect of 3-day payoffs and vehicle returns, CAF financed 42.4% of our retail used vehicle unit sales in fiscal 2026. As of February 28, 2026, CAF serviced approximately 1.0 million customer accounts in its $16.37 billion portfolio of auto loans.
Management regularly analyzes CAF’s operating results by assessing the competitiveness of our consumer offer, profitability, the performance of its auto loans, including trends in credit losses and delinquencies, and CAF direct expenses.
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Revenues and Profitability
The sources of revenue and gross profit from the CarMax Sales Operations segment for fiscal 2026 are as follows:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Net Sales and Operating Revenues | Gross Profit |
A high-level summary of our financial results for fiscal 2026 as compared to fiscal 2025 is as follows (1):
| (Dollars in millions except per share or per unit data) | 2026 | Change from 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income statement information | ||||||
| Net sales and operating revenues | $ | 25,881.1 | (1.8) | % | ||
| Gross profit | $ | 2,806.6 | (3.2) | % | ||
| CAF income | $ | 562.7 | (3.3) | % | ||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | $ | 2,453.4 | 0.7 | % | ||
| Net earnings | $ | 247.3 | (50.6) | % | ||
| Unit sales information | ||||||
| Used unit sales | 780,684 | (1.1) | % | |||
| Change in used unit sales in comparable stores | (2.0) | % | N/A | |||
| Wholesale unit sales | 538,203 | (1.1) | % | |||
| Per unit information | ||||||
| Used gross profit per unit | $ | 2,253 | (2.5) | % | ||
| Wholesale gross profit per unit | $ | 974 | (4.9) | % | ||
| SG&A per total unit | $ | 1,860 | 1.8 | % | ||
| SG&A as a % of gross profit | 87.4 | % | 3.4 | % | ||
| Per share information | ||||||
| Net earnings per diluted share | $ | 1.68 | (47.7) | % | ||
| Adjusted net earnings per diluted share (2) | $ | 2.91 | (11.0) | % | ||
| Online sales metrics | ||||||
| Digitally enabled transactions (3) | 81 | % | — | % | ||
| Omni sales (4) | 68 | % | 2 | % | ||
| Online retail sales (5) | 13 | % | (2) | % | ||
| Unit buys information | ||||||
| Total vehicle purchases | 1,137,810 | (1) | % | |||
| Vehicles purchased from consumers | 987,191 | (2) | % | |||
| Vehicles purchased from dealers | 150,619 | 4 | % |
(1) Where applicable, amounts are net of intercompany eliminations.
(2) Adjusted net earnings per diluted share is a non-GAAP measure. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for a reconciliation of this measure to the most comparable GAAP measure net earnings per diluted share.
(3) A digitally enabled transaction is defined as either an omni retail sale or an online retail sale, as defined below.
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(4) An omni retail sale is defined as a sale where customers complete at least one, but not all, of the four activities listed in note (4) below online, or additional steps that can be completed online, including pre-qualifying for financing, setting appointments and signing up for notifications of cars coming soon.
(5) An online retail sale is defined as a sale where the customer completes all four of the following activities online: reserving the vehicle; financing the vehicle, if needed; trading-in or opting out of a trade-in; and creating an online sales order.
Refer to “Results of Operations” for further details on our revenues and profitability. A discussion regarding Results of Operations and Financial Condition for fiscal 2025 as compared to fiscal 2024 is included in Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2025, filed with the SEC on April 11, 2025.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
To provide additional transparency, we disclose certain non-GAAP financial measures, which adjust for items as presented below. We believe this information is useful in providing period-to-period comparisons of the results of our operations. The reconciliations of SG&A expenses, SG&A as a percent of gross profit, SG&A per total unit and net earnings per diluted share (GAAP financial measures) to adjusted SG&A expenses, adjusted SG&A as a percent of gross profit, adjusted SG&A per total unit and adjusted net earnings per diluted share (non-GAAP financial measures) are as follows:
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in millions except per share and per unit data) | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| SG&A expenses | $ | 2,453.4 | $ | 2,435.4 | $ | 2,286.4 | ||||
| Restructuring charges (1) | (49.8) | — | — | |||||||
| Litigation settlement proceeds (2) | — | — | 67.2 | |||||||
| Adjusted SG&A expenses | $ | 2,403.6 | $ | 2,435.4 | $ | 2,353.6 | ||||
| Gross profit | $ | 2,806.6 | $ | 2,897.9 | $ | 2,713.2 | ||||
| SG&A as a percent of gross profit | 87.4 | % | 84.0 | % | 84.3 | % | ||||
| Adjusted SG&A as a percent of gross profit | 85.6 | % | 84.0 | % | 86.7 | % | ||||
| Used units sales | 780,684 | 789,050 | 765,572 | |||||||
| Wholesale unit sales | 538,203 | 544,312 | 546,331 | |||||||
| Total unit sales | 1,318,887 | 1,333,362 | 1,311,903 | |||||||
| SG&A per total unit | $ | 1,860 | $ | 1,827 | $ | 1,743 | ||||
| Adjusted SG&A per total unit | $ | 1,822 | $ | 1,827 | $ | 1,794 | ||||
| Net earnings per diluted share | $ | 1.68 | $ | 3.21 | $ | 3.02 | ||||
| Impairment charges (3) | 0.96 | 0.08 | — | |||||||
| Restructuring charges (4) | 0.35 | — | — | |||||||
| Litigation settlement proceeds (2) | — | — | (0.42) | |||||||
| Income tax impact of non-GAAP adjustments (5) | (0.08) | (0.02) | 0.10 | |||||||
| Adjusted net earnings per diluted share | $ | 2.91 | $ | 3.27 | $ | 2.70 |
(1) Includes the portion of costs related to severance costs for our CEO change and workforce reductions as well as costs related to the abandonment of our Edmunds lease that have been recorded in SG&A expenses.
(2) Represents the receipt of settlement proceeds in a class action lawsuit related to the economic loss associated with vehicles containing Takata airbags.
(3) Includes the goodwill impairment charge recorded in fiscal 2026 and the Edmunds lease impairment charge recorded in fiscal 2025.
(4) Includes all costs related to severance costs for our CEO change and workforce reductions as well as all costs related to the abandonment of our Edmunds lease.
(5) Calculated using the blended statutory tax rate for each period.
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Liquidity
Our primary ongoing sources of liquidity include funds provided by operations, proceeds from non-recourse funding vehicles, and borrowings under our revolving credit facility or through other financing sources. In addition to funding our operations, this liquidity has been used to fund our capital expenditures and the repurchase of common stock under our share repurchase program.
Our current capital allocation strategy is to focus on our core business including investing in digital capabilities and the strategic expansion of our store and capacity footprint, pursue CAF’s expansion into the full credit spectrum, pursue new growth opportunities through investments, partnerships and acquisitions and return excess capital to shareholders. We continue to take a disciplined approach to our capital structure, including managing our net leverage to preserve efficient access to the capital markets for both CAF and CarMax overall. With leverage slightly above our targeted range, and as we focus on improving the business during this transitional period, we paused our share buybacks during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026. We believe we have the appropriate liquidity, access to capital and financial strength to support our operations and continue investing in our business for the next 12 months and thereafter for the foreseeable future.
Strategic Update and Future Outlook
Our omni-channel experience provides a common platform across all of CarMax that leverages our scale, nationwide footprint and infrastructure and empowers our customers to buy a vehicle on their terms, whether online, in-store or through a seamless combination of both experiences. While we expect our online and omni sales to grow over time, our goal is to provide the best experience whether in-store, online or a combination of the two. As a result, online, omni and in-person sales can vary from quarter to quarter depending on consumer preferences and how they choose to interact with us. We believe consumers in the used vehicle industry will increasingly prefer optionality that seamlessly connects digital and physical experiences.
We possess a beloved brand with national scale, the combination of an unmatched physical footprint and strong digital infrastructure and an award-winning culture. Despite these advantages and after decades of industry leadership, based on recent results, it is clear CarMax needs change. In November 2025, we announced a change in leadership. Effective December 1, 2025, Bill Nash stepped down from his position as CEO and as a member of the board. David McCreight, a member of the board, was named Interim President and CEO and Tom Folliard, Chair of the Board, was appointed Interim Executive Chair of the Board. Effective March 16, 2026, Keith Barr was appointed President and CEO to lead the company in its next chapter. We are focused on driving sales and earnings, maximizing the benefits of our omni-channel experience, strengthening our brand, improving operations and championing our culture in order to capture the tremendous opportunity ahead of us.
During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, we made progress on the priorities noted above. We improved sales trends by lowering our prices, investing in acquisition marketing and deploying an initial set of digital enhancements designed to drive conversion. We also continued to streamline our cost structure and lower the cost to bring cars to market, helping us offer more affordable vehicles. Concurrently, we made progress on our SG&A reduction goals, CAF full spectrum ambitions and EPP redesign.
Looking ahead to fiscal 2027, while we work to update our strategy and long-term objectives, our initial priorities, in addition to the items noted above, are to:
•Make CarMax the obvious and easy choice for customers by consistently delivering the three things that matter most to them: a fair, competitive price, access to a broad selection of high-quality vehicles and an end-to-end experience that meets their needs.
•Use technology to drive more differentiated experiences and efficiencies by using software, data and AI in practical ways that make it even easier for customers to buy and sell cars and for our associates to serve them.
•Act with more urgency and intention, while ensuring there is alignment across the organization. We plan to change what is not working, double down on what is and keep evaluating opportunities and risks as we move with speed to build a durable, long-term growth engine.
Regarding SG&A expenses, our goal is to achieve $200 million in exit rate savings in SG&A expense by the end of fiscal 2027, which is an increase from our previous goal of $150 million. However, the year-over-year savings within fiscal 2027 are expected to be offset as we annualize over materially reduced corporate bonus and share-based compensation expense in fiscal 2026, which offsets approximately half of the anticipated savings in fiscal 2027. The savings will also be impacted by inflationary pressures and new location growth. We expect the full impact from these savings to occur in fiscal 2028. We took our first significant step toward these savings during the third quarter of fiscal 2026 with an approximately 30% reduction in our CEC workforce, which we expect will result in annualized savings of approximately $35 million. We completed additional restructuring changes during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, which we expect will result in annualized savings of
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approximately $60 million. In addition to offsetting cost pressures, these ongoing savings are expected to enable additional flexibility to reinvest in areas that directly drive sales, while also serving as a tailwind to our earnings.
SG&A as a percent of gross profit increased to 87.4% in fiscal 2026 compared with 84.0% in fiscal 2025, driven by the decline in gross profit and impacted by the restructuring charges noted above. Adjusted SG&A as a percent of gross profit was 85.6% in fiscal 2026. Moving forward, we will focus our SG&A efficiency metric on total units instead of gross profit dollars. We believe this metric has stronger alignment to driving unit volumes. In fiscal 2027, we expect to leverage SG&A per total unit when excluding the restructuring charges incurred in fiscal 2026.
We also remain focused on driving down our cost of sales by pursuing incremental efficiency opportunities that we have identified across our logistics network and reconditioning operations. We achieved savings of approximately $125 per unit in fiscal 2025. Due to our recent sales performance, our savings in fiscal 2026 were slightly below our goal of another $125 per unit. These efficiencies support affordability as we pass savings on to our customers and also support our margins.
For fiscal 2027, we expect to take a more dynamic approach to margin management. We expect used margins for the full fiscal year to decline at a rate broadly in line with the year-over-year trend for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, although this may vary as we continue to optimize performance. We expect the first quarter of fiscal 2027 to reflect the largest year-over-year decline at close to $300 per unit, as we lap record margins in the prior year. This outlook reflects our pricing actions and our ongoing efforts to reduce logistics and reconditioning cost of sales in support of more competitive pricing and stronger sales.
During fiscal 2026, we tested EPP product enhancements that focused on increasing penetration and margin per unit. We expect to achieve nationwide rollout of these products by the second quarter of fiscal 2027, which we anticipate will result in an increase in EPP margin per unit of approximately $35 in fiscal 2027. We expect this increase to ramp throughout the fiscal year, driven by the rollout plan.
In calendar 2025, we estimate we sold approximately 3.6% of the age 0- to 10-year old vehicles sold on a nationwide basis, a decrease from 3.7% in calendar 2024. External title data indicates that while we gained market share in the first half of calendar 2025, sales and market share were pressured in the second half of the year.
As of February 28, 2026, we operated 256 used car stores located in 110 U.S. television markets, which covered approximately 85% of the U.S. population. The format and operating models utilized in our stores are continuously evaluated and may change or evolve over time based upon market and consumer expectations. During fiscal 2026, we opened six stores and four stand-alone reconditioning/auction centers. During fiscal 2027, we anticipate opening four stores as well as two stand-alone reconditioning/auction centers and two stand-alone auction facilities. We are utilizing our stand-alone reconditioning and auction locations to balance capacity and drive efficiencies across the network.
While we execute both our short- and long-term strategy, there are trends and factors that could impact our strategic approach or our results in the short and medium term. For additional information about risks and uncertainties facing our company, see “Risk Factors,” included in Part I, Item 1A of this Form 10-K.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
Our results of operations and financial condition as reflected in the consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions affecting the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. We use our historical experience and other relevant factors when developing our estimates and assumptions. We regularly evaluate these estimates and assumptions. Note 1 includes a discussion of significant accounting policies. The accounting policy discussed below is the one we consider critical to an understanding of our consolidated financial statements because its application places the most significant demands on our judgment. Our financial results might have been different if different assumptions had been used or other conditions had prevailed.
Allowance for Loan Losses
The allowance for loan losses represents the net credit losses expected over the remaining contractual life of our auto loans held for investment. Because net loss performance can vary substantially over time, estimating net losses requires assumptions about matters that are uncertain.
The allowance for loan losses is determined using a net loss timing curve method (“method”), primarily based on the composition of the portfolio of auto loans held for investment and historical gross loss and recovery trends. Due to the fact that losses for loans with less than 18 months of performance history can be volatile, our net loss estimate weights both historical
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losses by credit grade at origination and actual loss data on the loans to-date, along with forward loss curves, in estimating future performance. Once the loans have 18 months of performance history, the net loss estimate reflects actual loss experience of those loans to-date, along with forward loss curves, to predict future performance. The forward loss curves are constructed using historical performance data and show the average timing of losses over the course of a loan’s life. The net loss estimate is calculated by applying the loss rates developed using the methods described above to the amortized cost basis of the auto loans held for investment at inception of the loan.
The output of the method is adjusted to take into account reasonable and supportable forecasts about the future. Specifically, the change in U.S. unemployment rates and the Black Book wholesale used vehicle retention index are used to predict changes in gross loss and recovery rate, respectively. An economic adjustment factor, based upon a single macroeconomic scenario, is developed to capture the relationship between changes in these indices and changes in gross loss and recovery rates. This factor is applied to the output of the method for the reasonable and supportable forecast period of two years. After the end of this two-year period, we revert to historical experience on a straightline basis over a period of 12 months. We periodically consider whether the use of alternative metrics would result in improved model performance and revise the model when appropriate. We also consider whether qualitative adjustments are necessary for factors that are not reflected in the quantitative methods but impact the measurement of estimated credit losses. Such adjustments include the uncertainty of the impacts of recent economic trends on customer behavior. The change in the allowance for loan losses is recognized through an adjustment to the provision for loan losses.
Determining the appropriateness of the allowance for loan losses requires management to exercise judgment about matters that are inherently uncertain, including the timing and distribution of net losses that could materially affect the allowance for loan losses and, therefore, net earnings. To the extent that actual performance differs from our estimates, additional provision for credit losses may be required that would reduce net earnings. To demonstrate the sensitivity of credit loss assumptions and macroeconomic scenarios used in our estimated allowance for loan losses, we compared our February 28, 2026, modeled allowance base case scenario to a downside scenario. Relative to the base case, the downside scenario assumed 10% worsening in loss performance, U.S. unemployment rates and the Black Book wholesale used vehicle retention index. This sensitivity analysis resulted in a hypothetical increase in the allowance for loan losses of approximately $51.8 million.
While this analysis may be useful in considering how changes in certain macroeconomic assumptions could impact our estimated credit losses, it should not be relied upon as a forecast of how our allowance for loan losses is expected to change in a different macroeconomic scenario. The analysis does not reflect changes in other adjustments to the quantitative calculation, which would be influenced by the qualitative judgment management applies to reflect the uncertainty and imprecision of estimated lifetime credit losses based on then-current circumstances and conditions.
See Notes 1(H) and 4 for additional information on the allowance for loan losses.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS – CARMAX SALES OPERATIONS
NET SALES AND OPERATING REVENUES
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In millions) | 2026 | Change | 2025 | Change | 2024 | |||||||||||
| Used vehicle sales | $ | 20,702.4 | (1.8) | % | $ | 21,079.7 | 0.8 | % | $ | 20,922.3 | ||||||
| Wholesale vehicle sales | 4,504.6 | (1.8) | % | 4,587.5 | (7.8) | % | 4,975.8 | |||||||||
| Other sales and revenues: | ||||||||||||||||
| Extended protection plan revenues | 448.7 | (0.7) | % | 451.7 | 12.4 | % | 401.8 | |||||||||
| Third-party finance fees, net | (8.7) | (477.6) | % | (1.5) | 74.4 | % | (5.8) | |||||||||
| Advertising & subscription revenues (1) | 144.5 | 3.7 | % | 139.3 | 2.6 | % | 135.8 | |||||||||
| Other | 89.7 | (7.4) | % | 96.8 | (8.8) | % | 106.2 | |||||||||
| Total other sales and revenues | 674.2 | (1.8) | % | 686.3 | 7.6 | % | 638.0 | |||||||||
| Total net sales and operating revenues | $ | 25,881.1 | (1.8) | % | $ | 26,353.4 | (0.7) | % | $ | 26,536.0 |
(1) Excludes intercompany sales and operating revenues that have been eliminated in consolidation.
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UNIT SALES
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Change | 2025 | Change | 2024 | |||||||||
| Used vehicles | 780,684 | (1.1) | % | 789,050 | 3.1 | % | 765,572 | ||||||
| Wholesale vehicles | 538,203 | (1.1) | % | 544,312 | (0.4) | % | 546,331 |
AVERAGE SELLING PRICES
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Change | 2025 | Change | 2024 | ||||||||||||
| Used vehicles | $ | 26,121 | (0.6) | % | $ | 26,273 | (2.8) | % | $ | 27,028 | ||||||
| Wholesale vehicles | $ | 7,942 | (1.0) | % | $ | 8,019 | (7.9) | % | $ | 8,707 |
COMPARABLE STORE USED VEHICLE SALES CHANGES
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 (1) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | ||||||
| Used vehicle units | (2.0) | % | 2.2 | % | (6.7) | % | ||
| Used vehicle revenues | (2.5) | % | (0.4) | % | (10.6) | % |
(1) Stores are added to the comparable store base beginning in their fourteenth full month of operation. We do not remove renovated stores from our comparable store base. Comparable store calculations include results for a set of stores that were included in our comparable store base in both the current and corresponding prior year periods.
VEHICLE SALES CHANGES
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | ||||||
| Used vehicle units | (1.1) | % | 3.1 | % | (5.2) | % | ||
| Used vehicle revenues | (1.8) | % | 0.8 | % | (9.2) | % | ||
| Wholesale vehicle units | (1.1) | % | (0.4) | % | (6.6) | % | ||
| Wholesale vehicle revenues | (1.8) | % | (7.8) | % | (16.9) | % |
USED VEHICLE FINANCING PENETRATION BY CHANNEL (BEFORE THE IMPACT OF 3-DAY PAYOFFS)
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 (1) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | ||||||
| CAF (2) | 44.9 | % | 45.0 | % | 45.8 | % | ||
| Tier 2 (3) | 16.7 | 18.0 | 18.9 | |||||
| Tier 3 (4) | 8.3 | 7.1 | 7.0 | |||||
| Other (5) | 30.1 | 29.9 | 28.3 | |||||
| Total | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % |
(1) Calculated as used vehicle units financed for respective channel as a percentage of total used units sold.
(2) Includes CAF’s Tier 2 and Tier 3 loan originations, which represent approximately 2% of total used units sold.
(3) Third-party finance providers who generally pay us a fee or to whom no fee is paid.
(4) Third-party finance providers to whom we pay a fee.
(5) Represents customers arranging their own financing and customers that do not require financing.
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CHANGE IN USED CAR STORE BASE
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | |||||
| Used car stores, beginning of year | 250 | 245 | 240 | ||||
| Store openings | 6 | 5 | 5 | ||||
| Used car stores, end of year | 256 | 250 | 245 |
During fiscal 2026, we opened six stores (Tuscaloosa, AL; El Cajon, CA; Hagerstown, MD; Tulalip, WA; Rogers, AR; and Florence, KY). We also opened four stand-alone reconditioning/auction centers located in El Mirage, Arizona, supporting the Phoenix metro market; Midlothian, Texas, supporting the Dallas metro market; New Kent, Virginia, supporting the Richmond metro market; and Frederick, Maryland, supporting the Washington D.C/Baltimore metro market.
Used Vehicle Sales
Fiscal 2026 Versus Fiscal 2025. The 1.8% decrease in used vehicle revenues in fiscal 2026 was driven by a 1.1% decrease in used unit sales and a 0.6% decrease in average retail selling price, or approximately $150. The decrease in used units included a 2.0% decrease in comparable store used unit sales.
The decrease in average retail selling price in fiscal 2026 primarily reflected a shift in the mix of our sales by vehicle age, partially offset by an increase in vehicle acquisition costs.
Wholesale Vehicle Sales
Vehicles sold at our wholesale auctions are, on average, more than 11 years old with more than 100,000 miles and are primarily comprised of vehicles purchased through our appraisal process that do not meet our retail standards. Our wholesale auction prices usually reflect trends in the general wholesale market for the types of vehicles we sell, although they can also be affected by changes in vehicle mix or the average age, mileage or condition of the vehicles being sold.
Fiscal 2026 Versus Fiscal 2025. The 1.8% decrease in wholesale vehicle revenues in fiscal 2026 was driven by a 1.1% decrease in unit sales and a 1.0% decrease in average selling price, or approximately $80.
The decrease in average selling price in fiscal 2026 primarily reflected shifts in the mix of our sales by vehicle age, partially offset by an increase in vehicle acquisition costs.
Other Sales and Revenues
Other sales and revenues include revenue from the sale of ESPs and GAP (collectively reported in EPP revenues, net of a reserve for estimated contract cancellations), net third-party finance fees, advertising and subscription revenues earned by our Edmunds business, and other revenues, which are predominantly comprised of service department sales. The fees we pay to the Tier 3 providers are reflected as an offset to finance fee revenues received from the Tier 2 providers. The mix of our retail vehicles financed by CAF, Tier 2 and Tier 3 providers, or customers that arrange their own financing, may vary from quarter to quarter depending on several factors, including the credit quality of applicants, changes in providers’ credit decisioning and external market conditions. Changes in originations by one tier of credit providers may also affect the originations made by providers in other tiers.
Fiscal 2026 Versus Fiscal 2025. Other sales and revenues decreased 1.8% in fiscal 2026, primarily reflecting an increase in net third-party finance fees driven by higher Tier 3 volume, for which we generally pay a fee, as well as lower Tier 2 volume, for which we generally receive a fee.
GROSS PROFIT
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 (1) | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In millions) | 2026 | Change | 2025 | Change | 2024 | |||||||||||
| Used vehicle gross profit | $ | 1,759.0 | (3.5) | % | $ | 1,823.2 | 4.1 | % | $ | 1,752.0 | ||||||
| Wholesale vehicle gross profit | 524.1 | (6.0) | % | 557.6 | 0.1 | % | 556.8 | |||||||||
| Other gross profit | 523.5 | 1.2 | % | 517.1 | 27.9 | % | 404.4 | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 2,806.6 | (3.2) | % | $ | 2,897.9 | 6.8 | % | $ | 2,713.2 |
(1)Amounts are net of intercompany eliminations.
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GROSS PROFIT PER UNIT
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 (1) | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | |||||||||||||||||
| $ per unit (2) | % (3) | $ per unit (2) | % (3) | $ per unit (2) | % (3) | ||||||||||||||
| Used vehicle gross profit | $ | 2,253 | 8.5 | $ | 2,311 | 8.6 | $ | 2,288 | 8.4 | ||||||||||
| Wholesale vehicle gross profit | $ | 974 | 11.6 | $ | 1,024 | 12.2 | $ | 1,019 | 11.2 | ||||||||||
| Other gross profit | $ | 671 | 77.7 | $ | 655 | 75.4 | $ | 528 | 63.4 |
(1)Amounts are net of intercompany eliminations.
(2)Calculated as category gross profit divided by its respective units sold, except the other category, which is divided by total used units sold.
(3)Calculated as a percentage of its respective sales or revenue.
Used Vehicle Gross Profit
We target a dollar range of gross profit per used unit sold. The gross profit dollar target for an individual vehicle is based on a variety of factors, including its probability of sale and its mileage relative to its age; however, it is not primarily based on the vehicle’s selling price. Our ability to quickly adjust appraisal offers to be consistent with trends in the broader trade-in market and the pace of our inventory turns reduce our exposure to the inherent continual fluctuation in used vehicle values and contribute to our ability to manage gross profit dollars per unit. Gross profit per used unit is consistent across our omni-channel platform.
We systematically adjust individual vehicle prices based on proprietary pricing algorithms in order to appropriately balance sales trends, inventory turns and gross profit achievement. Other factors that may influence gross profit include the wholesale and retail vehicle pricing environments, vehicle reconditioning and logistics costs, and the percentage of vehicles sourced directly from consumers and dealers through our appraisal process. Vehicles purchased directly from consumers and dealers generally have a lower cost per unit compared with vehicles purchased at auction or through other channels, which may generate more gross profit per unit. In any given period, our gross profit may also be impacted by the age mix of vehicles sold, as older vehicles are generally more profitable. We monitor macroeconomic factors and pricing elasticity and adjust our pricing accordingly to strike the right balance between optimizing unit sales and profitability while also maintaining competitively priced inventory.
Fiscal 2026 Versus Fiscal 2025. Used vehicle gross profit decreased 3.5% in fiscal 2026, driven by the $58 decrease in used vehicle gross profit per unit, which reflects deliberate actions to drive improved sales performance taken during the fourth quarter, as well as the 1.1% decrease in total used unit sales.
Wholesale Vehicle Gross Profit
Our wholesale gross profit per unit reflects the demand for older, higher mileage vehicles, which are the mainstay of our auctions, as well as strong dealer attendance and resulting high dealer-to-car ratios at our auctions. The frequency of our auctions, which are generally held weekly or bi-weekly, minimizes the depreciation risk on these vehicles. Our ability to adjust appraisal offers and quickly move vehicles to our standalone auctions in response to the wholesale pricing environment are key factors that influences wholesale gross profit.
Fiscal 2026 Versus Fiscal 2025. Wholesale vehicle gross profit decreased 6.0% in fiscal 2026, driven by a $50 decrease in wholesale vehicle gross profit per unit as well as a 1.1% decrease in unit sales.
Other Gross Profit
Other gross profit includes profits related to EPP revenues, net third-party finance fees, advertising and subscription profits earned by our Edmunds business, and other revenues. Other revenues are predominantly comprised of service department operations, including used vehicle reconditioning. We have no cost of sales related to EPP revenues or net third-party finance fees, as these represent revenues paid to us by certain third-party providers. Third-party finance income is reported net of the fees we pay to third-party Tier 3 finance providers. Accordingly, changes in the relative mix of the components of other gross profit can affect the composition and amount of other gross profit.
Fiscal 2026 Versus Fiscal 2025. Other gross profit increased 1.2% in fiscal 2026, primarily driven by an $18.4 million improvement in service department margins, partially offset by an increase in net third-party finance fees, as discussed above. The increase in service department margins was driven by cost coverage measures that we have implemented and increased efficiencies.
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COMPONENTS OF SG&A EXPENSES AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL SG&A EXPENSES
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Fiscal Year 2026 | Fiscal Year 2025 |
COMPONENTS OF SG&A EXPENSES COMPARED WITH PRIOR PERIODS (1)
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In millions except per unit data) | 2026 | Change | 2025 | Change | 2024 | |||||||||||
| Compensation and benefits: | ||||||||||||||||
| Compensation and benefits, excluding share-based compensation expense | $ | 1,292.4 | 0.2 | % | $ | 1,289.7 | 5.1 | % | $ | 1,226.8 | ||||||
| Share-based compensation expense | 93.4 | (26.4) | % | 126.9 | 11.3 | % | 114.1 | |||||||||
| Total compensation and benefits (2) | $ | 1,385.8 | (2.2) | % | $ | 1,416.6 | 5.6 | % | $ | 1,340.9 | ||||||
| Occupancy costs | 305.5 | 7.1 | % | 285.3 | 5.1 | % | 271.4 | |||||||||
| Advertising expense | 283.0 | 8.6 | % | 260.7 | (1.4) | % | 264.4 | |||||||||
| Other overhead costs (3) | 479.1 | 1.3 | % | 472.8 | 15.4 | % | 409.7 | |||||||||
| Total SG&A expenses | $ | 2,453.4 | 0.7 | % | $ | 2,435.4 | 6.5 | % | $ | 2,286.4 | ||||||
| SG&A per total unit | $ | 1,860 | 1.8 | % | $ | 1,827 | 4.8 | % | $ | 1,743 | ||||||
| SG&A as a % of gross profit | 87.4 | % | 3.4 | % | 84.0 | % | (0.3) | % | 84.3 | % |
(1)Amounts are net of intercompany eliminations.
(2)Excludes compensation and benefits related to reconditioning and vehicle repair service, which are included in cost of sales. See Note 13 for details of share-based compensation expense by grant type.
(3)Includes IT expenses, non-CAF bad debt, insurance, preopening and relocation costs, travel, charitable contributions and other administrative expenses.
Fiscal 2026 Versus Fiscal 2025 (Increase of $18.0 million or 0.7%). Factors contributing to the net increase include the following:
•$22.3 million increase in advertising expense to support our new brand positioning campaign and to invest in acquisition spend. Advertising spend in fiscal 2026 was slightly above fiscal 2025 at approximately $200 per total unit.
•$20.2 million increase in store occupancy costs driven by charges related to the abandonment of our Edmunds lease.
•$2.7 million net increase in compensation and benefits, excluding share-based compensation expense, as severance costs for both the CEO change and the reductions in workforce were offset by a decrease in the corporate bonus accrual.
•$33.5 million decrease in share-based compensation expense, primarily related to cash-settled restricted stock units, as the expense associated with these units was primarily driven by the change in the company's stock price during the relevant periods.
Excluding the $49.8 million of restructuring charges, which impacted compensation and benefits and occupancy costs, adjusted SG&A decreased $31.8 million or 1.3%.
SG&A as a percent of gross profit increased to 87.4% in fiscal 2026 compared with 84.0% in fiscal 2025, driven by the decline in gross profit and impacted by the restructuring charges noted above. Adjusted SG&A as a percent of gross profit, which excludes these charges, was 85.6% for fiscal 2026.
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Interest Expense
Interest expense includes the interest related to short- and long-term debt, financing obligations and finance lease obligations. It does not include interest on the non-recourse notes payable, which is reflected within CAF income.
Fiscal 2026 Versus Fiscal 2025. Interest expense of $110.4 million in fiscal 2026 was relatively consistent with $107.9 million in fiscal 2025.
Goodwill Impairment
We recorded a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $141.3 million during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, driven by the combination of a significant decline in market capitalization resulting from the decrease in our share price, pressured financial performance during fiscal 2026 and downward revisions to our forecasted financial outlook relative to the prior year’s outlook.
Other Expense (Income)
Other expense of $7.1 million in fiscal 2026 was relatively consistent with $11.6 million in fiscal 2025.
Income Taxes
The effective income tax rate was 35.5% in fiscal 2026 compared with 25.2% in fiscal 2025. The increase in effective income tax rate was primarily driven by the goodwill impairment charge, which is a non-deductible item.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS – CARMAX AUTO FINANCE
CAF income primarily reflects interest and fee income generated by auto loans held for investment and auto loans held for sale less the interest expense associated with the debt issued to fund these loans, a provision for estimated loan losses on loans held for investment, direct CAF expenses and income related to the sale of auto loans. Total interest margin primarily reflects the spread between interest and fees charged to consumers and our funding costs. Changes in the interest margin on new originations generally affect CAF income over time. Increases in interest rates, which affect CAF’s funding costs, competitive pressures on rates charged to customers or reducing higher risk accounts in our origination strategy, could result in compression in the interest margin on new originations.
The provision for loan losses reflects the estimated lifetime loan losses on new originations as well as changes in the estimated allowance for remaining loan losses on the existing portfolio. Changes to the allowance are primarily driven by loss and delinquency experience as well as economic factors related to our outlook for net losses expected to occur over the remaining contractual life of the loans held for investment.
CAF’s portfolio is composed primarily of auto loans originated over the past several years. Trends in auto loan growth and interest margins primarily reflect the cumulative effect of changes in the business over a multi-year period. Current period originations reflect current trends in both our retail sales and the CAF business, including the volume and credit mix of loans originated, current interest rates charged to consumers and loan terms. Loans originated in a given fiscal period generally impact CAF income over time, as we recognize income over the life of the underlying auto loan, or upon sale of the loan.
We typically use securitizations or other funding arrangements to fund loans originated by CAF. Certain pools of loans may be sold in such a way that CAF relinquishes all, or nearly all, of its continuing financial interests in the loans. These loans are classified as held for sale on our consolidated balance sheet until they are sold. On September 24, 2025, we executed a non-prime securitization transaction. The structure of the transaction resulted in the sale of approximately $930 million of auto loans, inclusive of accrued interest, in exchange for consideration in the form of cash and beneficial interests. The beneficial interests represent the 5% interest in the rated notes and residual certificate that we retained as the sponsor of the transaction. We recognized a gain on sale of $26.9 million from the transaction, net of transaction expenses, in the third quarter of fiscal 2026. As servicer, CAF continues to be responsible for managing collections and performing other servicing activities for the sold auto loans and earns servicing income as compensation for these activities. We expect to receive approximately $40 million to $45 million in CAF income related to servicing fees and the retained beneficial interest over the life of the transaction. We expect this additional funding lever, as well as other off-balance sheet funding vehicles under consideration, will provide us with significant flexibility and allow us to mitigate risk while focusing on our growth plan.
During fiscal 2025, CAF began testing its new full-spectrum credit scoring models and corresponding strategies across the Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 spaces. During fiscal 2026, CAF began a measured expansion by recapturing profitable portions of Tier 1 originations that we had shifted to our Tier 2 lenders as we tightened lending standards as well as testing expanded lending with a focus in the top half of the Tier 2 space. This is a first step on the path towards our initial goal of increasing CAF penetration to 50%. We continue to learn from our new underwriting models and corresponding tests currently in place in order to capture additional origination volume. We will monitor consumer behavior and the broader economy and adjust our origination
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strategy as needed. We would expect each additional percentage point of CAF penetration to generate $10 million to $12 million in lifetime pre-tax income per year of origination, net of the impact to finance partner participation fees. Our pre-tax income expectations will be impacted by the volume of loans originated, interest rates charged to customers, loan terms, loss rates, average credit scores, funding strategy, loan sales and the broader macroeconomic and lending environments. We believe our unique finance platform with a full-spectrum in-house lending operation, along with our complementary network of partner lenders, will strengthen our competitive advantage.
Historically, CAF has originated a small portion of auto loans to customers who typically would be financed by our Tier 2 and Tier 3 finance providers, in order to better understand the performance of these loans, mitigate risk and add incremental profits. The targeted percentage of Tier 2 and Tier 3 originations has fluctuated over the past several years. With the testing of the new full-spectrum credit scoring models, we continued our investment in this space during fiscal 2026, but remained within the target of originating less than 15% and 5% of the total Tier 2 and Tier 3 loan volume, respectively. In fiscal 2027, we intend to increase the target originations for Tier 2 to approximately 30% of the total volume across the Tier 2 spectrum, with a continued focus on the top half of the Tier 2 space. We do not plan to increase our target originations for Tier 3 in fiscal 2027. Any future adjustments in Tier 2 and Tier 3 will consider the broader lending environment, which includes funding availability, along with the long-term sustainability of the change. These loans have higher loss and delinquency rates than the remainder of the CAF portfolio, as well as higher contract rates.
CAF income does not include any allocation of indirect costs. Although CAF benefits from certain indirect overhead expenditures, we have not allocated indirect costs to CAF to avoid making subjective allocation decisions. Examples of indirect costs not allocated to CAF include retail store expenses and corporate expenses.
See Note 3 for additional information on CAF income and Note 4 for information on auto loans held for investment, including credit quality.
SELECTED CAF FINANCIAL INFORMATION
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In millions) | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Interest margin: | ||||||||||
| Interest and fee income | $ | 1,864.2 | $ | 1,853.9 | $ | 1,677.4 | ||||
| Interest expense | (769.2) | (763.2) | (638.7) | |||||||
| Total interest margin | $ | 1,095.0 | $ | 1,090.7 | $ | 1,038.7 | ||||
| Provision for loan losses | $ | (391.2) | $ | (334.7) | $ | (310.5) | ||||
| CarMax Auto Finance income | $ | 562.7 | $ | 581.7 | $ | 568.3 | ||||
| Average auto loans outstanding (1) | $ | 17,165.8 | $ | 17,683.9 | $ | 17,313.2 | ||||
| Total interest margin as a percent of average auto loans outstanding | 6.4 | % | 6.2 | % | 6.0 | % |
(1)Includes auto loans held for investment and auto loans held for sale.
CAF ORIGINATION INFORMATION (AFTER THE IMPACT OF 3-DAY PAYOFFS) (1)
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | ||||||||
| Net auto loans originated (in millions) | $ | 7,992.7 | $ | 8,254.5 | $ | 8,270.0 | ||||
| Vehicle units financed | 331,380 | 336,595 | 328,704 | |||||||
| Net penetration rate (2) | 42.4 | % | 42.7 | % | 42.9 | % | ||||
| Weighted average contract rate | 11.2 | % | 11.3 | % | 11.2 | % | ||||
| Weighted average credit score (3) | 723 | 723 | 719 | |||||||
| Weighted average loan-to-value (LTV) (4) | 89.7 | % | 89.6 | % | 88.7 | % | ||||
| Weighted average term (in months) | 68.5 | 67.6 | 65.4 |
(1)Includes auto loans held for investment and auto loans held for sale.
(2)Vehicle units financed as a percentage of total used units sold.
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(3)The credit scores represent FICO® scores and reflect only loans with obligors that have a FICO® score at the time of application. The FICO® score with respect to any loans with co-obligors is calculated as the average of each obligor’s FICO® score at the time of application. FICO® scores are not a significant factor in our primary scoring model, which relies on information from credit bureaus and other application information as discussed in Note 4. FICO® is a federally registered servicemark of Fair Isaac Corporation.
(4)LTV represents the ratio of the amount financed to the total collateral value, which is measured as the vehicle selling price plus applicable taxes, title and fees.
LOAN PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
| As of and for the Years Ended February 28 or 29 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In millions) | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Ending auto loans held for investment | $ | 16,271.9 | $ | 17,594.6 | $ | 17,391.8 | ||||
| Average auto loans held for investment | $ | 16,930.8 | $ | 17,683.9 | $ | 17,313.2 | ||||
| Allowance for loan losses | $ | 453.0 | $ | 458.7 | $ | 482.8 | ||||
| Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of ending auto loans held for investment | 2.78 | % | 2.61 | % | 2.78 | % | ||||
| Net credit losses | $ | 396.9 | $ | 358.8 | $ | 334.9 | ||||
| Net credit losses as a percentage of average auto loans held for investment | 2.34 | % | 2.03 | % | 1.93 | % | ||||
| Past due accounts as a percentage of ending auto loans held for investment | 5.11 | % | 4.85 | % | 5.44 | % | ||||
| Average recovery rate (1) | 45.5 | % | 47.2 | % | 53.0 | % |
(1) The average recovery rate represents the average percentage of the outstanding principal balance we receive when a vehicle is repossessed and liquidated, generally at our wholesale auctions. While in any individual period conditions may vary, over the past 10 fiscal years, the annual recovery rate has ranged from a low of 45% to a high of 71%, and it is primarily affected by the wholesale market environment.
Fiscal 2026 Versus Fiscal 2025.
•CAF income decreased $19.0 million, or 3.3%, due to an increase in the provision for loan losses and a decrease in average auto loans outstanding, partially offset by an increase in the interest margin percentage and the gain recognized on the sale of auto loans.
•Total interest margin increased as a percentage of average auto loans outstanding to 6.4% in fiscal 2026 compared with 6.2% in fiscal 2025. The increase was due to higher customer rates primarily driven by our Tier 2 expansion, partially offset by higher funding costs.
•Provision for Loan Losses
◦The current year provision of $391.2 million increased from $334.7 million in the prior fiscal year.
◦The increase in the provision for loan losses in fiscal 2026 was primarily driven by unfavorable loss performance, primarily within loans originated in 2022 and 2023, when average selling prices were elevated and these customers were later challenged by the inflationary environment. As a result of the previously disclosed tightening of CAF's underwriting standards, loans originated after April 2024 are performing in line with expectations.
◦There was also a reduction in the provision in fiscal 2026 due to the release of $42.2 million for the allowance recorded for loans that were previously classified as held for sale and subsequently sold during the third quarter of fiscal 2026.
◦The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of auto loans held for investment was 2.78% as of February 28, 2026 compared with 2.61% as of February 28, 2025. The allowance percentage increased from the prior year primarily due to unfavorable loss performance, partially offset by the release of a portion of the allowance previously recognized on auto loans held for sale.
•Loan Performance
◦The decline in net loan originations in fiscal 2026 resulted from decreases in the average amount financed, used unit sales and net penetration rate.
◦CAF net penetration decreased 30 basis points in fiscal 2026. During fiscal 2026, we made underwriting adjustments that translated to approximately 200 to 300 basis points of growth, but this growth was offset by lower application volume in the Tier 1 credit segment as well as an increase in penetration for Tier 3 third-party finance providers. We expect our penetration growth, targeting the top half of the Tier 2 space, will accelerate in fiscal 2027.
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PLANNED FUTURE ACTIVITIES
We anticipate opening a total of eight locations in fiscal 2027, including four stores, two stand-alone reconditioning/auction centers and two stand-alone auction facilities. We currently estimate capital expenditures will total approximately $400 million in fiscal 2027, a decrease from $541.0 million in fiscal 2026. Planned capital spending in fiscal 2027 largely consists of spending to support our future long-term growth in offsite reconditioning and auction facilities, as well as our new stores. This spending is expected to be at a reduced rate as compared with the prior year due to significant investments made in fiscal 2026 as well as slowed growth in store openings in upcoming fiscal years.
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
See Note 1(Y) to the consolidated financial statements for information on recent accounting pronouncements applicable to CarMax.
FINANCIAL CONDITION
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our primary ongoing cash requirements are to fund our existing operations, store and capacity expansion, store improvement, CAF, strategic growth initiatives and our share repurchase program. Our primary ongoing sources of liquidity include funds provided by operations, proceeds from non-recourse funding vehicles and borrowings under our revolving credit facility or through other financing sources.
Our current capital allocation strategy is to focus on our core business including investing in digital capabilities and the strategic expansion of our store and capacity footprint, pursue CAF’s expansion into the full credit spectrum, pursue new growth opportunities through investments, partnerships and acquisitions and return excess capital to shareholders. We continue to take a disciplined approach to our capital structure, including managing our net leverage to preserve efficient access to the capital markets for both CAF and CarMax overall. With leverage slightly above our targeted range, and as we focus on improving the business during this transitional period, we paused our share buybacks during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026. We believe we have the appropriate liquidity, access to capital and financial strength to support our operations and continue investing in our business for the next 12 months and thereafter for the foreseeable future.
We have historically managed leverage based on a number of factors, including internal financial forecasts, consideration of CAF’s operational and capital needs, external peer benchmarking, requirements of our debt agreements and macroeconomic conditions. Generally, we expect to use our revolving credit facility and other financing sources, together with stock repurchases, to maintain a leverage profile that ensures operating flexibility while supporting continued investment in the business.
We are party to contractual obligations involving commitments to make payments to third parties. These obligations impact our liquidity and capital resource needs. Our contractual obligations primarily consist of long-term debt and related interest payments, leases, purchase obligations and commitments, income taxes and defined benefit retirement plans. See Notes 12 and 16 for amounts outstanding as of February 28, 2026 related to debt and leases, respectively.
Our contractual obligations related to income taxes represent the net unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions. See Note 10 for information related to income taxes. Our contractual obligations related to defined benefit retirement plans represent the funded status recognized as of February 28, 2026. See Note 11 for information related to these plans.
Purchase obligations and commitments consist of certain enforceable and legally binding obligations related to third-party outsourcing services, advertising and real estate purchases. As of February 28, 2026, our purchase obligations and commitments were approximately $599.2 million, of which $170.3 million are due in fiscal 2027. The majority of the remaining purchase obligations and commitments are due within the next three years.
Operating Activities. During fiscal 2026, net cash provided by operating activities totaled $1.78 billion compared with $624.4 million in fiscal 2025.
As of February 28, 2026, total inventory was $4.14 billion, representing an increase of $202.4 million, or 5.1%, compared with the balance as of the start of the fiscal year. The increase was primarily due to an increase in average cost resulting from higher vehicle acquisition costs, partially offset by shifts in the mix of vehicles.
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Our operating cash flows are significantly impacted by changes in auto loans held for investment and auto loans held for sale, which combined increased $131.8 million in fiscal 2026 compared with $565.6 million in fiscal 2025. A significant portion of the changes in auto loans held for investment and auto loans held for sale are accompanied by changes in non-recourse notes payable, which are issued to fund auto loans originated by CAF. Net payments of non-recourse notes payable were $1.29 billion in fiscal 2026 compared with net issuances of $252.8 million in fiscal 2025 and are separately reflected as cash from financing activities. Due to the presentation differences between auto loans held for investment, auto loans held for sale and non-recourse notes payable on the consolidated statements of cash flows, fluctuations in these amounts can impact our operating and financing cash flows without significantly affecting our overall liquidity, working capital or cash flows. In addition, operating cash flows in fiscal 2026 were impacted by proceeds of $908.9 million resulting from the sale of auto loans in connection with our non-prime securitization transaction completed in the third quarter.
The increase in net cash provided by operating activities for fiscal 2026 compared with fiscal 2025 primarily reflected the proceeds from the sale of auto loans and the net change in auto loans held for investment and auto loans held for sale, as discussed above, partially offset by the net impact of volume and timing-related changes in accounts receivable and accounts payable.
Investing Activities. Net cash used in investing activities totaled $540.0 million in fiscal 2026 compared with $461.0 million in fiscal 2025. Capital expenditures were $541.0 million in fiscal 2026 versus $467.9 million in fiscal 2025. Capital expenditures primarily included construction costs to support our growth capacity initiatives and new store openings as well as investments in technology. We maintain a multi-year pipeline of sites to support our store and capacity growth, so portions of capital spending in one year may relate to locations that we open in subsequent fiscal years.
Financing Activities. Net cash used in financing activities was $1.34 billion in fiscal 2026 compared with $453.5 million in fiscal 2025. Included in these amounts were net payments on non-recourse notes payable of $1.29 billion in fiscal 2026 compared with net issuances of $252.8 million in the prior year. Net payments on non-recourse notes payable during fiscal 2026 were impacted by the non-prime securitization transaction completed during the third quarter as the transaction was structured such that off-balance sheet treatment was achieved. Non-recourse notes payable are typically used to fund changes in auto loans held for investment and auto loans held for sale (see “Operating Activities”).
During fiscal 2026, cash used in financing activities was impacted by net borrowings on our long-term debt of $624.6 million as well as stock repurchases of $642.8 million. During fiscal 2025, cash used in financing activities was impacted by net payments on our long-term debt of $313.8 million as well as stock repurchases of $428.5 million.
TOTAL DEBT AND CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
| (In thousands) | As of February 28 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt Description (1) | Maturity Date | 2026 | 2025 | ||||
| Revolving credit facility (2) | June 2028 | $ | 840,800 | $ | — | ||
| Term loan (2) | November 2030 | 499,271 | 699,773 | ||||
| 4.17% Senior notes | April 2026 | 200,000 | 200,000 | ||||
| 4.27% Senior notes | April 2028 | 200,000 | 200,000 | ||||
| Financing obligations | Various dates through February 2059 | 483,633 | 487,676 | ||||
| Non-recourse notes payable | Various dates through February 2033 | 15,827,609 | 17,119,758 | ||||
| Total debt (3) | $ | 18,051,313 | $ | 18,707,207 | |||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 122,826 | $ | 246,960 |
(1)Interest is payable monthly, with the exception of our senior notes, which are payable semi-annually.
(2)Borrowings accrue interest at variable rates based on SOFR, the federal funds rate, or the prime rate, depending on the type of borrowing.
(3)Total debt excludes unamortized debt issuance costs. See Note 12 for additional information.
Borrowings under our $2.00 billion unsecured revolving credit facility are available for working capital and general corporate purposes, and the unused portion is fully available to us. The credit facility, term loan and senior note agreements contain representations and warranties, conditions and covenants. If these requirements are not met, all amounts outstanding or otherwise owed could become due and payable immediately and other limitations could be placed on our ability to use any available borrowing capacity. As of February 28, 2026, we were in compliance with these financial covenants.
See Note 12 for additional information on our revolving credit facility, term loan, senior notes and financing obligations.
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CAF auto loans held for investment and auto loans held for sale are primarily funded through our warehouse facilities and asset-backed term funding transactions. These non-recourse funding vehicles are structured to legally isolate the auto loans, and we would not expect to be able to access the assets of our non-recourse funding vehicles, even in insolvency, receivership or conservatorship proceedings. Similarly, the investors in the non-recourse notes payable have no recourse to our assets beyond the related loans, the amounts on deposit in reserve accounts and the restricted cash from collections on auto loans held for investment. We do, however, continue to have the rights associated with the interest we retain in these non-recourse funding vehicles.
As of February 28, 2026, $13.50 billion and $2.33 billion of non-recourse notes payable were outstanding related to asset-backed term funding transactions and our warehouse facilities, respectively. During fiscal 2026, we funded a total of $7.52 billion in asset-backed term funding transactions. As of February 28, 2026, we had $4.02 billion of unused capacity in our warehouse facilities.
We have periodically increased our warehouse facility limit over time, as our store base, sales and CAF loan originations have grown. See Notes 1(G) and 12 for additional information on the warehouse facilities.
We generally repurchase the loans funded through our warehouse facilities when we enter into an asset-backed term funding transaction. If our counterparties were to refuse to permit these repurchases it could impact our ability to execute on our funding program. Additionally, the agreements related to the warehouse facilities include various representations and warranties, as well as covenants and performance triggers related to events of default. If these requirements are not met, we could be unable to continue to fund loans through the warehouse facilities. In addition, warehouse facility investors could charge us a higher rate of interest and could have us replaced as servicer. Further, we could be required to deposit collections on the related loans with the warehouse facility agents on a daily basis and deliver executed lockbox agreements to the warehouse facility agents.
The timing and amount of stock repurchases are determined based on stock price, market conditions, legal requirements, cash flow dynamics and other factors. Shares repurchased are deemed authorized but unissued shares of common stock. As of February 28, 2026, a total of $2 billion of board authorizations for repurchases was outstanding, with no expiration date, of which $1.31 billion remained available for repurchase. See Note 13 for more information on share repurchase activity.
Fair Value Measurements. We recognize money market securities, mutual fund investments, certain equity investments, beneficial interests in non-consolidated securitizations and derivative instruments at fair value. See Note 6 for more information on fair value measurements.
MD&A history
Prior-year 10-K MD&A spans are extracted from SEC filings with the same bounded parser used for the latest filing. The latest 10-K appears above; prior years are below.
FY 2025 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0001170010-25-000024.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) is provided as a supplement to, and should be read in conjunction with, our audited consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes presented in Item 8. Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. Note references are to the notes to consolidated financial statements included in Item 8. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation. All references to net earnings per share are to diluted net earnings per share. Amounts and percentages may not total due to rounding.
OVERVIEW
See Part I, Item 1 for a detailed description and discussion of the company’s business.
CarMax is the nation’s largest retailer of used vehicles. We operate in two reportable segments: CarMax Sales Operations and CarMax Auto Finance (“CAF”). Our CarMax Sales Operations segment consists of all aspects of our auto merchandising and service operations, excluding financing provided by CAF. Our CAF segment consists solely of our own finance operation that provides financing to customers buying retail vehicles from CarMax.
CarMax Sales Operations
Our sales operations segment consists of retail sales of used vehicles and related products and services, such as wholesale vehicle sales; the sale of extended protection plan (“EPP”) products, which include extended service plans (“ESPs”) and guaranteed asset protection (“GAP”); advertising and subscription revenues; and vehicle repair service. We offer competitive, no-haggle prices; a broad selection of CarMax Quality Certified used vehicles; value-added EPP products; and superior customer service. Our omni-channel experience provides a common platform across all of CarMax that leverages our scale, nationwide footprint and infrastructure and empowers our customers to buy a vehicle on their terms, whether online, in-store or through a seamless combination of both. Our associates, stores, technology and digital capabilities seamlessly tied together enable us to provide the most customer centric car buying and selling experience, a key differentiator.
Our customers finance the majority of the retail vehicles purchased from us, and availability of on-the-spot financing is a critical component of the sales process. We provide financing to qualified retail customers through CAF and our arrangements with industry-leading third-party finance providers. All of the finance offers, whether by CAF or our third-party providers, are backed by a 3-day payoff option.
As of February 28, 2025, we operated 250 used car stores in 109 U.S. television markets.
CarMax Auto Finance
In addition to third-party finance providers, we provide vehicle financing through CAF, which offers financing solely to customers buying retail vehicles from CarMax. CAF allows us to manage our reliance on third-party finance providers and to leverage knowledge of our business to provide qualifying customers a competitive financing option. As a result, we believe CAF enables us to capture additional profits, cash flows and sales. CAF income primarily reflects the interest and fee income generated by the auto loans receivable less the interest expense associated with the debt issued to fund these receivables, a provision for estimated loan losses and direct expenses. CAF income does not include any allocation of indirect costs. After the effect of 3-day payoffs and vehicle returns, CAF financed 42.7% of our retail used vehicle unit sales in fiscal 2025. As of February 28, 2025, CAF serviced approximately 1.1 million customer accounts in its $17.59 billion portfolio of managed receivables.
Management regularly analyzes CAF’s operating results by assessing the competitiveness of our consumer offer, profitability, the performance of the auto loans receivable, including trends in credit losses and delinquencies, and CAF direct expenses.
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Revenues and Profitability
The sources of revenue and gross profit from the CarMax Sales Operations segment for fiscal 2025 are as follows:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Net Sales and Operating Revenues | Gross Profit |
A high-level summary of our financial results for fiscal 2025 as compared to fiscal 2024 is as follows (1):
| (Dollars in millions except per share or per unit data) | 2025 | Change from 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income statement information | ||||||
| Net sales and operating revenues | $ | 26,353.4 | (0.7) | % | ||
| Gross profit | $ | 2,897.9 | 6.8 | % | ||
| CAF income | $ | 581.7 | 2.4 | % | ||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | $ | 2,435.4 | 6.5 | % | ||
| Net earnings | $ | 500.6 | 4.5 | % | ||
| Unit sales information | ||||||
| Used unit sales | 789,050 | 3.1 | % | |||
| Change in used unit sales in comparable stores | 2.2 | % | N/A | |||
| Wholesale unit sales | 544,312 | (0.4) | % | |||
| Per unit information | ||||||
| Used gross profit per unit | $ | 2,311 | 1.0 | % | ||
| Wholesale gross profit per unit | $ | 1,024 | 0.5 | % | ||
| SG&A as a % of gross profit | 84.0 | % | (0.3) | % | ||
| Per share information | ||||||
| Net earnings per diluted share | $ | 3.21 | 6.3 | % | ||
| Online sales metrics | ||||||
| Online retail sales (2) | 15 | % | 1 | % | ||
| Omni sales (3)(5) | 57 | % | 2 | % | ||
| Revenue from online transactions (4) | 30 | % | (1) | % |
(1) Where applicable, amounts are net of intercompany eliminations.
(2) An online retail sale is defined as a sale where the customer completes all four of the following activities online: reserving the vehicle; financing the vehicle, if needed; trading-in or opting out of a trade-in; and creating an online sales order.
(3) An omni sale is defined as a sale where customers complete at least one, but not all, of the four activities listed above online.
(4) Revenue from online transactions is defined as revenue from retail sales that qualify as an online retail sale, as well as any related EPP and third-party finance contribution, wholesale sales where the winning bid was taken from an online bid and all revenue earned by Edmunds.
(5) The definition of an omni sale has been updated to include additional steps that can be completed online, including pre-qualifying for financing, setting appointments and signing up for notifications of cars coming soon. See discussion below for fiscal 2025 results by quarter under this new definition.
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SG&A during fiscal 2024 included a $67.2 million benefit in connection with the receipt of settlement proceeds in a class action lawsuit related to the economic loss associated with vehicles containing Takata airbags. Excluding these proceeds, SG&A leveraged by 270 basis points, driven by the growth in gross profit and continued expense efficiency actions.
Net earnings per diluted share during fiscal 2025 included a negative impact of $0.06 resulting from an Edmunds lease impairment charge. Net earnings per diluted share during fiscal 2024 included a benefit of $0.32 in connection with the Takata proceeds. Net earnings per diluted share excluding both of these impacts increased 21.1% in fiscal 2025.
As noted in the table above, our omni sales definition incorporates customers who complete some, but not all, of the listed activities online. To better reflect the ways customers are utilizing our digital capabilities to buy a car, going forward we are updating the definition to also include customers who complete any of the following steps online: pre-qualifying for financing, setting appointments and signing up for notifications on cars coming soon. Based on the updated definition, approximately 66% of retail units sales were omni sales in fiscal 2025, up from 63% in the prior year. This change has no impact on the definition for online sales. The following table presents quarterly omni sales under the new definition:
| Three Months Ended | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 28, 2025 | November 30, 2024 | August 31, 2024 | May 31, 2024 | February 29, 2024 | ||||||
| Omni sales | 67 | % | 65 | % | 65 | % | 65 | % | 64 | % |
Refer to “Results of Operations” for further details on our revenues and profitability. A discussion regarding Results of Operations and Financial Condition for fiscal 2024 as compared to fiscal 2023 is included in Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2024, filed with the SEC on April 15, 2024.
Liquidity
Our primary ongoing sources of liquidity include funds provided by operations, proceeds from non-recourse funding vehicles, and borrowings under our revolving credit facility or through other financing sources. In addition to funding our operations, this liquidity has been used to fund our capital expenditures and the repurchase of common stock under our share repurchase program.
Our current capital allocation strategy is to focus on our core business including investing in digital capabilities and the strategic expansion of our store and capacity footprint, pursue CAF’s expansion into the full credit spectrum, pursue new growth opportunities through investments, partnerships and acquisitions and return excess capital to shareholders. We believe we have the appropriate liquidity, access to capital and financial strength to support our operations and continue investing in our business for the next 12 months and thereafter for the foreseeable future.
Strategic Update and Future Outlook
Our omni-channel experience provides a common platform across all of CarMax that leverages our scale, nationwide footprint and infrastructure and empowers our customers to buy a vehicle on their terms, whether online, in-store or through a seamless combination of both experiences. While we expect our online and omni sales to grow over time, our goal is to provide the best experience whether in-store, online or a combination of the two. As a result, online, omni and in-person sales can vary from quarter to quarter depending on consumer preferences and how they choose to interact with us. We believe consumers in the used car industry will increasingly prefer to have the ability to shop and transact digitally. Approximately 80% of our customers leveraged some or all of our digital capabilities to complete their transactions during the current fiscal year.
Our diversified business model, combined with our exceptional associates, stores, technology and digital capabilities seamlessly tied together, is a key differentiator that strengthens our competitive advantage and we believe will be increasingly important to win customers going forward. We expect the impact of our omni-channel capabilities will continue to grow as consumers demand a more personalized car-buying experience. The associate and customer facing tools we launched during fiscal 2025 are supporting our results and enable us to provide the most customer centric car buying and selling experience. Some examples of the steps we took to further differentiate our offering and drive incremental operational efficiencies during fiscal 2025 include:
•For retail, we rolled out several new systems including order processing in our stores, customer accounts online, AI-driven knowledge management in our Customer Experience Centers (“CECs”) and EV research and shopping tools on the Edmunds and CarMax websites. These systems enhance consumers’ shopping experiences while also supporting conversion and enabling our associates to be more efficient.
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•Our digital tools and enhancements have made it easier for customers to self-progress in their shopping journey. Skye, our AI-powered virtual assistant, is now able to independently answer over half of the questions our customers ask it, reflecting a more than 20% year-over-year improvement. Additionally, the rate of fully self-progressed online sales grew by 25% in fiscal 2025. Fully self-progressed online sales, which are a subset of our online retail sales, are completed without the help of a CEC or store associate.
•For supply, we enhanced our industry-leading consumer and dealer-facing online appraisal experiences and are now able to give digital offers to approximately 99% of the customers who visit carmax.com for an appraisal. We also made MaxOffer even easier to use, which has attracted more dealers to the offering and has driven record sourcing volume each quarter.
•For finance, we began testing of our new credit scoring models and the corresponding strategies across the full credit spectrum, which positions us to grow CAF income modestly in the near-term and more materially over time. We also released an update to our finance-based shopping experience that seamlessly incorporates existing instant appraisal offers into our prequalification offering, giving customers more precise credit terms.
In addition to these actions, we are focused on driving down our cost of sales by pursuing incremental efficiency opportunities that we have identified across our logistics network and reconditioning operations. We achieved savings of approximately $125 per unit in fiscal 2025 and anticipate that we will achieve another $125 per unit in fiscal 2026. This exceeds the initial $200 per unit target that we set at the beginning of fiscal 2025. These efficiencies support affordability as we pass savings on to our customers and also support our margins.
In fiscal 2026, we will leverage and enhance our capabilities to drive growth through better execution, innovative efforts and upleveled experiences. Examples of our initiatives for fiscal 2026 include the following:
•For retail, we will continue leveraging data science and AI to offer even better digital experiences for associates and consumers, driving conversion and efficiency. We plan to improve our online vehicle transfer experience and expand Skye’s functionality with additional data and new architecture.
•We will launch a new marketing campaign that will bring our best-in-class omni-channel experience to the forefront for the consumer.
•For supply, we plan to streamline the online appraisal checkout process, expand appraisal pick-up availability to new markets and further enhance MaxOffer to attract new dealers, expanding our access to directly sourced vehicles.
•For credit, we plan to continue expanding CAF’s participation across the credit spectrum to grow penetration and capture profitable returns. Additionally, we plan to modernize the ownership experience on CAF’s digital platform, which will enhance the customer experience and drive operating efficiencies.
As noted above, during fiscal 2025, we focused on MaxOffer improvements, attracting more dealers and increasing our purchases through the program. We leverage the Edmunds sales team to open new markets and sign up new dealers for MaxOffer. During fiscal 2025, our MaxOffer active dealers increased approximately 47% from the prior year. We purchased approximately 269,000 vehicles from consumers and dealers during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, up 15.3% from the prior year quarter. Approximately 46,000 vehicles were purchased from dealers, including through MaxOffer, up 114.2% from the prior year quarter. Of the approximately 223,000 vehicles purchased from consumers, more than half were purchased through our online instant appraisal experience.
While SG&A as a percent of gross profit can fluctuate from quarter to quarter depending on variability in gross profit and the timing of SG&A spending, our initial goal on the path to strengthening our SG&A to gross profit leverage over time is to achieve a rate in the mid-70% range on an annual basis. Achieving this annual rate will require continued efficiency gains in our operating model, gross profit growth and healthier consumer demand. In fiscal 2026, we expect to require low-single-digit gross profit growth to lever SG&A. This will be supported by our goal of becoming omni cost neutral for the first time for the full year of fiscal 2026. Omni-channel costs include commissions and the cost of operating our CECs. We expect our omni-channel costs per used unit, per total unit and as a percentage of gross profit for the full year of fiscal 2026 to be more efficient than before our omni-channel roll-out. This reinforces our pathway back to a lower SG&A leverage ratio, as noted above.
We have positioned the company to achieve gains in retail and wholesale unit sales and market share, with double-digit EPS growth for years to come. Our earnings model is designed to deliver an earnings per share compound annual growth rate (“CAGR”) in the high teens when used unit growth is in the mid-single digits. This earnings growth will be driven primarily by used and wholesale unit growth, strength in other gross profit, CAF’s credit spectrum expansion, continued operational efficiencies, ongoing SG&A leverage and our share repurchase program.
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Regarding our long-term goals, we are focused on growing the business and we continue to make progress toward our long-term goals; however, we are removing the timeframes associated with them given the potential impact of broader macroeconomic factors.
In calendar 2024, we estimate we sold approximately 3.7% of the age 0- to 10-year old vehicles sold on a nationwide basis, consistent with calendar 2023. External title data indicates that while our year-over-year market share came under pressure during the first half of the year, it recovered as we achieved accelerating gains through the second half of the year, with particular strength in vehicles aged 0 to 4 years, which grew for the entire year. The data indicates that our market share continued to grow year-over-year during January 2025, the latest period for which information is available. Our strategy to increase our market share includes focusing on:
•Delivering a customer-driven, omni-channel buying and selling experience that is a unique and powerful seamless integration of our in-store and online capabilities.
•Utilizing advertising to drive customer growth, educate customers about our omni-channel platform and to differentiate and elevate our brand.
•Hiring, developing and retaining an engaged and skilled workforce.
•Leveraging data and advanced analytics to continuously improve the customer experience as well as our processes and systems.
•Improving efficiency in our stores and CECs as well as our logistics and reconditioning operations to reduce waste.
•Opening stores in new markets and expanding our presence in existing markets.
•Becoming the leading retailer of used EVs in the market. In support of this goal, Edmunds has launched several research and buying tools.
As of February 28, 2025, we had used car stores located in 109 U.S. television markets, which covered approximately 85% of the U.S. population. The format and operating models utilized in our stores are continuously evaluated and may change or evolve over time based upon market and consumer expectations. During fiscal 2025, we opened five stores, one stand-alone auction facility in Chino, California and our second stand-alone reconditioning center in Richland, Mississippi. During fiscal 2026, we anticipate opening six stores as well as four stand-alone reconditioning/auction centers. We are utilizing our stand-alone reconditioning and auction locations to balance capacity and drive efficiencies across the network.
While we execute both our short- and long-term strategy, there are trends and factors that could impact our strategic approach or our results in the short and medium term. For additional information about risks and uncertainties facing our company, see “Risk Factors,” included in Part I, Item 1A of this Form 10-K.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
Our results of operations and financial condition as reflected in the consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions affecting the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. We use our historical experience and other relevant factors when developing our estimates and assumptions. We regularly evaluate these estimates and assumptions. Note 1 includes a discussion of significant accounting policies. The accounting policy discussed below is the one we consider critical to an understanding of our consolidated financial statements because its application places the most significant demands on our judgment. Our financial results might have been different if different assumptions had been used or other conditions had prevailed.
Allowance for Loan Losses
The allowance for loan losses represents the net credit losses expected over the remaining contractual life of our managed receivables. Because net loss performance can vary substantially over time, estimating net losses requires assumptions about matters that are uncertain.
The allowance for loan losses is determined using a net loss timing curve method (“method”), primarily based on the composition of the portfolio of managed receivables and historical gross loss and recovery trends. Due to the fact that losses for receivables with less than 18 months of performance history can be volatile, our net loss estimate weights both historical losses by credit grade at origination and actual loss data on the receivables to-date, along with forward loss curves, in estimating future performance. Once the receivables have 18 months of performance history, the net loss estimate reflects actual loss experience of those receivables to date, along with forward loss curves, to predict future performance. The forward loss curves are constructed using historical performance data and show the average timing of losses over the course of a receivable’s life. The net loss estimate is calculated by applying the loss rates developed using the methods described above to the amortized cost basis of the managed receivables.
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The output of the method is adjusted to take into account reasonable and supportable forecasts about the future. Specifically, the change in U.S. unemployment rates and the National Automobile Dealers Association used vehicle price index are used to predict changes in gross loss and recovery rate, respectively. An economic adjustment factor, based upon a single macroeconomic scenario, is developed to capture the relationship between changes in these indices and changes in gross loss and recovery rates. This factor is applied to the output of the method for the reasonable and supportable forecast period of two years. After the end of this two-year period, we revert to historical experience on a straightline basis over a period of 12 months. We periodically consider whether the use of alternative metrics would result in improved model performance and revise the model when appropriate. We also consider whether qualitative adjustments are necessary for factors that are not reflected in the quantitative methods but impact the measurement of estimated credit losses. Such adjustments include the uncertainty of the impacts of recent economic trends on customer behavior. The change in the allowance for loan losses is recognized through an adjustment to the provision for loan losses.
Determining the appropriateness of the allowance for loan losses requires management to exercise judgment about matters that are inherently uncertain, including the timing and distribution of net losses that could materially affect the allowance for loan losses and, therefore, net earnings. To the extent that actual performance differs from our estimates, additional provision for credit losses may be required that would reduce net earnings. To demonstrate the sensitivity of credit loss assumptions and macroeconomic scenarios used in our estimated allowance for loan losses, we compared our February 28, 2025, modeled allowance base case scenario to a downside scenario. Relative to the base case, the downside scenario assumed 10% worsening in loss performance, U.S. unemployment rates and the NADA used vehicle price index. This sensitivity analysis resulted in a hypothetical increase in the allowance for loan losses of approximately $42.7 million.
While this analysis may be useful in considering how changes in certain macroeconomic assumptions could impact our estimated credit losses, it should not be relied upon as a forecast of how our allowance for loan losses is expected to change in a different macroeconomic scenario. The analysis does not reflect changes in other adjustments to the quantitative calculation, which would be influenced by the qualitative judgment management applies to reflect the uncertainty and imprecision of estimated lifetime credit losses based on then-current circumstances and conditions.
See Notes 1(H) and 4 for additional information on the allowance for loan losses.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS – CARMAX SALES OPERATIONS
NET SALES AND OPERATING REVENUES
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In millions) | 2025 | Change | 2024 | Change | 2023 | |||||||||||
| Used vehicle sales | $ | 21,079.7 | 0.8 | % | $ | 20,922.3 | (9.2) | % | $ | 23,034.3 | ||||||
| Wholesale vehicle sales | 4,587.5 | (7.8) | % | 4,975.8 | (16.9) | % | 5,989.8 | |||||||||
| Other sales and revenues: | ||||||||||||||||
| Extended protection plan revenues | 451.7 | 12.4 | % | 401.8 | (4.9) | % | 422.3 | |||||||||
| Third-party finance (fees)/income, net | (1.5) | 74.4 | % | (5.8) | (183.6) | % | 7.0 | |||||||||
| Advertising & subscription revenues (1) | 139.3 | 2.6 | % | 135.8 | 1.9 | % | 133.3 | |||||||||
| Other | 96.8 | (8.8) | % | 106.2 | 8.1 | % | 98.2 | |||||||||
| Total other sales and revenues | 686.3 | 7.6 | % | 638.0 | (3.5) | % | 660.8 | |||||||||
| Total net sales and operating revenues | $ | 26,353.4 | (0.7) | % | $ | 26,536.0 | (10.6) | % | $ | 29,684.9 |
(1) Excludes intercompany sales and operating revenues that have been eliminated in consolidation.
UNIT SALES
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Change | 2024 | Change | 2023 | |||||||||
| Used vehicles | 789,050 | 3.1 | % | 765,572 | (5.2) | % | 807,823 | ||||||
| Wholesale vehicles | 544,312 | (0.4) | % | 546,331 | (6.6) | % | 585,071 |
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AVERAGE SELLING PRICES
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Change | 2024 | Change | 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Used vehicles | $ | 26,273 | (2.8) | % | $ | 27,028 | (4.3) | % | $ | 28,251 | ||||||
| Wholesale vehicles | $ | 8,019 | (7.9) | % | $ | 8,707 | (11.8) | % | $ | 9,872 |
COMPARABLE STORE USED VEHICLE SALES CHANGES
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 (1) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||
| Used vehicle units | 2.2 | % | (6.7) | % | (14.3) | % | ||
| Used vehicle revenues | (0.4) | % | (10.6) | % | (7.6) | % |
(1) Stores are added to the comparable store base beginning in their fourteenth full month of operation. We do not remove renovated stores from our comparable store base. Comparable store calculations include results for a set of stores that were included in our comparable store base in both the current and corresponding prior year periods.
VEHICLE SALES CHANGES
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||
| Used vehicle units | 3.1 | % | (5.2) | % | (12.6) | % | ||
| Used vehicle revenues | 0.8 | % | (9.2) | % | (5.7) | % | ||
| Wholesale vehicle units | (0.4) | % | (6.6) | % | (17.2) | % | ||
| Wholesale vehicle revenues | (7.8) | % | (16.9) | % | (11.4) | % |
USED VEHICLE FINANCING PENETRATION BY CHANNEL (BEFORE THE IMPACT OF 3-DAY PAYOFFS)
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 (1) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||
| CAF (2) | 45.0 | % | 45.8 | % | 45.4 | % | ||
| Tier 2 (3) | 18.0 | 18.9 | 22.0 | |||||
| Tier 3 (4) | 7.1 | 7.0 | 6.5 | |||||
| Other (5) | 29.9 | 28.3 | 26.1 | |||||
| Total | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % |
(1) Calculated as used vehicle units financed for respective channel as a percentage of total used units sold.
(2) Includes CAF’s Tier 2 and Tier 3 loan originations, which represent approximately 2% of total used units sold.
(3) Third-party finance providers who generally pay us a fee or to whom no fee is paid.
(4) Third-party finance providers to whom we pay a fee.
(5) Represents customers arranging their own financing and customers that do not require financing.
CHANGE IN USED CAR STORE BASE
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||
| Used car stores, beginning of year | 245 | 240 | 230 | ||||
| Store openings | 5 | 5 | 10 | ||||
| Used car stores, end of year | 250 | 245 | 240 |
During fiscal 2025, we opened 5 stores in existing television markets (El Paso, TX; Gainesville, GA; Alliance, TX; Mays Landing, NJ; and Visalia, CA).
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Used Vehicle Sales
Fiscal 2025 Versus Fiscal 2024. The 0.8% increase in used vehicle revenues in fiscal 2025 was primarily driven by a 3.1% increase in used unit sales, partially offset by a 2.8% decrease in average retail selling price, or approximately $800. The increase in used units included a 2.2% increase in comparable store used unit sales. Online retail sales, as defined previously, accounted for 15% of used unit sales in fiscal 2025, compared with 14% in fiscal 2024. During fiscal 2025, we experienced a decline in comparable store used unit sales in the first quarter, which was more than offset by gains in the second, third and fourth quarters. Comparable store used unit sales in March 2025 were higher than our fourth quarter fiscal 2025 results and further accelerated into the beginning of April. For the first quarter of fiscal 2026, through the beginning of April, comparable store used unit sales were in the high single-digits.
The decrease in average retail selling price in fiscal 2025 reflected lower vehicle acquisition costs, partially offset by shifts in the mix of our sales by vehicle age and class.
Wholesale Vehicle Sales
Vehicles sold at our wholesale auctions are, on average, more than 10 years old with more than 100,000 miles and are primarily comprised of vehicles purchased through our appraisal process that do not meet our retail standards. Our wholesale auction prices usually reflect trends in the general wholesale market for the types of vehicles we sell, although they can also be affected by changes in vehicle mix or the average age, mileage or condition of the vehicles being sold.
Fiscal 2025 Versus Fiscal 2024. The 7.8% decrease in wholesale vehicle revenues in fiscal 2025 was primarily driven by a 7.9% decrease in average selling price, or approximately $700, and a 0.4% decrease in unit sales. During fiscal 2025, we experienced a decline in wholesale unit sales in the first quarter, which was mostly offset by gains in the back half of the year.
The decrease in average selling price in fiscal 2025 was primarily due to decreased acquisition costs and shifts in the mix of our sales by vehicle age.
Other Sales and Revenues
Other sales and revenues include revenue from the sale of ESPs and GAP (collectively reported in EPP revenues, net of a reserve for estimated contract cancellations), net third-party finance (fees)/income, advertising and subscription revenues earned by our Edmunds business, and other revenues, which are predominantly comprised of service department sales. The fees we pay to the Tier 3 providers are reflected as an offset to finance fee revenues received from the Tier 2 providers. The mix of our retail vehicles financed by CAF, Tier 2 and Tier 3 providers, or customers that arrange their own financing, may vary from quarter to quarter depending on several factors, including the credit quality of applicants, changes in providers’ credit decisioning and external market conditions. Changes in originations by one tier of credit providers may also affect the originations made by providers in other tiers.
Fiscal 2025 Versus Fiscal 2024. Other sales and revenues increased 7.6% in fiscal 2025, reflecting an increase in EPP revenues. EPP revenues increased 12.4%, largely reflecting increased margins and an increase in retail unit sales, partially offset by decreased penetration.
GROSS PROFIT
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 (1) | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In millions) | 2025 | Change | 2024 | Change | 2023 | |||||||||||
| Used vehicle gross profit | $ | 1,823.2 | 4.1 | % | $ | 1,752.0 | (5.2) | % | $ | 1,848.2 | ||||||
| Wholesale vehicle gross profit | 557.6 | 0.1 | % | 556.8 | (5.6) | % | 589.8 | |||||||||
| Other gross profit | 517.1 | 27.9 | % | 404.4 | 11.7 | % | 362.2 | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 2,897.9 | 6.8 | % | $ | 2,713.2 | (3.1) | % | $ | 2,800.2 |
(1)Amounts are net of intercompany eliminations.
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GROSS PROFIT PER UNIT
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 (1) | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||||
| $ per unit (2) | % (3) | $ per unit (2) | % (3) | $ per unit (2) | % (3) | ||||||||||||||
| Used vehicle gross profit | $ | 2,311 | 8.6 | $ | 2,288 | 8.4 | $ | 2,288 | 8.0 | ||||||||||
| Wholesale vehicle gross profit | $ | 1,024 | 12.2 | $ | 1,019 | 11.2 | $ | 1,008 | 9.8 | ||||||||||
| Other gross profit | $ | 655 | 75.4 | $ | 528 | 63.4 | $ | 448 | 54.8 |
(1)Amounts are net of intercompany eliminations.
(2)Calculated as category gross profit divided by its respective units sold, except the other category, which is divided by total used units sold.
(3)Calculated as a percentage of its respective sales or revenue.
Used Vehicle Gross Profit
We target a dollar range of gross profit per used unit sold. The gross profit dollar target for an individual vehicle is based on a variety of factors, including its probability of sale and its mileage relative to its age; however, it is not primarily based on the vehicle’s selling price. Our ability to quickly adjust appraisal offers to be consistent with trends in the broader trade-in market and the pace of our inventory turns reduce our exposure to the inherent continual fluctuation in used vehicle values and contribute to our ability to manage gross profit dollars per unit. Gross profit per used unit is consistent across our omni-channel platform.
We systematically adjust individual vehicle prices based on proprietary pricing algorithms in order to appropriately balance sales trends, inventory turns and gross profit achievement. Other factors that may influence gross profit include the wholesale and retail vehicle pricing environments, vehicle reconditioning and logistics costs, and the percentage of vehicles sourced directly from consumers and dealers through our appraisal process. Vehicles purchased directly from consumers and dealers generally have a lower cost per unit compared with vehicles purchased at auction or through other channels, which may generate more gross profit per unit. In any given period, our gross profit may also be impacted by the age mix of vehicles sold, as older vehicles are generally more profitable. We monitor macroeconomic factors and pricing elasticity and adjust our pricing accordingly to optimize unit sales and profitability while also maintaining competitively priced inventory.
Fiscal 2025 Versus Fiscal 2024. Used vehicle gross profit increased 4.1% in fiscal 2025, primarily driven by the 3.1% increase in total used unit sales. Used vehicle gross profit per unit in fiscal 2025 was in line with the prior fiscal year. We continue to focus on striking the right balance between managing changes in vehicle costs, maintaining margin and passing along efficiencies to consumers to support vehicle affordability.
Wholesale Vehicle Gross Profit
Our wholesale gross profit per unit reflects the demand for older, higher mileage vehicles, which are the mainstay of our auctions, as well as strong dealer attendance and resulting high dealer-to-car ratios at our auctions. The frequency of our auctions, which are generally held weekly or bi-weekly, minimizes the depreciation risk on these vehicles. Our ability to adjust appraisal offers in response to the wholesale pricing environment is a key factor that influences wholesale gross profit.
Fiscal 2025 Versus Fiscal 2024. Wholesale vehicle gross profit increased 0.1% in fiscal 2025.
Other Gross Profit
Other gross profit includes profits related to EPP revenues, net third-party finance (fees)/income, advertising and subscription profits earned by our Edmunds business, and other revenues. Other revenues are predominantly comprised of service department operations, including used vehicle reconditioning. We have no cost of sales related to EPP revenues or net third-party finance (fees)/income, as these represent revenues paid to us by certain third-party providers. Third-party finance income is reported net of the fees we pay to third-party Tier 3 finance providers. Accordingly, changes in the relative mix of the components of other gross profit can affect the composition and amount of other gross profit.
Fiscal 2025 Versus Fiscal 2024. Other gross profit increased 27.9% in fiscal 2025, primarily driven by a $70.7 million improvement in service department margins as well as an increase in EPP revenues, as discussed above. The increase in service department profits was driven by cost coverage measures that we have implemented, increased efficiencies and the increase in used unit sales. In fiscal 2026, we plan to test EPP product enhancements that will focus on increasing penetration and margin per unit. We expect this will result in a slight year-over-year increase in EPP margin per unit during fiscal 2026, with the potential for more expansion in fiscal 2027. In addition, we expect service margin to grow year-over-year in fiscal 2026,
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predominantly in the first half of the year, and to deliver a slightly positive profit contribution for the full year, as governed by sales performance given the leverage/deleverage nature of service. We expect service will continue to serve as a slight profit lever beyond fiscal 2026.
COMPONENTS OF SG&A EXPENSES AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL SG&A EXPENSES
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Fiscal Year 2025 | Fiscal Year 2024 |
COMPONENTS OF SG&A EXPENSES COMPARED WITH PRIOR PERIODS (1)
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In millions except per unit data) | 2025 | Change | 2024 | Change | 2023 | |||||||||||
| Compensation and benefits: | ||||||||||||||||
| Compensation and benefits, excluding share-based compensation expense | $ | 1,289.7 | 5.1 | % | $ | 1,226.8 | (4.3) | % | $ | 1,282.4 | ||||||
| Share-based compensation expense | 126.9 | 11.3 | % | 114.1 | 36.4 | % | 83.6 | |||||||||
| Total compensation and benefits (2) | $ | 1,416.6 | 5.6 | % | $ | 1,340.9 | (1.8) | % | $ | 1,366.0 | ||||||
| Store occupancy costs | 285.3 | 5.1 | % | 271.4 | 1.5 | % | 267.3 | |||||||||
| Advertising expense | 260.7 | (1.4) | % | 264.4 | (8.4) | % | 288.5 | |||||||||
| Other overhead costs (3) | 472.8 | 15.4 | % | 409.7 | (27.6) | % | 565.6 | |||||||||
| Total SG&A expenses | $ | 2,435.4 | 6.5 | % | $ | 2,286.4 | (8.1) | % | $ | 2,487.4 | ||||||
| SG&A as a % of gross profit | 84.0 | % | (0.3) | % | 84.3 | % | (4.5) | % | 88.8 | % |
(1)Amounts are net of intercompany eliminations.
(2)Excludes compensation and benefits related to reconditioning and vehicle repair service, which are included in cost of sales. See Note 13 for details of share-based compensation expense by grant type.
(3)Includes IT expenses, non-CAF bad debt, insurance, preopening and relocation costs, travel, charitable contributions and other administrative expenses.
Fiscal 2025 Versus Fiscal 2024 (Increase of $149.0 million or 6.5%). Factors contributing to the increase include the following:
•$63.1 million increase in other overhead costs driven by the $67.2 million benefit in the prior year in connection with the receipt of settlement proceeds in a class action lawsuit related to the economic loss associated with vehicles containing Takata airbags.
•$62.9 million increase in compensation and benefits, excluding share-based compensation expense, driven by an increase in the corporate bonus accrual.
Excluding the legal settlement in the prior year, SG&A expenses in fiscal 2025 increased 3.5%, or $81.8 million. SG&A leveraged by 30 basis points during fiscal 2025. Excluding the legal settlement in the prior year, SG&A leveraged by 270 basis points, driven by the growth in gross profit and continued expense efficiency actions.
Advertising spend in fiscal 2025 was consistent with fiscal 2024 at approximately $200 per total unit. For fiscal 2026, we expect that full year marketing spend on a per total unit basis will be in line with fiscal 2025.
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Interest Expense
Interest expense includes the interest related to short- and long-term debt, financing obligations and finance lease obligations. It does not include interest on the non-recourse notes payable, which is reflected within CAF income.
Fiscal 2025 Versus Fiscal 2024. Interest expense decreased to $107.9 million in fiscal 2025 compared with $124.8 million in fiscal 2024. The decrease primarily reflected lower outstanding debt balances in the current fiscal year resulting from the payoff of the $300 million term loan in May 2024.
Other Expense (Income)
Other expense was $11.6 million in fiscal 2025 compared with income of $10.3 million in fiscal 2024. The change was primarily driven by expenses of $12.3 million related to an Edmunds lease impairment and $4.2 million related to equipment and leasing arrangements in our logistics operations.
Income Taxes
The effective income tax rate was 25.2% in fiscal 2025 compared with 25.3% in fiscal 2024.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS – CARMAX AUTO FINANCE
CAF income primarily reflects interest and fee income generated by CAF’s portfolio of auto loans receivable less the interest expense associated with the debt issued to fund these receivables, a provision for estimated loan losses and direct CAF expenses. Total interest margin reflects the spread between interest and fees charged to consumers and our funding costs. Changes in the interest margin on new originations affect CAF income over time. Increases in interest rates, which affect CAF’s funding costs, competitive pressures on rates charged to customers or reducing higher risk accounts in our origination strategy could result in compression in the interest margin on new originations.
The provision for loan losses reflects changes in the allowance for loan losses. Changes to the allowance are primarily driven by loss and delinquency experience, economic factors on our outlook for net losses expected to occur over the remaining contractual life of the loans receivable as well as changes in the mix of credit quality of originations.
CAF’s managed portfolio is composed primarily of loans originated over the past several years. Trends in receivable growth and interest margins primarily reflect the cumulative effect of changes in the business over a multi-year period. Current period originations reflect current trends in both our retail sales and the CAF business, including the volume and credit mix of loans originated, current interest rates charged to consumers and loan terms. Loans originated in a given fiscal period impact CAF income over time, as we recognize income over the life of the underlying auto loan.
During the second quarter of fiscal 2025, CAF began testing its new full-spectrum credit scoring models and corresponding strategies across both the Tier 1 and Tier 2 spaces. CAF began its testing of the new model in the Tier 3 space during the third quarter of fiscal 2025. During March 2025, CAF began a measured expansion by recapturing profitable portions of Tier 1 originations that we had shifted to our Tier 2 lenders as we tightened lending standards. We expect this expansion will grow our penetration by 100 to 150 basis points in the near-term, which is enabled by our non-prime securitization program, allowing us to efficiently fund these non-prime receivables while retaining the full economic value of the contracts. We continue to learn from our new underwriting models and corresponding tests currently in place and anticipate capturing additional volume across Tier 2 and Tier 3 during the back half of fiscal 2026. We will continue to monitor consumer behavior and the broader economy and will adjust our origination strategy as needed. We would expect each additional percentage point of CAF penetration to generate $10 million to $12 million in lifetime pre-tax income per year of origination, net of the impact to finance partner participation fees. Our pre-tax income expectations will be impacted by the volume of loans originated, interest rates charged to customers, loan terms, loss rates, average credit scores and the broader macroeconomic and lending environments. While this income is earned over time, the provision for lifetime losses is recognized at the time of origination. We believe our unique finance platform with a full-spectrum in-house lending operation, coupled with a robust network of partner lenders, will strengthen our competitive advantage.
Historically, CAF has originated a small portion of auto loans to customers who typically would be financed by our Tier 2 and Tier 3 finance providers, in order to better understand the performance of these loans, mitigate risk and add incremental profits. The targeted percentage of Tier 2 and Tier 3 originations has fluctuated over the past several years. With the testing of the new full-spectrum credit scoring models, we intend to continue our investment in this space during fiscal 2026, but remain within the target of originating less than 15% and 5% of the total Tier 2 and Tier 3 loan volume, respectively. Any future adjustments in Tier 2 and Tier 3 will consider the broader lending environment, which includes funding availability, along with the long-term sustainability of the change. These loans have higher loss and delinquency rates than the remainder of the CAF portfolio, as well as higher contract rates.
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CAF expanded its asset-backed securitization program to allow for distinct higher prime and non-prime issuances, with higher prime generally representing FICO scores greater than 650 and non-prime generally representing FICO scores below 650. We believe this strategy will enable CAF to efficiently fund incremental originations and support future CAF growth across the credit spectrum by creating additional funding capacity, driving additional finance income for the business over time. In June 2024, CAF closed on its first non-prime securitization deal. CAF closed on three higher prime securitization deals under this expanded funding strategy during the remainder of fiscal 2025.
We are continuously exploring opportunities to help our customers through adjustments in our account servicing strategies. One such example is with payment extensions, which have historically impacted less than 1% of our portfolio on an account basis in any given month and been below industry levels. We believe this tool has proven successful in helping customers navigate temporary challenges. During the third quarter of fiscal 2025, we began testing an enhancement to our policy that further empowers delinquent customers to take advantage of a payment extension and more aligns with industry levels. This testing has brought payment extensions to slightly above 1% of our portfolio on an account basis in a given month. While early performance results are encouraging, we recognize that some customers will eventually return to delinquency and result in a charge-off. We believe our estimate of the allowance for loan losses appropriately incorporates the impact of our enhanced extension policy. We will continue to evaluate the performance results and make further adjustments to our account servicing strategies as needed.
CAF income does not include any allocation of indirect costs. Although CAF benefits from certain indirect overhead expenditures, we have not allocated indirect costs to CAF to avoid making subjective allocation decisions. Examples of indirect costs not allocated to CAF include retail store expenses and corporate expenses.
See Note 3 for additional information on CAF income and Note 4 for information on auto loans receivable, including credit quality.
SELECTED CAF FINANCIAL INFORMATION
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In millions) | 2025 | % (1) | 2024 | % (1) | 2023 | % (1) | |||||||||||||
| Interest margin: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Interest and fee income | $ | 1,853.9 | 10.5 | $ | 1,677.4 | 9.7 | $ | 1,441.5 | 8.8 | ||||||||||
| Interest expense | (763.2) | (4.3) | (638.7) | (3.7) | (310.3) | (1.9) | |||||||||||||
| Total interest margin | $ | 1,090.7 | 6.2 | $ | 1,038.7 | 6.0 | $ | 1,131.2 | 6.9 | ||||||||||
| Provision for loan losses | $ | (334.7) | (1.9) | $ | (310.5) | (1.8) | $ | (317.0) | (1.9) | ||||||||||
| CarMax Auto Finance income | $ | 581.7 | 3.3 | $ | 568.3 | 3.3 | $ | 663.4 | 4.1 |
(1)Percent of total average managed receivables.
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CAF ORIGINATION INFORMATION (AFTER THE IMPACT OF 3-DAY PAYOFFS)
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||
| Net loans originated (in millions) | $ | 8,254.5 | $ | 8,270.0 | $ | 8,832.7 | ||||
| Vehicle units financed | 336,595 | 328,704 | 340,077 | |||||||
| Net penetration rate (1) | 42.7 | % | 42.9 | % | 42.1 | % | ||||
| Weighted average contract rate | 11.3 | % | 11.2 | % | 9.7 | % | ||||
| Weighted average credit score (2) | 723 | 719 | 708 | |||||||
| Weighted average loan-to-value (LTV) (3) | 89.6 | % | 88.7 | % | 88.3 | % | ||||
| Weighted average term (in months) | 67.6 | 65.4 | 66.0 |
(1)Vehicle units financed as a percentage of total used units sold.
(2)The credit scores represent FICO® scores and reflect only receivables with obligors that have a FICO® score at the time of application. The FICO® score with respect to any receivable with co-obligors is calculated as the average of each obligor’s FICO® score at the time of application. FICO® scores are not a significant factor in our primary scoring model, which relies on information from credit bureaus and other application information as discussed in Note 4. FICO® is a federally registered servicemark of Fair Isaac Corporation.
(3)LTV represents the ratio of the amount financed to the total collateral value, which is measured as the vehicle selling price plus applicable taxes, title and fees.
LOAN PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
| As of and for the Years Ended February 28 or 29 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In millions) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Total ending managed receivables | $ | 17,594.6 | $ | 17,391.8 | $ | 16,767.9 | ||||
| Total average managed receivables | $ | 17,683.9 | $ | 17,313.2 | $ | 16,304.3 | ||||
| Allowance for loan losses | $ | 458.7 | $ | 482.8 | $ | 507.2 | ||||
| Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of ending managed receivables | 2.61 | % | 2.78 | % | 3.02 | % | ||||
| Net credit losses on managed receivables | $ | 358.8 | $ | 334.9 | $ | 242.8 | ||||
| Net credit losses as a percentage of total average managed receivables | 2.03 | % | 1.93 | % | 1.49 | % | ||||
| Past due accounts as a percentage of ending managed receivables | 4.85 | % | 5.44 | % | 5.00 | % | ||||
| Average recovery rate (1) | 47.2 | % | 53.0 | % | 64.2 | % |
(1) The average recovery rate represents the average percentage of the outstanding principal balance we receive when a vehicle is repossessed and liquidated, generally at our wholesale auctions. While in any individual period conditions may vary, over the past 10 fiscal years, the annual recovery rate has ranged from a low of 46% to a high of 71%, and it is primarily affected by the wholesale market environment.
Fiscal 2025 Versus Fiscal 2024.
•CAF income increased $13.5 million, or 2.4%, reflecting increases in the net interest margin percentage and average managed receivables, partially offset by an increase in the provision for loan losses.
•Total interest margin increased as a percentage of average managed receivables to 6.2% in fiscal 2025 compared with 6.0% in fiscal 2024. The increase was primarily driven by higher customer rates, partially offset by higher funding costs.
•Provision for Loan Losses
◦The current year provision of $334.7 million increased from $310.5 million in the prior fiscal year.
◦The increase in the provision for loan losses in fiscal 2025 was primarily driven by unfavorable loss performance. We experienced higher losses for receivables originated in 2022 and 2023, when average selling prices were elevated and these customers were later challenged with the macro-inflationary environment. In addition, we experienced higher losses pertaining to a segment of customers generally concentrated at the lower end of Tier 1, which we addressed through further tightening in April 2024. While the loan loss reserve was adjusted for these receivables during the first quarter of fiscal 2025, further deterioration was observed during the second quarter, resulting in an additional adjustment to the reserve. In the third and fourth quarters, losses were in line with our expectations.
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◦The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of ending managed receivables was 2.61% as of February 28, 2025 compared with 2.78% as of February 29, 2024. The allowance percentage decreased from the prior year primarily due to the previously implemented tightened underwriting standards, partially offset by unfavorable loss performance in CAF’s portfolio of Tier 1 receivables as well as expanded investment in Tier 2.
◦We anticipate a sequential increase in the provision for the first quarter of fiscal 2026 over the $68 million observed in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 given the seasonal nature of the first quarter in terms of higher sales volume and a larger mix of lower credit quality purchasers. In addition, our recapture of profitable portions of Tier 1 originations, as discussed above, will require additional loss provision. We estimate the combined effect from these items will increase our provision by approximately 45% to 50% as compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025. For the remainder of fiscal 2026, we anticipate the quarterly provision to decrease slightly from the seasonal peak in the first quarter but remain elevated relative to our fourth quarter fiscal 2025 provision. Despite the anticipated increase in our provision, we expect CAF income to increase in fiscal 2026.
•Loan Performance
◦The decline in net loan originations in fiscal 2025 resulted from decreases in the average amount financed and the net penetration rate, partially offset by an increase in used unit sales.
◦The weighted average contract rate increased to 11.3% in fiscal 2025, compared with 11.2% in the prior year. The increase was primarily due to our expansion of Tier 2 originations within CAF’s portfolio, partially offset by a reduction in Tier 3 originations.
◦The decrease in past due accounts as a percentage of ending managed receivables for fiscal 2025 primarily reflects the impact of enhancements to our payment extension policy, as discussed above.
PLANNED FUTURE ACTIVITIES
We anticipate opening a total of ten locations in fiscal 2026, including six stores and four stand-alone reconditioning/auction centers. We currently estimate capital expenditures will total approximately $575 million in fiscal 2026. Capital expenditures were $467.9 million in fiscal 2025. The year-over-year increase in planned spending is primarily driven by timing related to land purchases. Planned capital spending in fiscal 2026 largely consists of spending to support our future long-term growth in offsite reconditioning and auction facilities, as well as our new stores.
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
See Note 1(X) to the consolidated financial statements for information on recent accounting pronouncements applicable to CarMax.
FINANCIAL CONDITION
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our primary ongoing cash requirements are to fund our existing operations, store and capacity expansion, store improvement, CAF, strategic growth initiatives and our share repurchase program. Our primary ongoing sources of liquidity include funds provided by operations, proceeds from non-recourse funding vehicles and borrowings under our revolving credit facility or through other financing sources.
Our current capital allocation strategy is to focus on our core business including investing in digital capabilities and the strategic expansion of our store and capacity footprint, pursue CAF’s expansion into the full credit spectrum, pursue new growth opportunities through investments, partnerships and acquisitions and return excess capital to shareholders. We believe we have the appropriate liquidity, access to capital and financial strength to support our operations and continue investing in our business for the next 12 months and thereafter for the foreseeable future.
We have historically managed leverage based on a number of factors, including internal financial forecasts, consideration of CAF’s operational and capital needs, external peer benchmarking, requirements of our debt agreements and macroeconomic conditions. Generally, we expect to use our revolving credit facility and other financing sources, together with stock repurchases, to maintain a leverage profile that ensures operating flexibility while supporting continued investment in the business.
We are party to contractual obligations involving commitments to make payments to third parties. These obligations impact our liquidity and capital resource needs. Our contractual obligations primarily consist of long-term debt and related interest payments, leases, purchase obligations and commitments, income taxes and defined benefit retirement plans. See Notes 12 and 16 for amounts outstanding as of February 28, 2025 related to debt and leases, respectively.
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Our contractual obligations related to income taxes represent the net unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions. See Note 10 for information related to income taxes. Our contractual obligations related to defined benefit retirement plans represent the funded status recognized as of February 28, 2025. See Note 11 for information related to these plans.
Purchase obligations and commitments consist of certain enforceable and legally binding obligations related to real estate purchases, third-party outsourcing services and advertising. As of February 28, 2025, our purchase obligations and commitments were approximately $371.9 million, of which $163.9 million are due in fiscal 2026. The majority of the remaining purchase obligations and commitments are due within the next three years.
Operating Activities. During fiscal 2025, net cash provided by operating activities totaled $624.4 million compared with $458.6 million in fiscal 2024.
As of February 28, 2025, total inventory was $3.93 billion, representing an increase of $256.6 million, or 7.0%, compared with the balance as of the start of the fiscal year. The increase was primarily due to an increase in vehicle units reflecting higher sales volume and our inventory build in anticipation of tax refund season, which typically has higher demand. The increase in inventory was also driven by an increase in average cost resulting from shifts in the mix of vehicles by class.
Our operating cash flows are significantly impacted by changes in auto loans receivable, which increased $565.6 million in fiscal 2025 compared with $980.6 million in fiscal 2024. A significant portion of the changes in auto loans receivable are accompanied by changes in non-recourse notes payable, which are issued to fund auto loans originated by CAF. Net issuances of non-recourse notes payable were $252.8 million in fiscal 2025 compared with $506.9 million in fiscal 2024 and are separately reflected as cash from financing activities. Due to the presentation differences between auto loans receivable and non-recourse notes payable on the consolidated statements of cash flows, fluctuations in these amounts can impact our operating and financing cash flows without significantly affecting our overall liquidity, working capital or cash flows.
The increase in net cash provided by operating activities for fiscal 2025 compared with fiscal 2024 primarily reflected the change in auto loans receivable, as discussed above, and an increase in net earnings when excluding non-cash expenses, which include depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation expense and the provisions for loan losses and cancellation reserves. This increase was partially offset by the change in inventory, as discussed above, as well as the net impact of volume and timing-related changes in accounts receivable and accounts payable.
Investing Activities. Net cash used in investing activities totaled $461.0 million in fiscal 2025 compared with $467.0 million in fiscal 2024. Capital expenditures were $467.9 million in fiscal 2025 versus $465.3 million in fiscal 2024. Capital expenditures primarily included land purchases and construction costs to support our growth capacity initiatives and new store openings. We maintain a multi-year pipeline of sites to support our store and capacity growth, so portions of capital spending in one year may relate to locations that we open in subsequent fiscal years.
Financing Activities. Net cash used in financing activities was $453.5 million in fiscal 2025, compared with net cash provided by financing activities of $307.8 million in fiscal 2024. Included in these amounts were net issuances of non-recourse notes payable of $252.8 million in fiscal 2025 compared with $506.9 million in the prior year. Non-recourse notes payable are typically used to fund changes in auto loans receivable (see “Operating Activities”).
During fiscal 2025, cash used in financing activities was impacted by net payments on our long-term debt of $313.8 million as well as stock repurchases of $428.5 million. During fiscal 2024, cash provided by financing activities was impacted by net payments on our long-term debt of $111.5 million as well as stock repurchases of $94.1 million.
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TOTAL DEBT AND CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
| (In thousands) | As of February 28 or 29 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt Description (1) | Maturity Date | 2025 | 2024 | ||||
| Revolving credit facility (2) | June 2028 | $ | — | $ | — | ||
| Term loan (2) | June 2024 | — | 300,000 | ||||
| Term loan (2) | October 2026 | 699,773 | 699,633 | ||||
| 4.17% Senior notes | April 2026 | 200,000 | 200,000 | ||||
| 4.27% Senior notes | April 2028 | 200,000 | 200,000 | ||||
| Financing obligations | Various dates through February 2059 | 487,676 | 516,544 | ||||
| Non-recourse notes payable | Various dates through June 2032 | 17,119,758 | 16,866,972 | ||||
| Total debt (3) | $ | 18,707,207 | $ | 18,783,149 | |||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 246,960 | $ | 574,142 |
(1)Interest is payable monthly, with the exception of our senior notes, which are payable semi-annually.
(2)Borrowings accrue interest at variable rates based on SOFR, the federal funds rate, or the prime rate, depending on the type of borrowing.
(3)Total debt excludes unamortized debt issuance costs. See Note 12 for additional information.
Borrowings under our $2.00 billion unsecured revolving credit facility are available for working capital and general corporate purposes, and the unused portion is fully available to us. The credit facility, term loan and senior note agreements contain representations and warranties, conditions and covenants. If these requirements are not met, all amounts outstanding or otherwise owed could become due and payable immediately and other limitations could be placed on our ability to use any available borrowing capacity. As of February 28, 2025, we were in compliance with these financial covenants.
See Note 12 for additional information on our revolving credit facility, term loan, senior notes and financing obligations.
CAF auto loans receivable are primarily funded through our warehouse facilities and asset-backed term funding transactions. These non-recourse funding vehicles are structured to legally isolate the auto loans receivable, and we would not expect to be able to access the assets of our non-recourse funding vehicles, even in insolvency, receivership or conservatorship proceedings. Similarly, the investors in the non-recourse notes payable have no recourse to our assets beyond the related receivables, the amounts on deposit in reserve accounts and the restricted cash from collections on auto loans receivable. We do, however, continue to have the rights associated with the interest we retain in these non-recourse funding vehicles.
As of February 28, 2025, $13.24 billion and $3.88 billion of non-recourse notes payable were outstanding related to asset-backed term funding transactions and our warehouse facilities, respectively. During fiscal 2025, we funded a total of $6.82 billion in asset-backed term funding transactions. As of February 28, 2025, we had $2.22 billion of unused capacity in our warehouse facilities.
We have periodically increased our warehouse facility limit over time, as our store base, sales and CAF loan originations have grown. See Notes 1(F) and 12 for additional information on the warehouse facilities.
We generally repurchase the receivables funded through our warehouse facilities when we enter into an asset-backed term funding transaction. If our counterparties were to refuse to permit these repurchases it could impact our ability to execute on our funding program. Additionally, the agreements related to the warehouse facilities include various representations and warranties, as well as covenants and performance triggers related to events of default. If these requirements are not met, we could be unable to continue to fund receivables through the warehouse facilities. In addition, warehouse facility investors could charge us a higher rate of interest and could have us replaced as servicer. Further, we could be required to deposit collections on the related receivables with the warehouse facility agents on a daily basis and deliver executed lockbox agreements to the warehouse facility agents.
The timing and amount of stock repurchases are determined based on stock price, market conditions, legal requirements and other factors. Shares repurchased are deemed authorized but unissued shares of common stock. As of February 28, 2025, a total of $2 billion of board authorizations for repurchases was outstanding, with no expiration date, of which $1.94 billion remained available for repurchase. See Note 13 for more information on share repurchase activity.
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Fair Value Measurements. We recognize money market securities, mutual fund investments, certain equity investments and derivative instruments at fair value. See Note 6 for more information on fair value measurements.
FY 2024 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0001170010-24-000034.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) is provided as a supplement to, and should be read in conjunction with, our audited consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes presented in Item 8. Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. Note references are to the notes to consolidated financial statements included in Item 8. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation. All references to net earnings per share are to diluted net earnings per share. Amounts and percentages may not total due to rounding.
OVERVIEW
See Part I, Item 1 for a detailed description and discussion of the company’s business.
CarMax is the nation’s largest retailer of used vehicles. We operate in two reportable segments: CarMax Sales Operations and CarMax Auto Finance (“CAF”). Our CarMax Sales Operations segment consists of all aspects of our auto merchandising and service operations, excluding financing provided by CAF. Our CAF segment consists solely of our own finance operation that provides financing to customers buying retail vehicles from CarMax. Our consolidated financial statements include the financial results related to our Edmunds Holding Company (“Edmunds”) business, which does not meet the definition of a reportable segment. For purposes of our MD&A discussion, amounts related to that business are discussed in combination with our CarMax Sales Operations segment. Separate discussion of these amounts is not considered meaningful for the purpose of gaining an understanding of our business, as the significant drivers of these operations in total are consistent with those of our CarMax Sales Operations segment. Where appropriate, specific amounts related to non-reportable segments have been disclosed for informational purposes.
CarMax Sales Operations
Our sales operations segment consists of retail sales of used vehicles and related products and services, such as wholesale vehicle sales; the sale of extended protection plan (“EPP”) products, which include extended service plans (“ESPs”) and guaranteed asset protection (“GAP”); and vehicle repair service. We offer competitive, no-haggle prices; a broad selection of CarMax Quality Certified used vehicles; value-added EPP products; and superior customer service. Our omni-channel platform, which gives us the largest addressable market in the used car industry, empowers our retail customers to buy a car on their terms – online, in-store or an integrated combination of both.
Our customers finance the majority of the retail vehicles purchased from us, and availability of on-the-spot financing is a critical component of the sales process. We provide financing to qualified retail customers through CAF and our arrangements with industry-leading third-party finance providers. All of the finance offers, whether by CAF or our third-party providers, are backed by a 3-day payoff option.
As of February 29, 2024, we operated 245 used car stores in 109 U.S. television markets.
CarMax Auto Finance
In addition to third-party finance providers, we provide vehicle financing through CAF, which offers financing solely to customers buying retail vehicles from CarMax. CAF allows us to manage our reliance on third-party finance providers and to leverage knowledge of our business to provide qualifying customers a competitive financing option. As a result, we believe CAF enables us to capture additional profits, cash flows and sales. CAF income primarily reflects the interest and fee income generated by the auto loans receivable less the interest expense associated with the debt issued to fund these receivables, a provision for estimated loan losses and direct expenses. CAF income does not include any allocation of indirect costs. After the effect of 3-day payoffs and vehicle returns, CAF financed 42.9% of our retail used vehicle unit sales in fiscal 2024. As of February 29, 2024, CAF serviced approximately 1.1 million customer accounts in its $17.39 billion portfolio of managed receivables.
Management regularly analyzes CAF’s operating results by assessing the competitiveness of our consumer offer, profitability, the performance of the auto loans receivable, including trends in credit losses and delinquencies, and CAF direct expenses.
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Revenues and Profitability
The sources of revenue and gross profit from the CarMax Sales Operations segment and other non-reportable segments for fiscal 2024 are as follows:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Net Sales and Operating Revenues | Gross Profit |
A high-level summary of our financial results for fiscal 2024 as compared to fiscal 2023 is as follows (1):
| (Dollars in millions except per share or per unit data) | 2024 | Change from 2023 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income statement information | ||||||
| Net sales and operating revenues | $ | 26,536.0 | (10.6) | % | ||
| Gross profit | $ | 2,713.2 | (3.1) | % | ||
| CAF income | $ | 568.3 | (14.3) | % | ||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | $ | 2,286.4 | (8.1) | % | ||
| Net earnings | $ | 479.2 | (1.1) | % | ||
| Unit sales information | ||||||
| Used unit sales | 765,572 | (5.2) | % | |||
| Change in used unit sales in comparable stores | (6.7) | % | N/A | |||
| Wholesale unit sales | 546,331 | (6.6) | % | |||
| Per unit information | ||||||
| Used gross profit per unit | $ | 2,288 | — | % | ||
| Wholesale gross profit per unit | $ | 1,019 | 1.1 | % | ||
| SG&A as a % of gross profit | 84.3 | % | (4.5) | % | ||
| Per share information | ||||||
| Net earnings per diluted share | $ | 3.02 | (0.3) | % | ||
| Online sales metrics | ||||||
| Online retail sales (2) | 14 | % | 2 | % | ||
| Omni sales (3) | 55 | % | 2 | % | ||
| Revenue from online transactions (4) | 31 | % | 1 | % |
(1) Where applicable, amounts are net of intercompany eliminations.
(2) An online retail sale is defined as a sale where the customer completes all four of the following activities remotely: reserving the vehicle; financing the vehicle, if needed; trading-in or opting out of a trade-in; and creating an online sales order.
(3) An omni sale is defined as a sale where customers complete at least one, but not all, of the four activities listed above online.
(4) Revenue from online transactions is defined as revenue from retail sales that qualify as an online retail sale, as well as any related EPP and third-party finance contribution, wholesale sales where the winning bid was taken from an online bid and all revenue earned by Edmunds.
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Net earnings per diluted share during fiscal 2024 included a benefit of $0.32 in connection with the receipt of settlement proceeds in a class action lawsuit related to the economic loss associated with vehicles containing Takata airbags.
Refer to “Results of Operations” for further details on our revenues and profitability. A discussion regarding Results of Operations and Financial Condition for fiscal 2023 as compared to fiscal 2022 is included in Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2023, filed with the SEC on April 13, 2023.
Liquidity
Our primary ongoing sources of liquidity include funds provided by operations, proceeds from non-recourse funding vehicles, and borrowings under our revolving credit facility or through other financing sources. In addition to funding our operations, this liquidity has been used to fund the repurchase of common stock under our share repurchase program and our capital expenditures.
Our current capital allocation strategy is to focus on our core business. Given our recent performance and continued market uncertainties, we are taking a conservative approach to our capital structure in order to maintain the flexibility that allows us to efficiently access the capital markets for both CAF and CarMax as a whole. We have taken steps to better align our expenses to sales as well as slowed the rate of our store growth. We resumed our share repurchases during the third quarter of fiscal 2024 after a pause initiated during the third quarter of the prior fiscal year. For fiscal 2025, we intend to modestly accelerate the pace of our share repurchases above the pace that we implemented in the third quarter of fiscal 2024. We believe we have the appropriate liquidity, access to capital and financial strength to support our operations and continue investing in our strategic initiatives for the next twelve months and thereafter for the foreseeable future.
Strategic Update and Future Outlook
Our omni-channel experience provides a common platform across all of CarMax that leverages our scale, nationwide footprint and infrastructure and empowers our customers to buy a vehicle on their terms, whether online, in-store or through an integrated combination of online and in-store experiences. While we expect our online and omni sales to grow over time, our goal is to provide the best experience whether in-store, online or a combination of the two. As a result, online, omni and in-person sales can vary from quarter to quarter depending on consumer preferences and how they choose to interact with us. We believe consumers in the used car industry will increasingly prefer to have the ability to shop and transact digitally. Approximately 70% of our customers leveraged some or all of our digital capabilities to complete their transactions during the current fiscal year, compared to approximately 40% when we completed our initial omni-channel roll-out at the end of fiscal 2020.
Our diversified business model, combined with our exceptional associates, national scale and unparalleled omni-channel experience, is a unique advantage in the used car industry that firmly positions us to drive profitable market share gains while creating shareholder value over the long-term. We continue to enhance our omni-channel capabilities, prioritize projects designed to optimize experiences for our associates and customers and drive operating efficiencies. Examples of the progress we made during fiscal 2024 include the following:
•Leveraged data science, automation, and artificial intelligence to make it even easier for retail customers to complete key transaction steps, such as vehicle transfers, on their own. We also enhanced digital checkout functionality for appraisal customers, enabling them to submit their documents remotely and unlocking their ability to participate in our 30-minute Express Drop Off experience, whether they receive their offer online or in-store.
•Expanded capabilities for Skye, our 24/7 virtual assistant, to include managing finance applications, vehicle transfers, appointment reservations and appraisal offers. Customer adoption of Skye has been strong, and this has not only created efficiencies but also widened bandwidth for our associates.
•Modernized our wholesale auction platform to offer new services, including single sign-on across all of our systems, artificial intelligence enhanced condition reports, early bidding capabilities and automated bills of sale. Additionally, we streamlined MaxOffer by rolling out our instant offer experience to all participating dealers.
•Added all of our lenders to our finance based shopping platform, expanding the options available to our customers.
•Launched several research and buy tools through Edmunds in support of their goal to be the leader in electric vehicles (“EV”) research.
We expect the impact of our omni-channel capabilities will continue to grow as consumers demand a more personalized car-buying experience. In fiscal 2025, we expect to continue to enhance our offerings in order to enable us to grow sales, profitable market share and buys while driving operational efficiencies. Examples of our initiatives for fiscal 2025 include the following:
•Launching an evolved hub within retail customers’ MyCarMax accounts that will make it even easier to seamlessly go back and forth between assisted help and self-progression. Customers will be able to see the steps they have taken on
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their shopping journey, whether on their own or with help from a CEC or store associate.
•Continuing to digitize work in order to build a leaner and higher value assistance model for our CECs and to support higher transaction volume. We plan to further integrate Skye into key communication channels and improve its ability to serve as the initial point of contact across many points in customers’ shopping journeys and seamlessly transition customers to a CEC associate via the customer’s channel of choice.
•Focusing on bringing even more wholesale vehicles into our ecosystem, leveraging our partnership with Edmunds to acquire vehicles from dealers.
•Optimizing our pre-qualification product by integrating our Instant Offer tool into the process. Additionally, we will remain opportunistic in CAF’s participation across the credit spectrum and pursue opportunities that enable us to provide outstanding offers for consumers while driving sales and economics for the business.
We purchased approximately 234,000 vehicles from consumers and dealers during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, down 10.8% from the prior year quarter. Approximately 21,000 vehicles were purchased through dealers, up 44.8% from the prior year quarter. We leverage the Edmunds sales team to open new markets and sign up new dealers for MaxOffer. We recently launched an appraisal tool for dealer websites that makes instant offers based on our algorithms, which are redeemable via MaxOffer. For fiscal 2024, our self-sufficiency rate remained above 70%. The success of our online instant appraisal offer continues to strengthen our leadership position as the largest used vehicle buyer from consumers.
Our SG&A expenses in fiscal 2024 decreased from the prior year, even when excluding the benefits of this year's legal settlement. We levered SG&A as a percentage of gross profit despite a 3.1% reduction in gross profit from the prior fiscal year. While SG&A as a percent of gross profit can fluctuate from quarter to quarter depending on variability in gross profit, our initial goal on the path to strengthening our SG&A to gross profit leverage over time is to achieve a rate in the mid-70% range on an annual basis. Achieving this annual rate will require continued efficiency gains in our operating model, gross profit growth and healthier consumer demand. In fiscal 2025, we expect to require low-single-digit gross profit growth to lever SG&A.
Other steps we have taken to support our business for both the short- and long-term include focusing on production efficiencies to align saleable inventory to sales, growing CAF’s penetration while raising CAF's consumer rates and tightening CAF's underwriting standards, and slowing our planned store growth to provide more capital flexibility. We resumed our share repurchases during the third quarter of fiscal 2024 after a pause initiated during the third quarter of the prior fiscal year.
We expect our diversified model, the scale of our operations, our investments and omni-channel strategy to provide a solid foundation for further growth. We have adjusted our long-term targets, which were disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2022, as follows:
•We are maintaining our goal to sell more than 2 million combined retail and wholesale units annually; however, we are extending the timeframe to between fiscal 2026 and fiscal 2030 due to uncertainty in the timing of market recovery and as we continue to focus on profitable market share growth. We intend to update the timeframe to achieve this goal when we have greater visibility into the industry’s pace of recovery.
•Given higher average selling prices, we expect to achieve the $33 billion in annual revenue target sooner than units.
•Similarly, we also expect to achieve more than 5% nationwide market share of age 0- to 10-year old used vehicles sooner than units, but given the recent volatility in vehicle values, we will provide an updated timeframe for our expected achievement at the end of fiscal 2025.
The achievement of these targets is dependent on macroeconomic factors that could result in ongoing volatility in consumer demand.
In calendar 2023, we estimate we sold approximately 3.7% of the age 0- to 10-year old vehicles sold on a nationwide basis, a decrease from 4.0% in calendar 2022. Market share performance in calendar 2023 was negatively impacted by sharp vehicle depreciation in the used car industry and our focus on profitable market share. Based on external data, we gained market share from December 2023 to January 2024, the latest period for which title data is available. Our strategy to increase our market share includes focusing on:
•Delivering a customer-driven, omni-channel buying and selling experience that is a unique and powerful integration of our in-store and online capabilities.
•Utilizing advertising to drive customer growth, educate customers about our omni-channel platform and to differentiate and elevate our brand.
•Hiring, developing and retaining an engaged and skilled workforce.
•Leveraging data and advanced analytics to continuously improve the customer experience as well as our processes and
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systems.
•Improving efficiency in our stores and CECs and our logistics and reconditioning operations to reduce waste.
•Opening stores in new markets and expanding our presence in existing markets.
•Becoming the leading retailer of used EVs in the market. In support of this goal, Edmunds has launched several research and buying tools, which include providing data on the health and range of EV batteries as well as an evaluation of potential federal and state tax credits and incentives. This will support our business and help CarMax be part of the solution to reduce emissions.
As of February 29, 2024, we had used car stores located in 109 U.S. television markets, which covered approximately 85% of the U.S. population. The format and operating models utilized in our stores are continuously evaluated and may change or evolve over time based upon market and consumer expectations. During fiscal 2024, we opened five stores and our first stand-alone reconditioning center in the Atlanta metro market. During fiscal 2025, we anticipate opening five stores, one stand-alone reconditioning center and one stand-alone auction facility.
While we execute both our short- and long-term strategy, there are trends and factors that could impact our strategic approach or our results in the short and medium term. For additional information about risks and uncertainties facing our company, see “Risk Factors,” included in Part I, Item 1A of this Form 10-K.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
Our results of operations and financial condition as reflected in the consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions affecting the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. We use our historical experience and other relevant factors when developing our estimates and assumptions. We regularly evaluate these estimates and assumptions. Note 1 includes a discussion of significant accounting policies. The accounting policy discussed below is the one we consider critical to an understanding of our consolidated financial statements because its application places the most significant demands on our judgment. Our financial results might have been different if different assumptions had been used or other conditions had prevailed.
Allowance for Loan Losses
The allowance for loan losses represents the net credit losses expected over the remaining contractual life of our managed receivables. Because net loss performance can vary substantially over time, estimating net losses requires assumptions about matters that are uncertain.
The allowance for loan losses is determined using a net loss timing curve method (“method”), primarily based on the composition of the portfolio of managed receivables and historical gross loss and recovery trends. Due to the fact that losses for receivables with less than 18 months of performance history can be volatile, our net loss estimate weights both historical losses by credit grade at origination and actual loss data on the receivables to-date, along with forward loss curves, in estimating future performance. Once the receivables have 18 months of performance history, the net loss estimate reflects actual loss experience of those receivables to date, along with forward loss curves, to predict future performance. The forward loss curves are constructed using historical performance data and show the average timing of losses over the course of a receivable’s life. The net loss estimate is calculated by applying the loss rates developed using the methods described above to the amortized cost basis of the managed receivables.
The output of the method is adjusted to take into account reasonable and supportable forecasts about the future. Specifically, the change in U.S. unemployment rates and the National Automobile Dealers Association used vehicle price index are used to predict changes in gross loss and recovery rate, respectively. An economic adjustment factor, based upon a single macroeconomic scenario, is developed to capture the relationship between changes in these indices and changes in gross loss and recovery rates. This factor is applied to the output of the method for the reasonable and supportable forecast period of two years. After the end of this two-year period, we revert to historical experience on a straightline basis over a period of 12 months. We periodically consider whether the use of alternative metrics would result in improved model performance and revise the model when appropriate. We also consider whether qualitative adjustments are necessary for factors that are not reflected in the quantitative methods but impact the measurement of estimated credit losses. Such adjustments include the uncertainty of the impacts of recent economic trends on customer behavior. The change in the allowance for loan losses is recognized through an adjustment to the provision for loan losses.
Determining the appropriateness of the allowance for loan losses requires management to exercise judgment about matters that are inherently uncertain, including the timing and distribution of net losses that could materially affect the allowance for loan losses and, therefore, net earnings. To the extent that actual performance differs from our estimates, additional provision for
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credit losses may be required that would reduce net earnings. A 10% change in the estimated loss rates would have changed the allowance for loan losses by approximately $48.3 million as of February 29, 2024.
See Notes 1(H) and 4 for additional information on the allowance for loan losses.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS – CARMAX SALES OPERATIONS AND OTHER NON-REPORTABLE SEGMENTS
NET SALES AND OPERATING REVENUES
| Years Ended February 29 or 28 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In millions) | 2024 | Change | 2023 | Change | 2022 | |||||||||||
| Used vehicle sales | $ | 20,922.3 | (9.2) | % | $ | 23,034.3 | (5.7) | % | $ | 24,437.1 | ||||||
| Wholesale vehicle sales | 4,975.8 | (16.9) | % | 5,989.8 | (11.4) | % | 6,763.8 | |||||||||
| Other sales and revenues: | ||||||||||||||||
| Extended protection plan revenues | 401.8 | (4.9) | % | 422.3 | (11.7) | % | 478.4 | |||||||||
| Third-party finance (fees)/income, net | (5.8) | (183.6) | % | 7.0 | 351.7 | % | 1.5 | |||||||||
| Advertising & subscription revenues (1) | 135.8 | 1.9 | % | 133.3 | 30.9 | % | 101.8 | |||||||||
| Other | 106.2 | 8.1 | % | 98.2 | (16.5) | % | 117.8 | |||||||||
| Total other sales and revenues | 638.0 | (3.5) | % | 660.8 | (5.5) | % | 699.5 | |||||||||
| Total net sales and operating revenues | $ | 26,536.0 | (10.6) | % | $ | 29,684.9 | (6.9) | % | $ | 31,900.4 |
(1) Excludes intersegment sales and operating revenues that have been eliminated in consolidation. See Note 19 for further details.
UNIT SALES
| Years Ended February 29 or 28 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Change | 2023 | Change | 2022 | |||||||||
| Used vehicles | 765,572 | (5.2) | % | 807,823 | (12.6) | % | 924,338 | ||||||
| Wholesale vehicles | 546,331 | (6.6) | % | 585,071 | (17.2) | % | 706,212 |
AVERAGE SELLING PRICES
| Years Ended February 29 or 28 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Change | 2023 | Change | 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Used vehicles | $ | 27,028 | (4.3) | % | $ | 28,251 | 7.8 | % | $ | 26,207 | ||||||
| Wholesale vehicles | $ | 8,707 | (11.8) | % | $ | 9,872 | 6.9 | % | $ | 9,238 |
COMPARABLE STORE USED VEHICLE SALES CHANGES
| Years Ended February 29 or 28 (1) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
| Used vehicle units | (6.7) | % | (14.3) | % | 21.9 | % | ||
| Used vehicle revenues | (10.6) | % | (7.6) | % | 54.3 | % |
(1) Stores are added to the comparable store base beginning in their fourteenth full month of operation. We do not remove renovated stores from our comparable store base. Comparable store calculations include results for a set of stores that were included in our comparable store base in both the current and corresponding prior year periods.
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VEHICLE SALES CHANGES
| Years Ended February 29 or 28 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
| Used vehicle units | (5.2) | % | (12.6) | % | 22.9 | % | ||
| Used vehicle revenues | (9.2) | % | (5.7) | % | 55.5 | % | ||
| Wholesale vehicle units | (6.6) | % | (17.2) | % | 65.7 | % | ||
| Wholesale vehicle revenues | (16.9) | % | (11.4) | % | 153.4 | % |
USED VEHICLE FINANCING PENETRATION BY CHANNEL (BEFORE THE IMPACT OF 3-DAY PAYOFFS)
| Years Ended February 29 or 28 (1) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
| CAF (2) | 45.8 | % | 45.4 | % | 46.1 | % | ||
| Tier 2 (3) | 18.9 | 22.0 | 22.5 | |||||
| Tier 3 (4) | 7.0 | 6.5 | 7.8 | |||||
| Other (5) | 28.3 | 26.1 | 23.6 | |||||
| Total | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % |
(1) Calculated as used vehicle units financed for respective channel as a percentage of total used units sold.
(2) Includes CAF’s Tier 2 and Tier 3 loan originations, which represent less than 2% of total used units sold.
(3) Third-party finance providers who generally pay us a fee or to whom no fee is paid.
(4) Third-party finance providers to whom we pay a fee.
(5) Represents customers arranging their own financing and customers that do not require financing.
CHANGE IN USED CAR STORE BASE
| Years Ended February 29 or 28 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||
| Used car stores, beginning of year | 240 | 230 | 220 | ||||
| Store openings | 5 | 10 | 10 | ||||
| Used car stores, end of year | 245 | 240 | 230 |
During fiscal 2024, we opened 5 stores in existing television markets (Winchester, VA; Algonquin, IL; Victorville, CA; Green Brook, NJ; and Smithtown, NY).
Used Vehicle Sales
Fiscal 2024 Versus Fiscal 2023. The 9.2% decrease in used vehicle revenues in fiscal 2024 was primarily driven by a 5.2% decrease in used unit sales and a 4.3% decrease in average retail selling price, or approximately $1,200. The decrease in used units included a 6.7% decrease in comparable store used unit sales. Online retail sales, as defined previously, accounted for 14% of used unit sales in fiscal 2024, compared with 12% in fiscal 2023.
During fiscal 2024, we believe persistent vehicle affordability challenges continued to impact our used unit sales performance, as headwinds remained due to widespread inflationary pressures, higher interest rates, tightened lending standards and prolonged low consumer confidence. While comparable store used unit sales declined 6.7% compared to the prior year, each quarter of the current fiscal year had year‐over‐year sequential improvement. For the first quarter of fiscal 2025, through mid-April, comparable store used unit sales experienced a mid single-digit decline.
The decrease in average retail selling price in fiscal 2024 reflected lower vehicle acquisition costs as well as shifts in the mix of our sales by vehicle age.
Wholesale Vehicle Sales
Vehicles sold at our wholesale auctions are, on average, approximately 10 years old with more than 100,000 miles and are primarily comprised of vehicles purchased through our appraisal process that do not meet our retail standards. Our wholesale auction prices usually reflect trends in the general wholesale market for the types of vehicles we sell, although they can also be affected by changes in vehicle mix or the average age, mileage or condition of the vehicles being sold.
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Fiscal 2024 Versus Fiscal 2023. The 16.9% decrease in wholesale vehicle revenues in fiscal 2024 was primarily due to an 11.8% decrease in average selling price, or approximately $1,200, and a 6.6% decrease in unit sales.
The decrease in average selling price in fiscal 2024 was primarily due to shifts in the mix of our sales by vehicle age as well as decreased acquisition costs resulting from steep market depreciation.
Other Sales and Revenues
Other sales and revenues include revenue from the sale of ESPs and GAP (collectively reported in EPP revenues, net of a reserve for estimated contract cancellations), net third-party finance (fees)/income, advertising and subscription revenues earned by our Edmunds business, and other revenues, which are predominantly comprised of service department sales. The fees we pay to the Tier 3 providers are reflected as an offset to finance fee revenues received from the Tier 2 providers. The mix of our retail vehicles financed by CAF, Tier 2 and Tier 3 providers, or customers that arrange their own financing, may vary from quarter to quarter depending on several factors, including the credit quality of applicants, changes in providers’ credit decisioning and external market conditions. Changes in originations by one tier of credit providers may also affect the originations made by providers in other tiers.
Fiscal 2024 Versus Fiscal 2023. Other sales and revenues decreased 3.5% in fiscal 2024, reflecting a decline in EPP revenue and an unfavorable change in net third-party finance (fees)/income. EPP revenues decreased 4.9%, largely reflecting the decline in our retail unit sales, a decrease in profit sharing revenue recognized in the current year and decreased penetration, partially offset by increased margins and a favorable year-over-year return reserve adjustment. The change in net third-party finance (fees)/income was the result of lower Tier 2 volume, for which we generally receive a fee.
During the the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, we raised MaxCare margins per contract sold, resulting in a slight decrease in EPP penetration while driving overall profitability. Our expectation is that this action will drive approximately $20 per retail unit of incremental EPP margin in fiscal 2025.
GROSS PROFIT
| Years Ended February 29 or 28 (1) | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In millions) | 2024 | Change | 2023 | Change | 2022 | |||||||||||
| Used vehicle gross profit | $ | 1,752.0 | (5.2) | % | $ | 1,848.2 | (9.3) | % | $ | 2,038.4 | ||||||
| Wholesale vehicle gross profit | 556.8 | (5.6) | % | 589.8 | (22.9) | % | 764.5 | |||||||||
| Other gross profit | 404.4 | 11.7 | % | 362.2 | (25.2) | % | 484.6 | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 2,713.2 | (3.1) | % | $ | 2,800.2 | (14.8) | % | $ | 3,287.5 |
(1)Amounts are net of intercompany eliminations.
GROSS PROFIT PER UNIT
| Years Ended February 29 or 28 (1) | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||||||
| $ per unit (2) | % (3) | $ per unit (2) | % (3) | $ per unit (2) | % (3) | ||||||||||||||
| Used vehicle gross profit | $ | 2,288 | 8.4 | $ | 2,288 | 8.0 | $ | 2,205 | 8.3 | ||||||||||
| Wholesale vehicle gross profit | $ | 1,019 | 11.2 | $ | 1,008 | 9.8 | $ | 1,083 | 11.3 | ||||||||||
| Other gross profit | $ | 528 | 63.4 | $ | 448 | 54.8 | $ | 524 | 69.3 |
(1)Amounts are net of intercompany eliminations. Those eliminations had the effect of increasing used vehicle gross profit per unit and wholesale vehicle gross profit per unit and decreasing other gross profit per unit by immaterial amounts.
(2)Calculated as category gross profit divided by its respective units sold, except the other category, which is divided by total used units sold.
(3)Calculated as a percentage of its respective sales or revenue.
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Used Vehicle Gross Profit
We target a dollar range of gross profit per used unit sold. The gross profit dollar target for an individual vehicle is based on a variety of factors, including its probability of sale and its mileage relative to its age; however, it is not primarily based on the vehicle’s selling price. Our ability to quickly adjust appraisal offers to be consistent with the broader market trade-in trends and the pace of our inventory turns reduce our exposure to the inherent continual fluctuation in used vehicle values and contribute to our ability to manage gross profit dollars per unit. Gross profit per used unit is consistent across our omni-channel platform.
We systematically adjust individual vehicle prices based on proprietary pricing algorithms in order to appropriately balance sales trends, inventory turns and gross profit achievement. Other factors that may influence gross profit include the wholesale and retail vehicle pricing environments, vehicle reconditioning and logistics costs, and the percentage of vehicles sourced directly from consumers and dealers through our appraisal process. Vehicles purchased directly from consumers and dealers generally have a lower cost per unit compared with vehicles purchased at auction or through other channels, which may generate more gross profit per unit. In any given period, our gross profit may also be impacted by the age mix of vehicles sold, as older vehicles are generally more profitable. We monitor macroeconomic factors and pricing elasticity and adjust our pricing accordingly to optimize unit sales and profitability while also maintaining a competitively priced inventory.
Fiscal 2024 Versus Fiscal 2023. Used vehicle gross profit decreased 5.2% in fiscal 2024, driven by the 5.2% decrease in total used unit sales. Used vehicle gross profit per unit in fiscal 2024 was consistent with the prior fiscal year. We continue to focus on striking the right balance between covering cost increases, maintaining margin and passing along efficiencies to consumers to support vehicle affordability.
Wholesale Vehicle Gross Profit
Our wholesale gross profit per unit reflects the demand for older, higher mileage vehicles, which are the mainstay of our auctions, as well as strong dealer attendance and resulting high dealer-to-car ratios at our auctions. The frequency of our auctions, which are generally held weekly or bi-weekly, minimizes the depreciation risk on these vehicles. Our ability to adjust appraisal offers in response to the wholesale pricing environment is a key factor that influences wholesale gross profit.
Fiscal 2024 Versus Fiscal 2023. Wholesale vehicle gross profit decreased 5.6% in fiscal 2024, driven by the 6.6% decrease in wholesale unit sales. Wholesale vehicle gross profit per unit in fiscal 2024 was in line with the prior fiscal year.
Other Gross Profit
Other gross profit includes profits related to EPP revenues, net third-party finance (fees)/income, advertising and subscription profits earned by our Edmunds business, and other revenues. Other revenues are predominantly comprised of service department operations, including used vehicle reconditioning. We have no cost of sales related to EPP revenues or net third-party finance (fees)/income, as these represent revenues paid to us by certain third-party providers. Third-party finance income is reported net of the fees we pay to third-party Tier 3 finance providers. Accordingly, changes in the relative mix of the components of other gross profit can affect the composition and amount of other gross profit.
Fiscal 2024 Versus Fiscal 2023. Other gross profit increased 11.7% in fiscal 2024, primarily driven by a $75.3 million improvement in service department margins, partially offset by a decrease in EPP revenues and an unfavorable change in net third-party finance (fees)/income, as discussed above. The increase in service department profits was driven by efficiency and cost coverage measures that we have put in place. We expect to continue to see significant year-over-year favorability in service department profits in fiscal 2025. The extent of the improvement will be governed by sales performance given the leverage/deleverage nature of service.
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COMPONENTS OF SG&A EXPENSES AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL SG&A EXPENSES
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Fiscal Year 2024 | Fiscal Year 2023 |
COMPONENTS OF SG&A EXPENSES COMPARED WITH PRIOR PERIODS (1)
| Years Ended February 29 or 28 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In millions except per unit data) | 2024 | Change | 2023 | Change | 2022 | |||||||||||
| Compensation and benefits: | ||||||||||||||||
| Compensation and benefits, excluding share-based compensation expense | $ | 1,226.8 | (4.3) | % | $ | 1,282.4 | 4.7 | % | $ | 1,224.4 | ||||||
| Share-based compensation expense | 114.1 | 36.4 | % | 83.6 | (18.0) | % | 102.0 | |||||||||
| Total compensation and benefits (2) | $ | 1,340.9 | (1.8) | % | $ | 1,366.0 | 3.0 | % | $ | 1,326.4 | ||||||
| Store occupancy costs | 271.4 | 1.5 | % | 267.3 | 16.3 | % | 229.9 | |||||||||
| Advertising expense | 264.4 | (8.4) | % | 288.5 | (11.5) | % | 325.9 | |||||||||
| Other overhead costs (3) | 409.7 | (27.6) | % | 565.6 | 27.6 | % | 443.0 | |||||||||
| Total SG&A expenses | $ | 2,286.4 | (8.1) | % | $ | 2,487.4 | 7.0 | % | $ | 2,325.2 | ||||||
| SG&A as a % of gross profit | 84.3 | % | (4.5) | % | 88.8 | % | 18.1 | % | 70.7 | % |
(1)Amounts are net of intercompany eliminations.
(2)Excludes compensation and benefits related to reconditioning and vehicle repair service, which are included in cost of sales. See Note 13 for details of share-based compensation expense by grant type.
(3)Includes IT expenses, non-CAF bad debt, insurance, travel, charitable contributions, preopening and relocation costs and other administrative expenses.
Fiscal 2024 Versus Fiscal 2023 (Decrease of $201.0 million or 8.1%). Factors contributing to the net decrease include the following:
•$155.9 million decrease in other overhead costs, which included a $67.2 million benefit in connection with the receipt of settlement proceeds in a class action lawsuit related to the economic loss associated with vehicles containing Takata airbags. Other overhead costs were also positively impacted by improvements in non-CAF uncollectable receivables that reflect improved execution at our stores and home office as well as external partners, a reduction in technology spend and favorability in staffing-related costs.
•$55.6 million decrease in compensation and benefits, excluding share-based compensation expense, driven by our continued focus in our stores and CECs on driving efficiency gains and aligning staffing levels to sales.
•$24.1 million decrease in advertising expense driven by our deliberate efforts to reduce marketing spend to align with sales. Advertising expense on a per retail unit basis was relatively consistent with the prior year. For fiscal 2025, we expect the full year spend on a per total unit basis to be consistent with fiscal 2024 at approximately $200.
•$30.5 million increase in stock-based compensation expense, primarily related to cash-settled restricted stock units, as the expense associated with these units was primarily driven by the change in the company's stock price during the relevant periods.
We anticipate that SG&A will be pressured in the first quarter of fiscal 2025 due to the receipt of $59 million in settlement proceeds during the first quarter of fiscal 2024 as well as the impact of stock-based compensation for certain retirement-eligible executives and the lapping of favorable reserve adjustments related to non-CAF uncollectable receivables, which amounts to approximately $25 million combined.
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Interest Expense
Interest expense includes the interest related to short- and long-term debt, financing obligations and finance lease obligations. It does not include interest on the non-recourse notes payable, which is reflected within CAF income.
Fiscal 2024 Versus Fiscal 2023. Interest expense of $124.8 million in fiscal 2024 was relatively consistent compared with $120.4 million in fiscal 2023.
Other Income
Other income of $10.3 million in fiscal 2024 was relatively consistent compared with $9.4 million in fiscal 2023.
Income Taxes
The effective income tax rate was 25.3% in fiscal 2024 compared with 23.9% in fiscal 2023. The increase in the effective income tax rate was primarily driven by an increase in our state effective tax rate and a decrease in tax credits.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS – CARMAX AUTO FINANCE
CAF income primarily reflects interest and fee income generated by CAF’s portfolio of auto loans receivable less the interest expense associated with the debt issued to fund these receivables, a provision for estimated loan losses and direct CAF expenses. Total interest margin reflects the spread between interest and fees charged to consumers and our funding costs. Changes in the interest margin on new originations affect CAF income over time. Increases in interest rates, which affect CAF’s funding costs, or other competitive pressures on consumer rates, could result in compression in the interest margin on new originations. Changes in the allowance for loan losses as a percentage of ending managed receivables reflect the effect of changes in loss and delinquency experience and economic factors on our outlook for net losses expected to occur over the remaining contractual life of the loans receivable as well as changes in the mix of credit quality originated.
CAF’s managed portfolio is composed primarily of loans originated over the past several years. Trends in receivable growth and interest margins primarily reflect the cumulative effect of changes in the business over a multi-year period. Historically, we have sought to originate loans in our core portfolio, which excludes Tier 2 and Tier 3 originations, with an underlying risk profile that we believe will, in the aggregate, result in cumulative net losses in the 2% to 2.5% range (excluding CECL-required recovery costs) over the life of the loans. Actual loss performance of the loans may fall outside of this range based on various factors, including intentional changes in the risk profile of originations, economic conditions and wholesale recovery rates. Current period originations reflect current trends in both our retail sales and the CAF business, including the volume of loans originated, current interest rates charged to consumers, loan terms and average credit scores. Loans originated in a given fiscal period impact CAF income over time, as we recognize income over the life of the underlying auto loan.
CAF also originates a small portion of auto loans to customers who typically would be financed by our Tier 2 and Tier 3 finance providers, in order to better understand the performance of these loans, mitigate risk and add incremental profits. Historically, CAF has targeted originating approximately 5% of the total Tier 3 loan volume, which we increased to 10% during fiscal 2022 and throughout most of fiscal 2023. In response to the current environment, CAF adjusted its underwriting standards, including, towards the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023, reducing its targeted percentage of Tier 3 volume from 10% to 5%. During the second quarter of fiscal 2024, CAF further adjusted its targeted percentage of Tier 3 volume to less than 5%. Within the Tier 2 space, CAF continues to originate loans on a test basis and we slightly increased our investment in this space starting in the second quarter of fiscal 2024. Any future adjustments in Tier 2 and Tier 3 will consider the broader lending environment, which includes funding availability, along with the long-term sustainability of the change. These loans have higher loss and delinquency rates than the remainder of the CAF portfolio, as well as higher contract rates.
CAF income does not include any allocation of indirect costs. Although CAF benefits from certain indirect overhead expenditures, we have not allocated indirect costs to CAF to avoid making subjective allocation decisions. Examples of indirect costs not allocated to CAF include retail store expenses and corporate expenses.
See Note 3 for additional information on CAF income and Note 4 for information on auto loans receivable, including credit quality.
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SELECTED CAF FINANCIAL INFORMATION
| Years Ended February 29 or 28 | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In millions) | 2024 | % (1) | 2023 | % (1) | 2022 | % (1) | |||||||||||||
| Interest margin: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Interest and fee income | $ | 1,677.4 | 9.7 | $ | 1,441.5 | 8.8 | $ | 1,296.8 | 8.7 | ||||||||||
| Interest expense | (638.7) | (3.7) | (310.3) | (1.9) | (228.8) | (1.5) | |||||||||||||
| Total interest margin | $ | 1,038.7 | 6.0 | $ | 1,131.2 | 6.9 | $ | 1,068.0 | 7.2 | ||||||||||
| Provision for loan losses | $ | (310.5) | (1.8) | $ | (317.0) | (1.9) | $ | (141.7) | (0.9) | ||||||||||
| CarMax Auto Finance income | $ | 568.3 | 3.3 | $ | 663.4 | 4.1 | $ | 801.5 | 5.4 |
(1)Percent of total average managed receivables.
CAF ORIGINATION INFORMATION (AFTER THE IMPACT OF 3-DAY PAYOFFS)
| Years Ended February 29 or 28 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||
| Net loans originated (in millions) | $ | 8,270.0 | $ | 8,832.7 | $ | 9,371.2 | ||||
| Vehicle units financed | 328,704 | 340,077 | 393,681 | |||||||
| Net penetration rate (1) | 42.9 | % | 42.1 | % | 42.6 | % | ||||
| Weighted average contract rate | 11.2 | % | 9.7 | % | 8.5 | % | ||||
| Weighted average credit score (2) | 719 | 708 | 703 | |||||||
| Weighted average loan-to-value (LTV) (3) | 88.7 | % | 88.3 | % | 88.7 | % | ||||
| Weighted average term (in months) | 65.4 | 66.0 | 66.6 |
(1)Vehicle units financed as a percentage of total used units sold.
(2)The credit scores represent FICO® scores and reflect only receivables with obligors that have a FICO® score at the time of application. The FICO® score with respect to any receivable with co-obligors is calculated as the average of each obligor’s FICO® score at the time of application. FICO® scores are not a significant factor in our primary scoring model, which relies on information from credit bureaus and other application information as discussed in Note 4. FICO® is a federally registered servicemark of Fair Isaac Corporation.
(3)LTV represents the ratio of the amount financed to the total collateral value, which is measured as the vehicle selling price plus applicable taxes, title and fees.
LOAN PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
| As of and for the Years Ended February 29 or 28 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In millions) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Total ending managed receivables | $ | 17,391.8 | $ | 16,767.9 | $ | 15,652.3 | ||||
| Total average managed receivables | $ | 17,313.2 | $ | 16,304.3 | $ | 14,934.0 | ||||
| Allowance for loan losses | $ | 482.8 | $ | 507.2 | $ | 433.0 | ||||
| Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of ending managed receivables | 2.78 | % | 3.02 | % | 2.77 | % | ||||
| Net credit losses on managed receivables | $ | 334.9 | $ | 242.8 | $ | 119.8 | ||||
| Net credit losses as a percentage of total average managed receivables | 1.93 | % | 1.49 | % | 0.80 | % | ||||
| Past due accounts as a percentage of ending managed receivables | 5.44 | % | 5.00 | % | 4.02 | % | ||||
| Average recovery rate (1) | 53.0 | % | 64.2 | % | 70.8 | % |
(1) The average recovery rate represents the average percentage of the outstanding principal balance we receive when a vehicle is repossessed and liquidated, generally at our wholesale auctions. While in any individual period conditions may vary, over the past 10 fiscal years, the annual recovery rate has ranged from a low of 46% to a high of 71%, and it is primarily affected by the wholesale market environment.
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Fiscal 2024 Versus Fiscal 2023.
•CAF income decreased $95.1 million, or 14.3%, reflecting a decrease in the net interest margin percentage, partially offset by an increase in average managed receivables and a decrease in the provision for loan losses.
•Total interest margin decreased as a percentage of average managed receivables to 6.0% in fiscal 2024 compared with 6.9% in fiscal 2023. The decrease was primarily driven by higher funding costs as well as an unfavorable impact of swaps not designated as hedges for accounting purposes, partially offset by higher customer rates. While total interest margin decreased year‐over‐year, it was relatively consistent each quarter throughout fiscal 2024.
•Provision for Loan Losses
◦The current year provision of $310.5 million decreased slightly from the prior year provision of $317.0 million.
◦The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of ending managed receivables was 2.78% as of February 29, 2024 compared with 3.02% as of February 28, 2023. The decrease in the allowance percentage from the prior year primarily reflects CAF's tightened underwriting standards in response to the current environment, partially offset by CAF's continued investment in the Tier 2 business as well as unfavorable loss performance.
•Loan Performance
◦The decline in net loan originations in fiscal 2024 resulted from decreases in used unit sales and the average amount financed, partially offset by an increase in the net penetration rate.
◦CAF net penetration for fiscal 2024 increased compared to the prior fiscal year, primarily reflecting changes in the underlying credit mix of customers applying for financing.
◦The weighted average contract rate increased to 11.2% in fiscal 2024, compared with 9.7% in the prior year. The increase was primarily due to higher rates charged to customers in response to the current interest rate environment.
◦The increase in past due accounts as a percentage of ending managed receivables for fiscal 2024 reflects an increase in delinquencies as well as our expansion of Tier 2 originations within CAF's portfolio. The increase in delinquencies primarily reflects customer hardship in the current economic environment.
PLANNED FUTURE ACTIVITIES
We anticipate opening a total of seven locations in fiscal 2025, including five stores, one stand-alone reconditioning center and one stand-alone auction facility. We currently estimate capital expenditures will total between $500 million and $550 million in fiscal 2025. Capital expenditures were $465.3 million in fiscal 2024. The year-over-year increase in planned spending is primarily related to the timing of spend for new stores. Planned capital spending in fiscal 2025 largely consists of spending to support our future long-term growth in stand-alone reconditioning and auction facilities, as well as our new stores.
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
See Note 1(X) to the consolidated financial statements for information on recent accounting pronouncements applicable to CarMax.
FINANCIAL CONDITION
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our primary ongoing cash requirements are to fund our existing operations, store expansion and improvement, CAF and strategic growth initiatives. Since fiscal 2013, we have also elected to use cash for our share repurchase program. Our primary ongoing sources of liquidity include funds provided by operations, proceeds from non-recourse funding vehicles and borrowings under our revolving credit facility or through other financing sources.
Our current capital allocation strategy is to focus on our core business. Given our recent performance and continued market uncertainties, we are taking a conservative approach to our capital structure in order to maintain the flexibility that allows us to efficiently access the capital markets for both CAF and CarMax as a whole. We have taken steps to better align our expenses to sales as well as slowed the rate of our store growth. We resumed our share repurchases during the third quarter of fiscal 2024 after a pause initiated during the third quarter of the prior fiscal year. For fiscal 2025, we intend to modestly accelerate the pace of our share repurchases above the pace that we implemented in the third quarter of fiscal 2024. We believe we have the appropriate liquidity, access to capital and financial strength to support our operations and continue investing in our strategic initiatives for the next twelve months and thereafter for the foreseeable future.
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We are party to contractual obligations involving commitments to make payments to third parties. These obligations impact our liquidity and capital resource needs. Our contractual obligations primarily consist of long-term debt and related interest payments, leases, purchase obligations and commitments, income taxes and defined benefit retirement plans. See Notes 12 and 16 for amounts outstanding as of February 29, 2024 related to debt and leases, respectively.
Our contractual obligations related to income taxes represent the net unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions. See Note 10 for information related to income taxes. Our contractual obligations related to defined benefit retirement plans represent the funded status recognized as of February 29, 2024. See Note 11 for information related to these plans.
Purchase obligations and commitments consist of certain enforceable and legally binding obligations related to real estate purchases, third-party outsourcing services and advertising. As of February 29, 2024, our purchase obligations and commitments were approximately $428.2 million, of which $213.3 million are due in fiscal 2025. The majority of the remaining purchase obligations and commitments are due within the next three years.
We have historically managed leverage based on a number of factors, including internal financial forecasts, consideration of CAF’s operational and capital needs, external peer benchmarking, requirements of our debt agreements and macroeconomic conditions. Generally, we expect to use our revolving credit facility and other financing sources, together with stock repurchases, to maintain a leverage profile that ensures operating flexibility while supporting continued investment in the business.
Operating Activities. During fiscal 2024, net cash provided by operating activities totaled $458.6 million compared with $1.28 billion in fiscal 2023.
As of February 29, 2024, total inventory was $3.68 billion, representing a decrease of $48.1 million, or 1.3%, compared with the balance as of the start of the fiscal year. The decrease was primarily due to a decline in the average carrying cost of inventory driven by the net impacts of depreciation during the current fiscal year and shifts in the mix of vehicle units from non-saleable to saleable due to operational efficiencies.
Our operating cash flows are significantly impacted by changes in auto loans receivable, which increased $980.6 million in fiscal 2024 compared with $1.37 billion in fiscal 2023. The majority of the changes in auto loans receivable are accompanied by changes in non-recourse notes payable, which are issued to fund auto loans originated by CAF. Net issuances of non-recourse notes payable were $506.9 million in fiscal 2024 compared with $893.3 million in fiscal 2023 and are separately reflected as cash from financing activities. Due to the presentation differences between auto loans receivable and non-recourse notes payable on the consolidated statements of cash flows, fluctuations in these amounts can have a significant impact on our operating and financing cash flows without affecting our overall liquidity, working capital or cash flows.
The change in net cash provided by operating activities for fiscal 2024 compared with fiscal 2023 reflected the decrease in inventory, as discussed above, combined with the prior year decrease in inventory, partially offset by the changes in auto loans receivable, as well as the net impact of volume and timing-related changes in accounts receivable and accounts payable.
Investing Activities. Net cash used in investing activities totaled $467.0 million in fiscal 2024 compared with $425.8 million in fiscal 2023. Capital expenditures were $465.3 million in fiscal 2024 versus $422.7 million in fiscal 2023. Capital expenditures primarily included land purchases and construction costs to support our growth capacity initiatives and new store openings as well as investments in technology. We maintain a multi-year pipeline of sites to support our store and capacity growth, so portions of capital spending in one year may relate to locations that we open in subsequent fiscal years.
Financing Activities. Net cash provided by financing activities was $307.8 million in fiscal 2024, compared with net cash used in financing activities of $710.2 million in fiscal 2023. Included in these amounts were net issuances of non-recourse notes payable of $506.9 million in fiscal 2024 compared with $893.3 million in the prior year. Non-recourse notes payable are typically used to fund changes in auto loans receivable (see “Operating Activities”).
During fiscal 2024, cash provided by financing activities was impacted by stock repurchases of $94.1 million as well as net payments on our long-term debt of $111.5 million. During fiscal 2023, cash used in financing activities was impacted by stock repurchases of $333.9 million as well as net payments on our long-term debt of $1.25 billion.
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TOTAL DEBT AND CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
| (In thousands) | As of February 29 or 28 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt Description (1) | Maturity Date | 2024 | 2023 | ||||
| Revolving credit facility (2) | June 2028 | $ | — | $ | — | ||
| Term loan (2) | June 2024 | 300,000 | 300,000 | ||||
| Term loan (2) | October 2026 | 699,633 | 699,493 | ||||
| 3.86% Senior notes | April 2023 | — | 100,000 | ||||
| 4.17% Senior notes | April 2026 | 200,000 | 200,000 | ||||
| 4.27% Senior notes | April 2028 | 200,000 | 200,000 | ||||
| Financing obligations | Various dates through February 2059 | 516,544 | 522,526 | ||||
| Non-recourse notes payable | Various dates through December 2030 | 16,866,972 | 16,360,092 | ||||
| Total debt (3) | $ | 18,783,149 | $ | 18,382,111 | |||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 574,142 | $ | 314,758 |
(1)Interest is payable monthly, with the exception of our senior notes, which are payable semi-annually.
(2)Borrowings accrue interest at variable rates based on SOFR, the federal funds rate, or the prime rate, depending on the type of borrowing.
(3)Total debt excludes unamortized debt issuance costs. See Note 12 for additional information.
Borrowings under our $2.00 billion unsecured revolving credit facility are available for working capital and general corporate purposes, and the unused portion is fully available to us. The credit facility, term loans and senior note agreements contain representations and warranties, conditions and covenants. If these requirements are not met, all amounts outstanding or otherwise owed could become due and payable immediately and other limitations could be placed on our ability to use any available borrowing capacity. As of February 29, 2024, we were in compliance with these financial covenants.
See Note 12 for additional information on our revolving credit facility, term loans, senior notes and financing obligations.
CAF auto loans receivable are primarily funded through our warehouse facilities and asset-backed term funding transactions. These non-recourse funding vehicles are structured to legally isolate the auto loans receivable, and we would not expect to be able to access the assets of our non-recourse funding vehicles, even in insolvency, receivership or conservatorship proceedings. Similarly, the investors in the non-recourse notes payable have no recourse to our assets beyond the related receivables, the amounts on deposit in reserve accounts and the restricted cash from collections on auto loans receivable. We do, however, continue to have the rights associated with the interest we retain in these non-recourse funding vehicles.
As of February 29, 2024, $13.13 billion and $3.74 billion of non-recourse notes payable were outstanding related to asset-backed term funding transactions and our warehouse facilities, respectively. During fiscal 2024, we funded a total of $6.63 billion in asset-backed term funding transactions. As of February 29, 2024, we had $2.06 billion of unused capacity in our warehouse facilities.
We have periodically increased our warehouse facility limit over time, as our store base, sales and CAF loan originations have grown. See Notes 1(F) and 12 for additional information on the warehouse facilities.
We generally repurchase the receivables funded through our warehouse facilities when we enter into an asset-backed term funding transaction. If our counterparties were to refuse to permit these repurchases it could impact our ability to execute on our funding program. Additionally, the agreements related to the warehouse facilities include various representations and warranties, as well as covenants and performance triggers related to events of default. If these requirements are not met, we could be unable to continue to fund receivables through the warehouse facilities. In addition, warehouse facility investors could charge us a higher rate of interest and could have us replaced as servicer. Further, we could be required to deposit collections on the related receivables with the warehouse facility agents on a daily basis and deliver executed lockbox agreements to the warehouse facility agents.
The timing and amount of stock repurchases are determined based on stock price, market conditions, legal requirements and other factors. Shares repurchased are deemed authorized but unissued shares of common stock. As of February 29, 2024, a total of $4 billion of board authorizations for repurchases was outstanding, with no expiration date, of which $2.36 billion remained available for repurchase. During the third quarter of fiscal 2024, we resumed our share repurchases after a pause initiated during the third quarter of the prior fiscal year. See Note 13 for more information on share repurchase activity.
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Fair Value Measurements. We recognize money market securities, mutual fund investments, certain equity investments and derivative instruments at fair value. See Note 6 for more information on fair value measurements.
FY 2023 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0001170010-23-000010.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) is provided as a supplement to, and should be read in conjunction with, our audited consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes presented in Item 8. Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. Note references are to the notes to consolidated financial statements included in Item 8. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation. All references to net earnings per share are to diluted net earnings per share. Amounts and percentages may not total due to rounding.
OVERVIEW
See Part I, Item 1 for a detailed description and discussion of the company’s business.
CarMax is the nation’s largest retailer of used vehicles. We operate in two reportable segments: CarMax Sales Operations and CarMax Auto Finance (“CAF”). Our CarMax Sales Operations segment consists of all aspects of our auto merchandising and service operations, excluding financing provided by CAF. Our CAF segment consists solely of our own finance operation that provides financing to customers buying retail vehicles from CarMax. Our consolidated financial statements include the financial results related to our Edmunds Holding Company (“Edmunds”) business, which does not meet the definition of a reportable segment. For purposes of our MD&A discussion, amounts related to that business are discussed in combination with our CarMax Sales Operations segment. Separate discussion of these amounts is not considered meaningful for the purpose of gaining an understanding of our business, as the significant drivers of these operations in total are consistent with those of our CarMax Sales Operations segment. Where appropriate, specific amounts related to non-reportable segments have been disclosed for informational purposes.
CarMax Sales Operations
Our sales operations segment consists of retail sales of used vehicles and related products and services, such as wholesale vehicle sales; the sale of extended protection plan (“EPP”) products, which include extended service plans (“ESPs”) and guaranteed asset protection (“GAP”); and vehicle repair service. We offer competitive, no-haggle prices; a broad selection of CarMax Quality Certified used vehicles; value-added EPP products; and superior customer service. Our omni-channel platform, which gives us the largest addressable market in the used car industry, empowers our retail customers to buy a car on their terms – online, in-store or an integrated combination of both.
Our customers finance the majority of the retail vehicles purchased from us, and availability of on-the-spot financing is a critical component of the sales process. We provide financing to qualified retail customers through CAF and our arrangements with industry-leading third-party finance providers. All of the finance offers, whether by CAF or our third-party providers, are backed by a 3-day payoff option.
As of February 28, 2023, we operated 240 used car stores in 109 U.S. television markets.
CarMax Auto Finance
In addition to third-party finance providers, we provide vehicle financing through CAF, which offers financing solely to customers buying retail vehicles from CarMax. CAF allows us to manage our reliance on third-party finance providers and to leverage knowledge of our business to provide qualifying customers a competitive financing option. As a result, we believe CAF enables us to capture additional profits, cash flows and sales. CAF income primarily reflects the interest and fee income generated by the auto loans receivable less the interest expense associated with the debt issued to fund these receivables, a provision for estimated loan losses and direct expenses. CAF income does not include any allocation of indirect costs. After the effect of 3-day payoffs and vehicle returns, CAF financed 42.1% of our retail used vehicle unit sales in fiscal 2023. As of February 28, 2023, CAF serviced approximately 1.1 million customer accounts in its $16.77 billion portfolio of managed receivables.
Management regularly analyzes CAF’s operating results by assessing the competitiveness of our consumer offer, profitability, the performance of the auto loans receivable, including trends in credit losses and delinquencies, and CAF direct expenses.
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Revenues and Profitability
The sources of revenue and gross profit from the CarMax Sales Operations segment and other non-reportable segments for fiscal 2023 are as follows:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Net Sales and Operating Revenues | Gross Profit |
A high-level summary of our financial results for fiscal 2023 as compared to fiscal 2022 is as follows (1):
| (Dollars in millions except per share or per unit data) | 2023 | Change from 2022 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income statement information | ||||||
| Net sales and operating revenues | $ | 29,684.9 | (6.9) | % | ||
| Gross profit | $ | 2,800.2 | (14.8) | % | ||
| CAF income | $ | 663.4 | (17.2) | % | ||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | $ | 2,487.4 | 7.0 | % | ||
| Net earnings | $ | 484.8 | (57.9) | % | ||
| Unit sales information | ||||||
| Used unit sales | 807,823 | (12.6) | % | |||
| Change in used unit sales in comparable stores | (14.3) | % | N/A | |||
| Wholesale unit sales | 585,071 | (17.2) | % | |||
| Per unit information | ||||||
| Used gross profit per unit | $ | 2,288 | 3.8 | % | ||
| Wholesale gross profit per unit | $ | 1,008 | (6.9) | % | ||
| SG&A as a % of gross profit | 88.8 | % | 18.1 | % | ||
| Per share information | ||||||
| Net earnings per diluted share | $ | 3.03 | (56.5) | % | ||
| Online sales metrics | ||||||
| Online retail sales (2) | 12 | % | 3 | % | ||
| Omni sales (3) | 53 | % | (3) | % | ||
| Revenue from online transactions (4) | 30 | % | 2 | % |
(1) Where applicable, amounts are net of intercompany eliminations.
(2) An online retail sale is defined as a sale where the customer completes all four of the following activities remotely: reserving the vehicle; financing the vehicle, if needed; trading-in or opting out of a trade-in; and creating an online sales order.
(3) An omni sale is defined as a sale where customers complete at least one of the four activities listed above online.
(4) Revenue from online transactions is defined as revenue from retail sales that qualify as an online retail sale, as well as any related EPP and third-party finance contribution, wholesale sales where the winning bid was taken from an online bid and all revenue earned by Edmunds.
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Net earnings per diluted share during fiscal 2022 included a one-time benefit of $0.11 in connection with the receipt of settlement proceeds in November 2021 related to a class action lawsuit.
Refer to “Results of Operations” for further details on our revenues and profitability. A discussion regarding Results of Operations and Financial Condition for fiscal 2022 as compared to fiscal 2021 is included in Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2022, filed with the SEC on April 14, 2022.
Liquidity
Our primary ongoing sources of liquidity include funds provided by operations, proceeds from non-recourse funding vehicles, and borrowings under our revolving credit facility or through other financing sources. In addition to funding our operations, this liquidity was used to fund the repurchase of common stock under our share repurchase program, our store growth and the Edmunds acquisition, which was completed during the second quarter of fiscal 2022.
Our current capital allocation strategy is to focus on our core business. Given our recent performance and continued market uncertainties, we are taking a conservative approach to our capital structure in order to maintain the flexibility that allows us to efficiently access the capital markets for both CAF and CarMax as a whole. We have taken steps to better align our expenses to sales, as well as paused our share repurchases and slowed the rate of our store growth. We believe we have the appropriate liquidity, access to capital and financial strength to support our operations and continue investing in our strategic initiatives for the foreseeable future.
Strategic Update and Future Outlook
Our omni-channel experience provides a common platform across all of CarMax that leverages our scale, nationwide footprint and infrastructure and empowers our customers to buy a vehicle on their terms. Our omni-channel platform empowers customers to buy a car on their own terms, whether online, in-store or through an integrated combination of online and in-store experiences. Our diversified business model, combined with our exceptional associates, national scale and unparalleled omni-channel experience, is a unique advantage in the used car industry that firmly positions us to drive profitable market share gains while creating shareholder value over the long-term.
During fiscal 2023, we achieved several key milestones as part of our focus on improving the customer experience, including the following:
•We enhanced the omni-channel experience by enabling online self-progression capabilities for all customers and improving eSign functionality to better support the self-progression process.
•We launched self-check-in capabilities for appraisal customers to drive efficiency gains in our stores.
•We completed the nationwide rollout of Finance Based Shopping, our multi-lender pre-qualification product, which over 80% of our customers have chosen to leverage as they begin the credit process.
•We improved our auction experience through the roll out of a modernized vehicle detail page that is mobile friendly and efficiently displays the most relevant information dealers need to preview our wholesale inventory, similar to how consumers shop our retail inventory.
•We expanded MaxOffer, our digital appraisal product for dealers, to approximately 50 markets, which builds on our leading position as a buyer of cars.
As discussed above, all customers are now eligible to complete an online retail sale independently if they choose through online self-progression. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023, online retail sales accounted for 14% of retail unit sales, up from 12% in the previous quarter and 11% in the prior year quarter. Omni sales represented approximately 52% of retail sales in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023, consistent with the previous quarter and down from 55% in the prior year quarter. Online, omni and in-person sales can vary from quarter to quarter depending on consumer preferences and how they choose to interact with us. While we expect our online and omni sales to grow over time, our goal is to provide the best experience whether in-store, online or a combination of the two.
Revenue from online transactions was $1.7 billion, or approximately 30% of net revenues in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023, up from 28% in the previous quarter and down from 31% in the prior year quarter.
We purchased approximately 262,000 vehicles from consumers and dealers during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023, down 22% from the prior year quarter and up 10% from the prior quarter. Approximately 15,000 vehicles were purchased from dealers, up 7% from the prior quarter and up 4% from the prior year quarter. We leverage the Edmunds sales team to open new markets and sign-up new dealers for MaxOffer.
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For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023, our self-sufficiency rate remained above 70%. The success of our online instant appraisal offer continues to strengthen our leadership position as the largest used vehicle buyer from consumers.
Our investments in the near term will focus on initiatives that unlock operational efficiencies and create better experiences for our associates and customers. Examples of these initiatives include:
•Making it simple for customers to choose the express pick-up option through self-progression, which provides customers the ability to complete their transaction at one of our stores in as little as 30 minutes.
•Enhancing online features to help customers feel more confident in completing key transaction steps on their own and to make it easier to go back and forth between assisted help and self-progression.
•Integrating our finance-based shopping capability into our stores and CECs so that all consumers can utilize this product, as well as adding additional third-party finance providers to the finance-based shopping platform.
While we have slowed the pace of our omni-channel and other digital investments, we continue to selectively invest in initiatives that have the potential to activate new capabilities while lowering our costs, including the following:
•Leveraging technology to enhance our transportation logistics capabilities, which we believe will enable us to consolidate loads, increase our mix of full loads and reduce the truck volume in and out of our stores.
•Upgrading our auction experience by deploying a modernized vehicle detail page that is mobile friendly and efficiently displays the most relevant information dealers need to preview our wholesale inventory, similar to how customers shop our retail inventory.
•Updating the MaxOffer product to provide a fully digital, instant offer experience to dealers.
We remain focused on ensuring we are efficient in our spend and are actively taking steps to further align our expenses to our sales levels. During the second half of fiscal 2023, this included reducing staffing in our stores and CECs through attrition, limiting hiring and contractor utilization in our corporate offices and continuing to align marketing spend to sales. While our total and per unit advertising expense decreased from the prior year quarter, our per unit spending for fiscal 2023 was aligned with the prior fiscal year. We anticipate maintaining per unit spend at a similar level during fiscal 2024.
Our SG&A expenses in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 decreased from the prior year quarter. While SG&A as a percent of gross profit can fluctuate from quarter to quarter depending on variability in gross profit, our initial goal on the path to strengthening our SG&A to gross profit leverage over time is to achieve a rate in the mid-70% range on an annual basis. Achieving this will require both efficiency gains in our operating model, gross profit growth and healthier consumer demand. In fiscal 2024, we expect to require low single digit gross profit growth to lever SG&A, which is well below the levels we targeted during our omni transformation. We also expect that the beginning of fiscal 2024 will benefit from the cost management actions we took in the second half of fiscal 2023.
Other steps we have taken to support our business for both the short- and long-term include slowing buys in light of steep market depreciation, reducing total inventory while maintaining saleable inventory levels, raising CAF's consumer rates, slowing our planned store growth and pausing share repurchases to provide more capital flexibility.
We expect our diversified model, the scale of our operations, our investments and omni-channel strategy to provide a solid foundation for further growth. As a result, we affirm the following long-term targets, which were disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2022:
•Sell between 2 million and 2.4 million vehicles through our combined retail and wholesale channels by fiscal 2026.
•Generate between $33 billion and $45 billion in revenue by fiscal 2026.
•Grow our nationwide share of the age 0- to 10-year old used vehicle market to more than 5% by the end of calendar 2025.
The achievement of these targets is dependent on macroeconomic factors that could result in ongoing volatility in consumer demand.
In calendar 2022, we estimate we sold approximately 4.0% of the age 0- to 10-year old vehicles sold on a nationwide basis, consistent with calendar 2021. We estimate we sold approximately 4.8% of the age 0- to 10-year old vehicles sold in the current comparable store markets in which we operate in calendar 2022, consistent with 2021. External title data shows that the market share gains we achieved during the first half of the year were offset by share losses during the second half of the year as
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we prioritized profitability over share. However, we believe we are well positioned to deliver profitable market share gains. Our strategy to increase our market share includes focusing on:
•Delivering a customer-driven, omni-channel buying and selling experience that is a unique and powerful integration of our in-store and online capabilities.
•Utilizing advertising to drive customer growth, educate customers about our omni-channel platform and to differentiate and elevate our brand.
•Hiring, developing and retaining an engaged and skilled workforce.
•Leveraging data and advanced analytics to continuously improve the customer experience as well as our processes and systems.
•Improving efficiency in our stores and CECs and our logistics operations to reduce waste.
•Opening stores in new markets and expanding our presence in existing markets.
•Becoming the leading retailer of used electric vehicles in the market, which will support our business and help CarMax be part of the solution to reduce emissions.
As of February 28, 2023, we had used car stores located in 109 U.S. television markets, which covered approximately 85% of the U.S. population. The format and operating models utilized in our stores are continuously evaluated and may change or evolve over time based upon market and consumer expectations. During fiscal 2023, we opened ten stores, and we anticipate opening five stores during fiscal 2024.
While we execute both our short- and long-term strategy, there are trends and factors that could impact our strategic approach or our results in the short and medium term. For additional information about risks and uncertainties facing our company, see “Risk Factors,” included in Part I, Item 1A of this Form 10-K.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
Our results of operations and financial condition as reflected in the consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions affecting the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. We use our historical experience and other relevant factors when developing our estimates and assumptions. We regularly evaluate these estimates and assumptions. Note 1 includes a discussion of significant accounting policies. The accounting policy discussed below is the one we consider critical to an understanding of our consolidated financial statements because its application places the most significant demands on our judgment. Our financial results might have been different if different assumptions had been used or other conditions had prevailed.
Allowance for Loan Losses
The allowance for loan losses represents the net credit losses expected over the remaining contractual life of our managed receivables. Because net loss performance can vary substantially over time, estimating net losses requires assumptions about matters that are uncertain.
The allowance for loan losses is determined using a net loss timing curve, primarily based on the composition of the portfolio of managed receivables and historical gross loss and recovery trends. Due to the fact that losses for receivables with less than 18 months of performance history can be volatile, our net loss estimate weights both historical losses by credit grade at origination and actual loss data on the receivables to-date, along with forward loss curves, in estimating future performance. Once the receivables have 18 months of performance history, the net loss estimate reflects actual loss experience of those receivables to date, along with forward loss curves, to predict future performance. The forward loss curves are constructed using historical performance data and show the average timing of losses over the course of a receivable’s life. The net loss estimate is calculated by applying the loss rates developed using the methods described above to the amortized cost basis of the managed receivables.
The output of the net loss timing curve is adjusted to take into account reasonable and supportable forecasts about the future. Specifically, the change in U.S. unemployment rates and the National Automobile Dealers Association used vehicle price index are used to predict changes in gross loss and recovery rate, respectively. An economic adjustment factor, based upon a single macroeconomic scenario, is developed to capture the relationship between changes in these indices and changes in gross loss and recovery rates. This factor is applied to the output of the net loss timing curve for the reasonable and supportable forecast period of two years. After the end of this two-year period, we revert to historical experience on a straightline basis over a period of 12 months. We periodically consider whether the use of alternative metrics would result in improved model performance and revise the model when appropriate. We also consider whether qualitative adjustments are necessary for factors that are not reflected in the quantitative methods but impact the measurement of estimated credit losses. Such
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adjustments include the uncertainty of the impacts of recent economic trends on customer behavior. The change in the allowance for loan losses is recognized through an adjustment to the provision for loan losses.
Determining the appropriateness of the allowance for loan losses requires management to exercise judgment about matters that are inherently uncertain, including the timing and distribution of net losses that could materially affect the allowance for loan losses and, therefore, net earnings. To the extent that actual performance differs from our estimates, additional provision for credit losses may be required that would reduce net earnings. A 10% change in the estimated loss rates would have changed the allowance for loan losses by approximately $50.7 million as of February 28, 2023.
See Notes 1(H) and 5 for additional information on the allowance for loan losses.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS – CARMAX SALES OPERATIONS AND OTHER NON-REPORTABLE SEGMENTS
NET SALES AND OPERATING REVENUES
| Years Ended February 28 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In millions) | 2023 | Change | 2022 | Change | 2021 | |||||||||||
| Used vehicle sales | $ | 23,034.3 | (5.7) | % | $ | 24,437.1 | 55.5 | % | $ | 15,713.6 | ||||||
| Wholesale vehicle sales | 5,989.8 | (11.4) | % | 6,763.8 | 153.4 | % | 2,668.8 | |||||||||
| Other sales and revenues: | ||||||||||||||||
| Extended protection plan revenues | 422.3 | (11.7) | % | 478.4 | 15.9 | % | 412.8 | |||||||||
| Third-party finance income/(fees), net | 7.0 | 351.7 | % | 1.5 | 103.9 | % | (39.6) | |||||||||
| Advertising & subscription revenues (1) | 133.3 | 30.9 | % | 101.8 | 100.0 | % | — | |||||||||
| Other | 98.2 | (16.5) | % | 117.8 | (39.5) | % | 194.6 | |||||||||
| Total other sales and revenues | 660.8 | (5.5) | % | 699.5 | 23.2 | % | 567.8 | |||||||||
| Total net sales and operating revenues | $ | 29,684.9 | (6.9) | % | $ | 31,900.4 | 68.3 | % | $ | 18,950.1 |
(1) Excludes intersegment sales and operating revenues that have been eliminated in consolidation. See Note 20 for further details.
UNIT SALES
| Years Ended February 28 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Change | 2022 | Change | 2021 | |||||||||
| Used vehicles | 807,823 | (12.6) | % | 924,338 | 22.9 | % | 751,862 | ||||||
| Wholesale vehicles | 585,071 | (17.2) | % | 706,212 | 65.7 | % | 426,268 |
AVERAGE SELLING PRICES
| Years Ended February 28 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Change | 2022 | Change | 2021 | ||||||||||||
| Used vehicles | $ | 28,251 | 7.8 | % | $ | 26,207 | 26.7 | % | $ | 20,690 | ||||||
| Wholesale vehicles | $ | 9,872 | 6.9 | % | $ | 9,238 | 55.1 | % | $ | 5,957 |
COMPARABLE STORE USED VEHICLE SALES CHANGES
| Years Ended February 28 (1) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||
| Used vehicle units | (14.3) | % | 21.9 | % | (11.7) | % | ||
| Used vehicle revenues | (7.6) | % | 54.3 | % | (10.5) | % |
(1) Stores are added to the comparable store base beginning in their fourteenth full month of operation. We do not remove renovated stores from our comparable store base. Comparable store calculations include results for a set of stores that were included in our comparable store base in both the current and corresponding prior year periods.
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VEHICLE SALES CHANGES
| Years Ended February 28 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||
| Used vehicle units | (12.6) | % | 22.9 | % | (9.7) | % | ||
| Used vehicle revenues | (5.7) | % | 55.5 | % | (8.5) | % | ||
| Wholesale vehicle units | (17.2) | % | 65.7 | % | (8.6) | % | ||
| Wholesale vehicle revenues | (11.4) | % | 153.4 | % | 6.7 | % |
USED VEHICLE FINANCING PENETRATION BY CHANNEL (BEFORE THE IMPACT OF 3-DAY PAYOFFS)
| Years Ended February 28 (1) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||
| CAF (2) | 45.4 | % | 46.1 | % | 45.5 | % | ||
| Tier 2 (3) | 22.0 | 22.5 | 22.3 | |||||
| Tier 3 (4) | 6.5 | 7.8 | 10.9 | |||||
| Other (5) | 26.1 | 23.6 | 21.3 | |||||
| Total | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % |
(1) Calculated as used vehicle units financed for respective channel as a percentage of total used units sold.
(2) Includes CAF’s Tier 2 and Tier 3 loan originations, which represent approximately 2% of total used units sold.
(3) Third-party finance providers who generally pay us a fee or to whom no fee is paid.
(4) Third-party finance providers to whom we pay a fee.
(5) Represents customers arranging their own financing and customers that do not require financing.
CHANGE IN USED CAR STORE BASE
| Years Ended February 28 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||
| Used car stores, beginning of year | 230 | 220 | 216 | ||||
| Store openings | 10 | 10 | 4 | ||||
| Used car stores, end of year | 240 | 230 | 220 |
During fiscal 2023, we opened 10 stores, including our entry into the New York metro and Amarillo markets (Edison, NJ; Stockton, CA; Wayne, NJ; East Meadow, NY; Oceanside, CA; Joliet, IL; Asheville, NC; Greenwood, IN; College Station, TX; and Amarillo, TX).
Used Vehicle Sales
Fiscal 2023 Versus Fiscal 2022. The 5.7% decrease in used vehicle revenues in fiscal 2023 was primarily driven by a 12.6% decrease in used unit sales, partially offset by a 7.8% increase in average retail selling price. The decrease in used units included a 14.3% decrease in comparable store used unit sales. Online retail sales, as defined previously, accounted for 12% of used unit sales in fiscal 2023, compared with 9% in fiscal 2022.
During fiscal 2023, we believe a number of macroeconomic factors impacted our used unit sales performance, including challenges to vehicle affordability that stem from broad inflation, rising interest rates, tightening lending standards and low consumer confidence. We believe our performance was also impacted by transitory competitive responses to the current environment while we maintained our focus on profitable market share gains.
The increase in average retail selling price in fiscal 2023 reflected higher vehicle acquisition costs, partially offset by shifts in the mix of our sales by vehicle age.
Wholesale Vehicle Sales
Vehicles sold at our wholesale auctions are, on average, approximately 10 years old with more than 100,000 miles and are primarily comprised of vehicles purchased through our appraisal process that do not meet our retail standards. Our wholesale auction prices usually reflect trends in the general wholesale market for the types of vehicles we sell, although they can also be affected by changes in vehicle mix or the average age, mileage or condition of the vehicles being sold.
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Fiscal 2023 Versus Fiscal 2022. The 11.4% decrease in wholesale vehicle revenues in fiscal 2023 was primarily due to a 17.2% decrease in unit sales, partially offset by a 6.9% increase in average selling price. Wholesale volume was negatively impacted by our decision to shift some units from wholesale to retail to meet consumer demand for lower priced vehicles. The net increase in average selling price in fiscal 2023 was primarily due to increased acquisition costs resulting from strong industry valuations in the beginning of fiscal 2023, which continued from the prior fiscal year, offsetting depreciation in the second half of the fiscal year.
Other Sales and Revenues
Other sales and revenues include revenue from the sale of ESPs and GAP (collectively reported in EPP revenues, net of a reserve for estimated contract cancellations), net third-party finance income/(fees), advertising and subscription revenues earned by our Edmunds business, and other revenues, which are predominantly comprised of service department sales. The fees we pay to the Tier 3 providers are reflected as an offset to finance fee revenues received from the Tier 2 providers. The mix of our retail vehicles financed by CAF, Tier 2 and Tier 3 providers, or customers that arrange their own financing, may vary from quarter to quarter depending on several factors including the credit quality of applicants, changes in providers’ credit decisioning and external market conditions. Changes in originations by one tier of credit providers may also affect the originations made by providers in other tiers.
Fiscal 2023 Versus Fiscal 2022. Other sales and revenues decreased 5.5% in fiscal 2023, reflecting the decrease in EPP revenue and a decline in new vehicle sales, partially offset by the inclusion of twelve months of Edmunds’ revenue in fiscal 2023 compared to nine months of Edmunds’ revenue in fiscal 2022. EPP revenues decreased 11.7%, primarily driven by the decline in our retail unit volume and a decrease in profit sharing revenue recognized in the current year, partially offset by increased margins. The decline in new car sales was driven by the divestiture of our remaining new car franchise in the third quarter of fiscal 2022.
GROSS PROFIT
| Years Ended February 28 (1) | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In millions) | 2023 | Change | 2022 | Change | 2021 | |||||||||||
| Used vehicle gross profit | $ | 1,848.2 | (9.3) | % | $ | 2,038.4 | 28.3 | % | $ | 1,588.9 | ||||||
| Wholesale vehicle gross profit | 589.8 | (22.9) | % | 764.5 | 80.6 | % | 423.3 | |||||||||
| Other gross profit | 362.2 | (25.2) | % | 484.6 | 32.1 | % | 366.9 | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 2,800.2 | (14.8) | % | $ | 3,287.5 | 38.2 | % | $ | 2,379.1 |
(1)Amounts are net of intercompany eliminations.
GROSS PROFIT PER UNIT
| Years Ended February 28 (1) | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||||
| $ per unit (2) | % (3) | $ per unit (2) | % (3) | $ per unit (2) | % (3) | ||||||||||||||
| Used vehicle gross profit | $ | 2,288 | 8.0 | $ | 2,205 | 8.3 | $ | 2,113 | 10.1 | ||||||||||
| Wholesale vehicle gross profit | $ | 1,008 | 9.8 | $ | 1,083 | 11.3 | $ | 993 | 15.9 | ||||||||||
| Other gross profit | $ | 448 | 54.8 | $ | 524 | 69.3 | $ | 488 | 64.6 |
(1)Amounts are net of intercompany eliminations. Those eliminations had the effect of increasing used vehicle gross profit per unit and wholesale vehicle gross profit per unit and decreasing other gross profit per unit by immaterial amounts.
(2)Calculated as category gross profit divided by its respective units sold, except the other category, which is divided by total used units sold.
(3)Calculated as a percentage of its respective sales or revenue.
Used Vehicle Gross Profit
We target a dollar range of gross profit per used unit sold. The gross profit dollar target for an individual vehicle is based on a variety of factors, including its probability of sale and its mileage relative to its age; however, it is not primarily based on the vehicle’s selling price. Our ability to quickly adjust appraisal offers to be consistent with the broader market trade-in trends and the pace of our inventory turns reduce our exposure to the inherent continual fluctuation in used vehicle values and contribute to our ability to manage gross profit dollars per unit. Gross profit per used unit is consistent across our omni-channel platform.
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We systematically adjust individual vehicle prices based on proprietary pricing algorithms in order to appropriately balance sales trends, inventory turns and gross profit achievement. Other factors that may influence gross profit include the wholesale and retail vehicle pricing environments, vehicle reconditioning and logistics costs, and the percentage of vehicles sourced directly from consumers through our appraisal process. Vehicles purchased directly from consumers and dealers generally have a lower cost per unit compared with vehicles purchased at auction or through other channels, which may generate more gross profit per unit. In any given period, our gross profit may also be impacted by the age mix of vehicles sold, as older vehicles are generally more profitable. We monitor macroeconomic factors and pricing elasticity and adjust our pricing accordingly to optimize unit sales and profitability while also maintaining a competitively priced inventory.
Fiscal 2023 Versus Fiscal 2022. Used vehicle gross profit decreased 9.3% in fiscal 2023, driven by the 12.6% decrease in total used unit sales, partially offset by the $83 increase in used vehicle gross profit per unit. We continue to focus on striking the right balance between covering cost increases, maintaining margin and passing along efficiencies to consumers to support vehicle affordability.
Wholesale Vehicle Gross Profit
Our wholesale gross profit per unit reflects the demand for older, higher mileage vehicles, which are the mainstay of our auctions, as well as strong dealer attendance and resulting high dealer-to-car ratios at our auctions. The frequency of our auctions, which are generally held weekly or bi-weekly, minimizes the depreciation risk on these vehicles. Our ability to adjust appraisal offers in response to the wholesale pricing environment is a key factor that influences wholesale gross profit.
Fiscal 2023 Versus Fiscal 2022. Wholesale vehicle gross profit decreased 22.9% in fiscal 2023, driven by the 17.2% decrease in wholesale unit sales as well as the $75 decrease in wholesale vehicle gross profit per unit. Our decision to source a higher mix of older vehicles for retail sale also impacted wholesale vehicle gross profit per unit. When those vehicles cannot be reconditioned to our standards for consumer sales, we shift them to wholesale, which often sell at lower margins.
Other Gross Profit
Other gross profit includes profits related to EPP revenues, net third-party finance income/(fees), advertising and subscription profits earned by our Edmunds business, and other revenues. Other revenues are predominantly comprised of service department operations, including used vehicle reconditioning. We have no cost of sales related to EPP revenues or net third-party finance income/(fees), as these represent revenues paid to us by certain third-party providers. Third-party finance income is reported net of the fees we pay to third-party Tier 3 finance providers. Accordingly, changes in the relative mix of the components of other gross profit can affect the composition and amount of other gross profit.
Fiscal 2023 Versus Fiscal 2022. Other gross profit decreased 25.2% in fiscal 2023, primarily driven by an $81.5 million decline in service department margins as well as a decrease in EPP revenues, as discussed above, partially offset by the inclusion of twelve months of Edmunds' gross profit in fiscal 2023 compared with nine months of Edmunds' gross profit in fiscal 2022. The decline in service department profits was driven by deleverage resulting from lower retail unit sales, inflationary pressure and our decision to maintain technician staffing.
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COMPONENTS OF SG&A EXPENSES AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL SG&A EXPENSES
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Fiscal Year 2023 | Fiscal Year 2022 |
COMPONENTS OF SG&A EXPENSES COMPARED WITH PRIOR PERIODS (1)
| Years Ended February 28 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In millions except per unit data) | 2023 | Change | 2022 | Change | 2021 | |||||||||||
| Compensation and benefits: | ||||||||||||||||
| Compensation and benefits, excluding share-based compensation expense | $ | 1,282.4 | 4.7 | % | $ | 1,224.4 | 34.6 | % | $ | 909.8 | ||||||
| Share-based compensation expense | 83.6 | (18.0) | % | 102.0 | (8.8) | % | 111.7 | |||||||||
| Total compensation and benefits (2) | $ | 1,366.0 | 3.0 | % | $ | 1,326.4 | 29.8 | % | $ | 1,021.5 | ||||||
| Store occupancy costs | 267.3 | 16.3 | % | 229.9 | 12.3 | % | 204.7 | |||||||||
| Advertising expense | 288.5 | (11.5) | % | 325.9 | 49.8 | % | 217.5 | |||||||||
| Other overhead costs (3) | 565.6 | 27.6 | % | 443.0 | 70.0 | % | 260.7 | |||||||||
| Total SG&A expenses | $ | 2,487.4 | 7.0 | % | $ | 2,325.2 | 36.4 | % | $ | 1,704.4 | ||||||
| SG&A as a % of gross profit | 88.8 | % | 18.1 | % | 70.7 | % | (0.9) | % | 71.6 | % |
(1)Amounts are net of intercompany eliminations.
(2)Excludes compensation and benefits related to reconditioning and vehicle repair service, which are included in cost of sales. See Note 14 for details of share-based compensation expense by grant type.
(3)Includes IT expenses, non-CAF bad debt, preopening and relocation costs, insurance, charitable contributions, travel and other administrative expenses.
Fiscal 2023 Versus Fiscal 2022 (Increase of $162.2 million or 7.0%). Factors contributing to the net increase include the following:
•$122.6 million increase in other overhead costs, primarily driven by investments to advance our technology platforms and support our strategic and growth initiatives. The increase also included a $22.6 million one-time benefit in the prior year related to the receipt of settlement proceeds in a class action lawsuit. Other overhead costs were also negatively impacted by a year-over-year increase in non-CAF uncollectible receivables. This increase reflects several factors including, but not limited to, ongoing DMV processing delays, costs associated with our Love Your Car Guarantee program and field execution opportunities stemming from the dynamic operating environment.
•$58.0 million increase in compensation and benefits expense, excluding share-based compensation expense, driven by increased staffing and wage pressures as well as the inclusion of Edmunds for twelve months in the current year compared to nine months in the prior year, partially offset by a $32.8 million decrease in bonus compensation expense.
•$37.4 million increase in store occupancy costs driven by the 9.1% increase in our store base since the beginning of the last fiscal year as well as other growth- and capacity-related costs.
•$37.4 million decrease in advertising expense driven by our deliberate efforts to reduce marketing spend to align with sales.
•$18.4 million decrease in stock-based compensation expense, primarily related to cash-settled restricted stock units, as the expense associated with these units was primarily driven by the change in the company's stock price during the relevant periods.
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Interest Expense
Interest expense includes the interest related to short- and long-term debt, financing obligations and finance lease obligations. It does not include interest on the non-recourse notes payable, which is reflected within CAF income.
Fiscal 2023 Versus Fiscal 2022. Interest expense increased to $120.4 million in fiscal 2023 versus $94.1 million in fiscal 2022. The increase primarily reflected higher interest rates as well as higher outstanding debt balances in the current fiscal year, including the $700 million term loan issued in October 2021.
Other Income
Other income decreased to $9.4 million in fiscal 2023 compared with $34.6 million in fiscal 2022. The decrease was primarily due to net gains on an equity investment recorded during fiscal 2022.
Income Taxes
The effective income tax rate was 23.9% in fiscal 2023 compared with 22.9% in fiscal 2022. The increase in the effective income tax rate was primarily driven by the change in excess tax benefit related to settlements of share-based awards.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS – CARMAX AUTO FINANCE
CAF income primarily reflects interest and fee income generated by CAF’s portfolio of auto loans receivable less the interest expense associated with the debt issued to fund these receivables, a provision for estimated loan losses and direct CAF expenses. Total interest margin reflects the spread between interest and fees charged to consumers and our funding costs. Changes in the interest margin on new originations affect CAF income over time. Increases in interest rates, which affect CAF’s funding costs, or other competitive pressures on consumer rates, could result in compression in the interest margin on new originations. Changes in the allowance for loan losses as a percentage of ending managed receivables reflect the effect of changes in loss and delinquency experience and economic factors on our outlook for net losses expected to occur over the remaining contractual life of the loans receivable as well as changes in the mix of credit quality originated.
CAF’s managed portfolio is composed primarily of loans originated over the past several years. Trends in receivable growth and interest margins primarily reflect the cumulative effect of changes in the business over a multi-year period. Historically, we have sought to originate loans in our core portfolio, which excludes Tier 2 and Tier 3 originations, with an underlying risk profile that we believe will, in the aggregate, result in cumulative net losses in the 2% to 2.5% range (excluding CECL-required recovery costs) over the life of the loans. Actual loss performance of the loans may fall outside of this range based on various factors, including intentional changes in the risk profile of originations, economic conditions and wholesale recovery rates. Current period originations reflect current trends in both our retail sales and the CAF business, including the volume of loans originated, current interest rates charged to consumers, loan terms and average credit scores. Loans originated in a given fiscal period impact CAF income over time, as we recognize income over the life of the underlying auto loan.
CAF also originates a small portion of auto loans to customers who typically would be financed by our Tier 2 and Tier 3 finance providers, in order to better understand the performance of these loans, mitigate risk and add incremental profits. Historically, CAF has targeted originating approximately 5% of the total Tier 3 loan volume, which we increased to 10% during fiscal 2022 and throughout most of fiscal 2023. In response to the current environment, CAF adjusted its underwriting standards, including, towards the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023, reducing its targeted percentage of Tier 3 volume from 10% to 5%. Within the Tier 2 space, CAF continues to originate loans on a test basis. Any future adjustments in Tier 2 and Tier 3 will consider the broader lending environment along with the long-term sustainability of the change. These loans have higher loss and delinquency rates than the remainder of the CAF portfolio, as well as higher contract rates.
CAF income does not include any allocation of indirect costs. Although CAF benefits from certain indirect overhead expenditures, we have not allocated indirect costs to CAF to avoid making subjective allocation decisions. Examples of indirect costs not allocated to CAF include retail store expenses and corporate expenses.
See Note 4 for additional information on CAF income and Note 5 for information on auto loans receivable, including credit quality.
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SELECTED CAF FINANCIAL INFORMATION
| Years Ended February 28 | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In millions) | 2023 | % (1) | 2022 | % (1) | 2021 | % (1) | |||||||||||||
| Interest margin: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Interest and fee income | $ | 1,441.5 | 8.8 | $ | 1,296.8 | 8.7 | $ | 1,142.0 | 8.5 | ||||||||||
| Interest expense | (310.3) | (1.9) | (228.8) | (1.5) | (314.1) | (2.3) | |||||||||||||
| Total interest margin | $ | 1,131.2 | 6.9 | $ | 1,068.0 | 7.2 | $ | 827.9 | 6.1 | ||||||||||
| Provision for loan losses | $ | (317.0) | (1.9) | $ | (141.7) | (0.9) | $ | (160.7) | (1.2) | ||||||||||
| CarMax Auto Finance income | $ | 663.4 | 4.1 | $ | 801.5 | 5.4 | $ | 562.8 | 4.2 |
(1)Percent of total average managed receivables.
CAF ORIGINATION INFORMATION (AFTER THE IMPACT OF 3-DAY PAYOFFS)
| Years Ended February 28 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||
| Net loans originated (in millions) | $ | 8,832.7 | $ | 9,371.2 | $ | 6,395.0 | ||||
| Vehicle units financed | 340,077 | 393,681 | 319,346 | |||||||
| Net penetration rate (1) | 42.1 | % | 42.6 | % | 42.5 | % | ||||
| Weighted average contract rate | 9.7 | % | 8.5 | % | 8.4 | % | ||||
| Weighted average credit score (2) | 708 | 703 | 706 | |||||||
| Weighted average loan-to-value (LTV) (3) | 88.3 | % | 88.7 | % | 92.0 | % | ||||
| Weighted average term (in months) | 66.0 | 66.6 | 66.0 |
(1)Vehicle units financed as a percentage of total used units sold.
(2)The credit scores represent FICO® scores and reflect only receivables with obligors that have a FICO® score at the time of application. The FICO® score with respect to any receivable with co-obligors is calculated as the average of each obligor’s FICO® score at the time of application. FICO® scores are not a significant factor in our primary scoring model, which relies on information from credit bureaus and other application information as discussed in Note 5. FICO® is a federally registered servicemark of Fair Isaac Corporation.
(3)LTV represents the ratio of the amount financed to the total collateral value, which is measured as the vehicle selling price plus applicable taxes, title and fees.
LOAN PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
| As of and for the Years Ended February 28 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In millions) | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
| Total ending managed receivables | $ | 16,767.9 | $ | 15,652.3 | $ | 13,847.2 | ||||
| Total average managed receivables | $ | 16,304.3 | $ | 14,934.0 | $ | 13,463.3 | ||||
| Allowance for loan losses | $ | 507.2 | $ | 433.0 | $ | 411.1 | ||||
| Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of ending managed receivables | 3.02 | % | 2.77 | % | 2.97 | % | ||||
| Net credit losses on managed receivables | $ | 242.8 | $ | 119.8 | $ | 109.4 | ||||
| Net credit losses as a percentage of total average managed receivables | 1.49 | % | 0.80 | % | 0.81 | % | ||||
| Past due accounts as a percentage of ending managed receivables | 5.00 | % | 4.02 | % | 2.83 | % | ||||
| Average recovery rate (1) | 64.2 | % | 70.8 | % | 53.5 | % |
(1) The average recovery rate represents the average percentage of the outstanding principal balance we receive when a vehicle is repossessed and liquidated, generally at our wholesale auctions. While in any individual period conditions may vary, over the past 10 fiscal years, the annual recovery rate has ranged from a low of 46% to a high of 71%, and it is primarily affected by the wholesale market environment.
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Fiscal 2023 Versus Fiscal 2022.
•CAF Income decreased $138.1 million, or 17.2%, reflecting an increase in the provision for loan losses and a decrease in the net interest margin percentage, partially offset by an increase in average managed receivables.
•Provision for Loan Losses (Increased to $317.0 million from $141.7 million)
◦The current year provision increase was primarily the result of the previously disclosed expansion of Tier 2 and Tier 3 originations within CAF's portfolio and unfavorable performance within the portfolio as well as the uncertain macroeconomic environment. In addition, the prior fiscal year was positively impacted by a reduced provision coming out of the pandemic from fiscal 2021.
◦The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of ending managed receivables was 3.02% as of February 28, 2023 compared with 2.77% as of February 28, 2022 due to the factors noted above.
•Total interest margin decreased as a percentage of average managed receivables to 6.9% in fiscal 2023 compared with 7.2% in fiscal 2022. The decrease was primarily the result of higher funding costs, partially offset by higher interest and fees from consumers.
•Loan Performance
◦The decrease in net loan originations in fiscal 2023 resulted from a decrease in used unit sales and the net penetration rate, partially offset by an increase in the average amount financed.
◦CAF net penetration for fiscal 2023 declined from the prior year, largely reflecting shifts in the mix of customers utilizing outside financing.
◦The weighted average contract rate increased to 9.7% in fiscal 2023, compared with 8.5% in the prior year. The increase was primarily due to higher rates charged to customers in response to the current interest rate environment. We expect that these significant pricing moves, along with more gradual movements in our cost of funds, should allow our total interest margin to level off in fiscal 2024.
◦The increase in past due accounts as a percentage of ending managed receivables for fiscal 2023 primarily reflects an increase in delinquencies as well as our expansion of Tier 2 and Tier 3 originations within CAF's portfolio. The increase in delinquencies primarily reflects customer hardship in the current economic environment.
PLANNED FUTURE ACTIVITIES
For fiscal 2024, we plan to open five stores, including two more stores in the New York City metro market, as well as our first offsite production location in the Atlanta metro market. We currently estimate capital expenditures will total approximately $450 million in fiscal 2024. Capital expenditures were $422.7 million in fiscal 2023. Planned capital spending in fiscal 2024 largely reflects spending to support our future long-term growth, including investments in auction, sales and production facilities, as well as our new stores.
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
See Note 1(X) to the consolidated financial statements for information on recent accounting pronouncements applicable to CarMax.
FINANCIAL CONDITION
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our primary ongoing cash requirements are to fund our existing operations, store expansion and improvement, CAF and strategic growth initiatives. Since fiscal 2013, we have also elected to use cash for our share repurchase program. Our primary ongoing sources of liquidity include funds provided by operations, proceeds from non-recourse funding vehicles and borrowings under our revolving credit facility or through other financing sources.
Our current capital allocation strategy is to focus on our core business. Given our recent performance and continued market uncertainties, we are taking a conservative approach to our capital structure in order to maintain the flexibility that allows us to efficiently access the capital markets for both CAF and CarMax as a whole. We have taken steps to better align our expenses to sales, as well as paused our share repurchases and slowed the rate of our store growth. We believe we have the appropriate liquidity, access to capital and financial strength to support our operations and continue investing in our strategic initiatives for the foreseeable future.
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On June 1, 2021, we completed our acquisition of Edmunds for a total purchase price of $401.8 million, inclusive of our initial investment. The consideration paid at closing included a combination of cash and shares of CarMax common stock. See Note 2 for additional information.
We are party to contractual obligations involving commitments to make payments to third parties. These obligations impact our liquidity and capital resource needs. Our contractual obligations primarily consist of long-term debt and related interest payments, leases, purchase obligations and commitments, income taxes and defined benefit retirement plans. See Notes 13 and 17 for amounts outstanding as of February 28, 2023 related to debt and leases, respectively.
Our contractual obligations related to income taxes represent the net unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions. See Note 11 for information related to income taxes. Our contractual obligations related to defined benefit retirement plans represent the funded status recognized as of February 28, 2023. See Note 12 for information related to these plans.
Purchase obligations and commitments consist of certain enforceable and legally binding obligations related to real estate purchases, third-party outsourcing services and advertising. As of February 28, 2023, our purchase obligations and commitments were approximately $407.3 million, of which $246.2 million are due in fiscal 2024. The majority of the remaining purchase obligations and commitments are due within the next three years.
We currently target an adjusted debt-to-total capital ratio in a range of 35% to 45%. At the end of fiscal 2023, our adjusted debt to capital ratio, net of cash on hand, was below our targeted range for the year. In calculating this ratio, we utilize total debt excluding non-recourse notes payable, finance lease liabilities, a multiple of eight times rent expense and total shareholders’ equity. Generally, we expect to use our revolving credit facility and other financing sources, together with stock repurchases, to maintain this targeted ratio; however, in any period, we may be outside this range due to seasonal, market, strategic or other factors.
Operating Activities. During fiscal 2023, net cash provided by operating activities totaled $1.28 billion, compared with net cash used in operating activities of $2.55 billion in fiscal 2022.
As of February 28, 2023, total inventory was $3.73 billion, representing a decrease of $1.40 billion, or 27.3%, compared with the balance as of the start of the fiscal year. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in vehicle units reflecting lower sales volume as well as a decline in the average carrying cost of inventory as a result of market depreciation.
Our operating cash flows are significantly impacted by changes in auto loans receivable, which increased $1.37 billion in fiscal 2023 compared with $1.94 billion in fiscal 2022. The majority of the changes in auto loans receivable are accompanied by changes in non-recourse notes payable, which are issued to fund auto loans originated by CAF. Net issuances of non-recourse notes payable were $893.3 million in fiscal 2023 compared with $1.70 billion in fiscal 2022 and are separately reflected as cash from financing activities. Due to the presentation differences between auto loans receivable and non-recourse notes payable on the consolidated statements of cash flows, fluctuations in these amounts can have a significant impact on our operating and financing cash flows without affecting our overall liquidity, working capital or cash flows.
The change in net cash provided by (used in) operating activities for fiscal 2023 compared with fiscal 2022 reflected the changes in inventory and auto loans receivable, as discussed above, as well as the net impact of volume and timing-related changes in accounts receivable and accounts payable, partially offset by a decrease in net earnings when excluding non-cash expenses, which include depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation expense and the provisions for loan losses and cancellation reserves.
Investing Activities. Net cash used in investing activities totaled $425.8 million in fiscal 2023 compared with $523.7 million in fiscal 2022. For fiscal 2022, this included $241.6 million in cash paid in connection with the Edmunds acquisition, net of cash acquired. Capital expenditures were $422.7 million in fiscal 2023 versus $308.5 million in fiscal 2022. Capital expenditures primarily included store construction costs as well as investments in growth capacity initiatives and technology. We maintain a multi-year pipeline of sites to support our store and capacity growth, so portions of capital spending in one year may relate to stores that we open in subsequent fiscal years.
Financing Activities. Net cash used in financing activities was $710.2 million in fiscal 2023, compared with net cash provided by financing activities of $3.10 billion in fiscal 2022. Included in these amounts were net issuances of non-recourse notes payable of $893.3 million compared with $1.70 billion in the prior year. Non-recourse notes payable are typically used to fund changes in auto loans receivable (see “Operating Activities”).
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During fiscal 2023, cash used in financing activities was impacted by stock repurchases of $333.9 million as well as net payments on our long-term debt of $1.25 billion. During fiscal 2022, cash provided by financing activities was impacted by stock repurchases of $576.5 million as well as net borrowings on our long-term debt of $1.93 billion.
TOTAL DEBT AND CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
| (In thousands) | As of February 28 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt Description (1) | Maturity Date | 2023 | 2022 | ||||
| Revolving credit facility (2) | June 2024 | $ | — | $ | 1,243,500 | ||
| Term loan (2) | June 2024 | 300,000 | 300,000 | ||||
| Term loan (2) | October 2026 | 699,493 | 699,352 | ||||
| 3.86% Senior notes | April 2023 | 100,000 | 100,000 | ||||
| 4.17% Senior notes | April 2026 | 200,000 | 200,000 | ||||
| 4.27% Senior notes | April 2028 | 200,000 | 200,000 | ||||
| Financing obligations | Various dates through February 2059 | 522,526 | 524,766 | ||||
| Non-recourse notes payable | Various dates through November 2029 | 16,360,092 | 15,466,799 | ||||
| Total debt (3) | $ | 18,382,111 | $ | 18,734,417 | |||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 314,758 | $ | 102,716 |
(1)Interest is payable monthly, with the exception of our senior notes, which are payable semi-annually.
(2)Borrowings accrue interest at variable rates based on the Eurodollar rate (LIBOR), or successor benchmark rate, the federal funds rate, or the prime rate, depending on the type of borrowing.
(3)Total debt excludes unamortized debt issuance costs. See Note 13 for additional information.
Borrowings under our $2.00 billion unsecured revolving credit facility are available for working capital and general corporate purposes, and the unused portion is fully available to us. The credit facility, term loans and senior note agreements contain representations and warranties, conditions and covenants. If these requirements are not met, all amounts outstanding or otherwise owed could become due and payable immediately and other limitations could be placed on our ability to use any available borrowing capacity. As of February 28, 2023, we were in compliance with these financial covenants.
See Note 13 for additional information on our revolving credit facility, term loans, senior notes and financing obligations.
CAF auto loans receivable are primarily funded through our warehouse facilities and asset-backed term funding transactions. These non-recourse funding vehicles are structured to legally isolate the auto loans receivable, and we would not expect to be able to access the assets of our non-recourse funding vehicles, even in insolvency, receivership or conservatorship proceedings. Similarly, the investors in the non-recourse notes payable have no recourse to our assets beyond the related receivables, the amounts on deposit in reserve accounts and the restricted cash from collections on auto loans receivable. We do, however, continue to have the rights associated with the interest we retain in these non-recourse funding vehicles.
As of February 28, 2023, $12.71 billion and $3.65 billion of non-recourse notes payable were outstanding related to asset-backed term funding transactions and our warehouse facilities, respectively. During fiscal 2023, we funded a total of $7.23 billion in asset-backed term funding transactions. As of February 28, 2023, we had $1.95 billion of unused capacity in our warehouse facilities.
We have periodically increased our warehouse facility limit over time, as our store base, sales and CAF loan originations have grown. See Notes 1(F) and 13 for additional information on the warehouse facilities.
We generally repurchase the receivables funded through our warehouse facilities when we enter into an asset-backed term funding transaction. If our counterparties were to refuse to permit these repurchases it could impact our ability to execute on our funding program. Additionally, the agreements related to the warehouse facilities include various representations and warranties, as well as covenants and performance triggers related to events of default. If these requirements are not met, we could be unable to continue to fund receivables through the warehouse facilities. In addition, warehouse facility investors could charge us a higher rate of interest and could have us replaced as servicer. Further, we could be required to deposit collections on the related receivables with the warehouse facility agents on a daily basis and deliver executed lockbox agreements to the warehouse facility agents.
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The timing and amount of stock repurchases are determined based on stock price, market conditions, legal requirements and other factors. Shares repurchased are deemed authorized but unissued shares of common stock. In April 2022, our board of directors increased our share repurchase authorization by $2 billion. As of February 28, 2023, a total of $4 billion of board authorizations for repurchases was outstanding, with no expiration date, of which $2.45 billion remained available for repurchase. We paused the repurchase of our common stock during the third quarter of fiscal 2023 but may resume share repurchases at any time in the future depending on market conditions and our capital needs, among other factors. We remain committed to returning capital back to our shareholders over time. See Note 14 for more information on share repurchase activity.
Fair Value Measurements. We recognize money market securities, mutual fund investments, certain equity investments and derivative instruments at fair value. See Note 7 for more information on fair value measurements.
FY 2022 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0001170010-22-000017.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) is provided as a supplement to, and should be read in conjunction with, our audited consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes presented in Item 8. Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. Note references are to the notes to consolidated financial statements included in Item 8. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation. All references to net earnings per share are to diluted net earnings per share. Amounts and percentages may not total due to rounding.
OVERVIEW
See Part I, Item 1 for a detailed description and discussion of the company’s business.
CarMax is the nation’s largest retailer of used vehicles. We operate in two reportable segments: CarMax Sales Operations and CarMax Auto Finance (“CAF”). Our CarMax Sales Operations segment consists of all aspects of our auto merchandising and service operations, excluding financing provided by CAF. Our CAF segment consists solely of our own finance operation that provides financing to customers buying retail vehicles from CarMax. Our consolidated financial statements include the financial results related to our Edmunds Holding Company (“Edmunds”) business, which does not meet the definition of a reportable segment. For purposes of our MD&A discussion, amounts related to that business are discussed in combination with our CarMax Sales Operations segment. Separate discussion of these amounts is not considered meaningful for the purpose of gaining an understanding of our business, as the significant drivers of these operations in total are consistent with those of our CarMax Sales Operations segment. Where appropriate, specific amounts related to non-reportable segments have been disclosed for informational purposes.
CarMax Sales Operations
Our sales operations segment consists of retail sales of used vehicles and related products and services, such as wholesale vehicle sales; the sale of extended protection plan (“EPP”) products, which include extended service plans (“ESPs”) and guaranteed asset protection (“GAP”); and vehicle repair service. We offer competitive, no-haggle prices; a broad selection of CarMax Quality Certified used vehicles; value-added EPP products; and superior customer service. Our omni-channel platform, which gives us the largest addressable market in the used car industry, empowers our retail customers to buy a car on their terms – online, in-store or a seamless combination of both. Customers can choose to complete the car-buying experience in-person at one of our stores; or buy the car online and receive delivery through express pickup, available nationwide, or home delivery, available to most customers.
Our customers finance the majority of the retail vehicles purchased from us, and availability of on-the-spot financing is a critical component of the sales process. We provide financing to qualified retail customers through CAF and our arrangements with industry-leading third-party finance providers. All of the finance offers, whether by CAF or our third-party providers, are backed by a 3-day payoff option.
As of February 28, 2022, we operated 230 used car stores in 107 U.S. television markets. As of that date, wholesale auctions previously held at many of our used car stores were being conducted virtually. During the third quarter of fiscal 2022, we sold our remaining new car franchise.
CarMax Auto Finance
In addition to third-party finance providers, we provide vehicle financing through CAF, which offers financing solely to customers buying retail vehicles from CarMax. CAF allows us to manage our reliance on third-party finance providers and to leverage knowledge of our business to provide qualifying customers a competitive financing option. As a result, we believe CAF enables us to capture additional profits, cash flows and sales. CAF income primarily reflects the interest and fee income generated by the auto loans receivable less the interest expense associated with the debt issued to fund these receivables, a provision for estimated loan losses and direct expenses. CAF income does not include any allocation of indirect costs. After the effect of 3-day payoffs and vehicle returns, CAF financed 42.6% of our retail used vehicle unit sales in fiscal 2022. As of February 28, 2022, CAF serviced approximately 1.1 million customer accounts in its $15.65 billion portfolio of managed receivables.
Management regularly analyzes CAF’s operating results by assessing the competitiveness of our consumer offer, profitability, the performance of the auto loans receivable, including trends in credit losses and delinquencies, and CAF direct expenses.
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Revenues and Profitability
The sources of revenue and gross profit from the CarMax Sales Operations segment and other non-reportable segments for fiscal 2022 are as follows:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Net Sales and Operating Revenues | Gross Profit |
A high-level summary of our financial results for fiscal 2022 as compared to fiscal 2021 is as follows (1):
| (Dollars in millions except per share or per unit data) | 2022 | Change from 2021 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income statement information | ||||||
| Net sales and operating revenues | $ | 31,900.4 | 68.3 | % | ||
| Gross profit | $ | 3,287.5 | 38.2 | % | ||
| CAF income | $ | 801.5 | 42.4 | % | ||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | $ | 2,325.2 | 36.4 | % | ||
| Net earnings | $ | 1,151.3 | 54.1 | % | ||
| Unit sales information | ||||||
| Used unit sales | 924,338 | 22.9 | % | |||
| Change in used unit sales in comparable stores | 21.9 | % | N/A | |||
| Wholesale unit sales | 706,212 | 65.7 | % | |||
| Per unit information | ||||||
| Used gross profit per unit | $ | 2,205 | 4.4 | % | ||
| Wholesale gross profit per unit | $ | 1,083 | 9.1 | % | ||
| SG&A as a % of gross profit | 70.7 | % | (0.9) | % | ||
| Per share information | ||||||
| Net earnings per diluted share | $ | 6.97 | 54.2 | % | ||
| Online sales metrics | ||||||
| Online retail sales (2) | 9 | % | 5 | % | ||
| Omni sales (3) | 56 | % | 7 | % | ||
| Revenue from online transactions (4) (5) | 28 | % | N/A |
(1) Where applicable, amounts are net of intercompany eliminations.
(2) An online retail sale is defined as a sale where the customer completes all four of the following activities remotely: reserving the vehicle; financing the vehicle, if needed; trading-in or opting out of a trade-in; and creating an online sales order.
(3) An omni sale is defined as a sale where customers complete at least one of the four activities listed above online.
(4) Revenue from online transactions is defined as revenue from retail sales that qualify as an online retail sale, as well as any related EPP and third-party finance contribution, wholesale sales where the winning bid was taken from an online bid and all revenue earned by Edmunds.
(5) Revenue from online transactions data is not available for the full year of fiscal 2021 as wholesale auctions were transitioned to a virtual format during the first quarter.
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Net earnings per diluted share during fiscal 2022 included a one-time benefit of $0.11 in connection with the receipt of settlement proceeds in November 2021 related to a class action lawsuit. Net earnings per diluted share in fiscal 2021 included a one-time benefit of $0.19 in connection with our receipt of settlement proceeds in April 2020 related to a previously disclosed class action lawsuit.
Refer to “Results of Operations” for further details on our revenues and profitability. A discussion regarding Results of Operations and Financial Condition for fiscal 2021 as compared to fiscal 2020 is included in Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2021, filed with the SEC on April 20, 2021.
In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) as a global pandemic. Throughout fiscal 2021, many U.S. states and localities had shelter-in-place orders and occupancy restrictions, impacting the operations of our stores and consumer demand. As a result, our fiscal 2021 results were significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily during the first quarter.
Although the effects of COVID-19 seem to have subsided, uncertainty continues. During fiscal 2022, states and localities conducted vaccine distribution programs and eased certain state-mandated restrictions; however, the continued spread and impact of COVID-19 persists, particularly as it relates to the emergence of new variants of the virus. We continue to actively monitor developments that may cause us to take further actions that alter our business operations as may be required by federal, state or local authorities or that we determine are in the best interests of our associates, customers, communities and shareholders.
Liquidity
Our primary ongoing sources of liquidity include funds provided by operations, proceeds from non-recourse funding vehicles, and borrowings under our revolving credit facility or through other financing sources. In addition to funding our operations, this liquidity was used to fund the repurchase of common stock under our share repurchase program, our store growth and the Edmunds acquisition, which was completed during the second quarter of fiscal 2022.
Our current capital allocation strategy is to focus on our core business, including investing in digital capabilities and the strategic expansion of our store footprint, pursue new growth opportunities through investments, partnerships and acquisitions and return excess capital to shareholders. Given the year-over-year improvement in our business, the strength of the credit markets and our solid balance sheet, we believe we have the appropriate liquidity, access to capital and financial strength to support our operations and continue investing in our strategic initiatives for the foreseeable future.
Strategic Update and Future Outlook
Since completing our omni-channel rollout in the second quarter of fiscal 2021, we now have a common platform across all of CarMax that leverages our scale, nationwide footprint and infrastructure and empowers our customers to buy a vehicle on their terms. We recognize that there has been an accelerated shift in consumer buying behavior. Customers are seeking personalization, convenience and safety in how they shop for and buy a vehicle more than ever. Our omni-channel platform empowers customers to buy a car on their own terms, whether completely from home, in-store or through a seamlessly integrated combination of online and in-store experiences. Our diversified business model, combined with our omni-channel experience, is a unique advantage in the used car industry that firmly positions us to continue growing our market share while creating shareholder value over the long-term.
With the completion of our omni-channel platform rollout, we are now focusing our efforts on optimizing and enhancing the customer experience. In particular, we are focused on completing the roll out of our self-service experience. Currently, approximately 90% of our customers are eligible to complete an online retail sale independently if they choose. We expect to have this capability available to 100% of our customers by the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2023. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, online retail sales accounted for 11% of retail unit sales, up from 9% in the previous quarter and 5% in the prior year quarter. Omni sales represented approximately 55% of retail sales in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, down from 57% in the previous quarter and up from 51% in the prior year quarter. The growing rate of customer adoption versus the prior year reinforces our belief in our omni-channel strategy.
Revenue from online transactions was $2.4 billion, or approximately 31% of net revenues in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, up from 30% in the previous quarter and 17% in the prior year quarter.
We continue to see success from our online instant appraisal offer, which quickly provides customers an offer on their vehicle. This innovative experience allowed us to purchase approximately 162,000 and 707,000 vehicles online from consumers during the fourth quarter and full year of fiscal 2022, respectively, representing approximately half of our total buys from consumers for both periods. As a result, our self-sufficiency has nearly doubled during the current year. Historically, our annual self-sufficiency rate has been between 36% and 41%. For the first quarter of fiscal 2022, our self-sufficiency rate was between 45%
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and 50%, and for the second through fourth quarters of fiscal 2022 we achieved record self-sufficiency rates above 70%. The success of these offerings strengthens our leadership position as the largest used vehicle buyer from consumers in the U.S.
Nearly two-thirds of our finance customers start their financing process online. With our financing offer product in our online checkout process, eligible customers can apply and accept finance offers without needing the assistance of an associate to submit a credit application over the phone or in store. In addition, our finance based shopping capability, available to most customers, enables our customers to see personalized finance terms from multiple lenders across the full inventory of vehicles on our website. During the month of March 2022, we further enhanced this experience and are testing additional capabilities, including enabling real-time decisioning as well as the ability for a customer to pre-qualify for financing with no impact to their credit score.
Our investments in the near term will focus on our customer experience, vehicle acquisition and marketing. Our plans to grow vehicle acquisition include attracting new customers and pursuing partnerships as we expand our appraisal offerings to dealers and other businesses. As we continue enhancing our online experience and offerings, we believe it is important to educate customers about our omni-channel platform and to differentiate and elevate our brand. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021, we introduced the next phase of our national multi-media marketing campaign. As a result, marketing spend increased in the current year. For fiscal 2023, we expect our marketing spend per unit to be at least as much as fiscal 2022. We believe we are well positioned to continue gaining market share through our marketing strategies, which are focused on driving customer growth through building awareness and affinity for the brand and acquiring in-market shoppers and sellers.
Our strategic investments include the acquisition of Edmunds, which we completed on June 1, 2021. The acquisition was the first in CarMax history, and added one of the most well established and trusted online guides for automotive information and a recognized industry leader in digital car shopping innovations to the CarMax family. With this acquisition, CarMax has enhanced its digital capabilities and further strengthened its role and reach across the used auto ecosystem while adding exceptional technology and creative talent. Edmunds continues to operate independently and remains focused on delivering confidence to consumers and excellent value to its dealer and OEM clients. Additionally, this acquisition allows both businesses to accelerate their respective capabilities to deliver an enhanced digital experience to our customers by leveraging Edmunds’ compelling content and technology, CarMax’s unparalleled national scale and infrastructure, and the combined talent of both businesses.
In order to execute our long-term strategy, we plan to continue investing in various strategic initiatives to increase innovation, specifically with regards to customer-facing and customer-enabling technologies, as well as marketing. We are also focused on ensuring we are efficient in our spend, targeting specific areas where we expect to achieve more efficiencies and leverage, such as our CECs and stores. Our use of data is a core component of these initiatives and continues to be a strategic asset for us as we leverage data to enhance the customer experience and increase operational efficiencies.
During fiscal 2022, we saw meaningful improvements in the service levels of our CECs related to web and phone lead response time while also handling a record level of volume. This improvement was due to a combination of staffing increases and ongoing utilization of our artificial intelligence and machine learning processes that drove the right work to the right associates. From an efficiency perspective, we continue to see gains in our buying organization. The combination of our instant appraisal offer program along with the investments we have made in data science, automation and artificial intelligence continue to reduce our costs per buy.
For fiscal 2023, we would expect to require an increase beyond the 5% to 8% range of gross profit growth to lever. This is primarily driven by the timing of strategic investments and growth-related costs, as well as heightened inflationary pressures. While we expect to remain in investment mode over the next few years, we expect our leverage point to be lower after fiscal 2023.
We expect our diversified model, the scale of our operations, our investments and omni-channel strategy to provide a solid foundation for further growth. In May 2021, we introduced 5-year financial targets, including: (i) selling 2 million vehicles through our combined retail and wholesale channels by fiscal 2026; (ii) generating $33 billion in revenue by fiscal 2026; and (iii) growing our nationwide share of the age 0-10 used vehicle market to more than 5% by the end of calendar 2025. Although we do not anticipate updating these targets annually, given our strong performance in fiscal 2022, we believe it is appropriate to provide the following update at this time:
•Sell between 2 million and 2.4 million vehicles through our combined retail and wholesale channels by fiscal 2026.
•Generate between $33 billion and $45 billion in revenue by fiscal 2026.
•Re-affirm the growth of our nationwide share of the age 0-10 used vehicle market to more than 5% by the end of calendar 2025.
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These ranges reflect macroeconomic factors that could result in ongoing volatility in consumer demand.
In calendar 2021, we estimate we sold approximately 4.0% of the age 0- to 10-year old vehicles sold on a nationwide basis, an increase from 3.5% in calendar 2020. We estimate we sold approximately 4.9% of the age 0- to 10-year old vehicles sold in the current comparable store markets in which we operate in calendar 2021, an increase from 4.3% in 2020. Comparing our results to published used vehicle SAAR data suggests that we continued to grow our market share during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, despite the sales decline we experienced. We believe we are well positioned to deliver profitable market share gains in any environment. Our strategy to increase our market share includes focusing on:
•Delivering a customer-driven, omni-channel buying and selling experience that is a unique and powerful integration of our in-store and online capabilities.
•Opening stores in new markets and expanding our presence in existing markets.
•Hiring, developing and retaining an engaged and skilled workforce.
•Improving efficiency in our stores and CECs and our logistics operations to reduce waste.
•Leveraging data and advanced analytics to continuously improve the customer experience as well as our processes and systems.
•Utilizing advertising to educate customers about our omni-channel platform and to differentiate and elevate our brand.
As of February 28, 2022, we had used car stores located in 107 U.S. television markets, which covered approximately 79% of the U.S. population. The format and operating models utilized in our stores are continuously evaluated and may change or evolve over time based upon market and consumer expectations. During fiscal 2022, we opened ten stores, and we anticipate opening ten stores during fiscal 2023.
While we execute both our short- and long-term strategy, there are trends and factors that could impact our strategic approach or our results in the short and medium term. For additional information about risks and uncertainties facing our company, see “Risk Factors,” included in Part I, Item 1A of this Form 10-K.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
Our results of operations and financial condition as reflected in the consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions affecting the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. We use our historical experience and other relevant factors when developing our estimates and assumptions. We regularly evaluate these estimates and assumptions. Note 1 includes a discussion of significant accounting policies. The accounting policies discussed below are the ones we consider critical to an understanding of our consolidated financial statements because their application places the most significant demands on our judgment. Our financial results might have been different if different assumptions had been used or other conditions had prevailed.
Allowance for Loan Losses
The allowance for loan losses represents the net credit losses expected over the remaining contractual life of our managed receivables. Because net loss performance can vary substantially over time, estimating net losses requires assumptions about matters that are uncertain.
The allowance for loan losses is determined using a net loss timing curve, primarily based on the composition of the portfolio of managed receivables and historical gross loss and recovery trends. Due to the fact that losses for receivables with less than 18 months of performance history can be volatile, our net loss estimate weights both historical losses by credit grade at origination and actual loss data on the receivables to-date, along with forward loss curves, in estimating future performance. Once the receivables have 18 months of performance history, the net loss estimate reflects actual loss experience of those receivables to date, along with forward loss curves, to predict future performance. The forward loss curves are constructed using historical performance data and show the average timing of losses over the course of a receivable’s life. The net loss estimate is calculated by applying the loss rates developed using the methods described above to the amortized cost basis of the managed receivables.
The output of the net loss timing curve is adjusted to take into account reasonable and supportable forecasts about the future. Specifically, the change in U.S. unemployment rates and the National Automobile Dealers Association used vehicle price index are used to predict changes in gross loss and recovery rate, respectively. An economic adjustment factor, based upon a single macroeconomic scenario, is developed to capture the relationship between changes in these indices and changes in gross loss and recovery rates. This factor is applied to the output of the net loss timing curve for the reasonable and supportable forecast period of two years. After the end of this two-year period, we revert to historical experience on a straightline basis over a period of 12 months. We periodically consider whether the use of alternative metrics would result in improved model
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performance and revise the model when appropriate. We also consider whether qualitative adjustments are necessary for factors that are not reflected in the quantitative methods but impact the measurement of estimated credit losses. Such adjustments include the uncertainty of the impacts of recent economic trends on customer behavior. The change in the allowance for loan losses is recognized through an adjustment to the provision for loan losses.
Determining the appropriateness of the allowance for loan losses requires management to exercise judgment about matters that are inherently uncertain, including the timing and distribution of net losses that could materially affect the allowance for loan losses and, therefore, net earnings. To the extent that actual performance differs from our estimates, additional provision for credit losses may be required that would reduce net earnings. A 10% change in the estimated loss rates would have changed the allowance for loan losses by approximately $43.3 million as of February 28, 2022.
See Notes 1(H) and 5 for additional information on the allowance for loan losses.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS – CARMAX SALES OPERATIONS AND OTHER NON-REPORTABLE SEGMENTS
NET SALES AND OPERATING REVENUES
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In millions) | 2022 | Change | 2021 | Change | 2020 | |||||||||||
| Used vehicle sales | $ | 24,437.1 | 55.5 | % | $ | 15,713.6 | (8.5) | % | $ | 17,169.5 | ||||||
| Wholesale vehicle sales | 6,763.8 | 153.4 | % | 2,668.8 | 6.7 | % | 2,500.0 | |||||||||
| Other sales and revenues: | ||||||||||||||||
| Extended protection plan revenues | 478.4 | 15.9 | % | 412.8 | (5.6) | % | 437.4 | |||||||||
| Third-party finance income/(fees), net | 1.5 | 103.9 | % | (39.6) | 13.6 | % | (45.8) | |||||||||
| Advertising & subscription revenues (1) | 101.8 | 100.0 | % | — | — | % | — | |||||||||
| Other | 117.8 | (39.5) | % | 194.6 | (24.8) | % | 258.9 | |||||||||
| Total other sales and revenues | 699.5 | 23.2 | % | 567.8 | (12.7) | % | 650.5 | |||||||||
| Total net sales and operating revenues | $ | 31,900.4 | 68.3 | % | $ | 18,950.1 | (6.7) | % | $ | 20,320.0 |
(1) Excludes intersegment sales and operating revenues that have been eliminated in consolidation. See Note 20 for further details.
UNIT SALES
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Change | 2021 | Change | 2020 | |||||||||
| Used vehicles | 924,338 | 22.9 | % | 751,862 | (9.7) | % | 832,640 | ||||||
| Wholesale vehicles | 706,212 | 65.7 | % | 426,268 | (8.6) | % | 466,177 |
AVERAGE SELLING PRICES
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Change | 2021 | Change | 2020 | ||||||||||||
| Used vehicles | $ | 26,207 | 26.7 | % | $ | 20,690 | 1.3 | % | $ | 20,418 | ||||||
| Wholesale vehicles | $ | 9,238 | 55.1 | % | $ | 5,957 | 17.1 | % | $ | 5,089 |
COMPARABLE STORE USED VEHICLE SALES CHANGES
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 (1) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||
| Used vehicle units | 21.9 | % | (11.7) | % | 7.7 | % | ||
| Used vehicle revenues | 54.3 | % | (10.5) | % | 9.7 | % |
(1) Stores are added to the comparable store base beginning in their fourteenth full month of operation. We do not remove renovated stores from our comparable store base. Comparable store calculations include results for a set of stores that were included in our comparable store base in both the current and corresponding prior year periods.
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VEHICLE SALES CHANGES
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||
| Used vehicle units | 22.9 | % | (9.7) | % | 11.2 | % | ||
| Used vehicle revenues | 55.5 | % | (8.5) | % | 13.2 | % | ||
| Wholesale vehicle units | 65.7 | % | (8.6) | % | 4.2 | % | ||
| Wholesale vehicle revenues | 153.4 | % | 6.7 | % | 4.5 | % |
USED VEHICLE FINANCING PENETRATION BY CHANNEL (BEFORE THE IMPACT OF 3-DAY PAYOFFS)
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 (1) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||
| CAF (2) | 46.1 | % | 45.5 | % | 46.7 | % | ||
| Tier 2 (3) | 22.5 | 22.3 | 20.2 | |||||
| Tier 3 (4) | 7.8 | 10.9 | 10.2 | |||||
| Other (5) | 23.6 | 21.3 | 22.9 | |||||
| Total | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % |
(1) Calculated as used vehicle units financed for respective channel as a percentage of total used units sold.
(2) Includes CAF’s Tier 2 and Tier 3 loan originations, which represent approximately 1% of total used units sold.
(3) Third-party finance providers who generally pay us a fee or to whom no fee is paid.
(4) Third-party finance providers to whom we pay a fee.
(5) Represents customers arranging their own financing and customers that do not require financing.
CHANGE IN USED CAR STORE BASE
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||
| Used car stores, beginning of year | 220 | 216 | 203 | ||||
| Store openings | 10 | 4 | 13 | ||||
| Used car stores, end of year | 230 | 220 | 216 |
During fiscal 2022, we opened 10 stores (Miami, FL; Tampa, FL; Gainesville, FL; Los Angeles, CA; Greenville, NC; Springfield, MO; Tucson, AZ; Roanoke, VA; Cleveland, OH; and Orlando, FL).
Used Vehicle Sales
Fiscal 2022 Versus Fiscal 2021. The 55.5% increase in used vehicle revenues in fiscal 2022 was primarily driven by a 22.9% increase in used unit sales and a 26.7% increase in average retail selling price. The increase in used units included a 21.9% increase in comparable store used unit sales. Online retail sales, as defined previously, accounted for 9% of used unit sales in fiscal 2022, compared with 4% in fiscal 2021.
We believe our strong comparable store used unit sales growth in fiscal 2022 was driven by solid execution, growing demand for our online offerings and strengthened marketing investments, as well as the continued success of vehicle sourcing directly from consumers. Sales also benefited from the net impact of macroeconomic factors, including federal government stimulus payments, the chip shortage and its impact on new vehicle availability, market prices and inflation. Our results for fiscal 2021 were significantly impacted by COVID-19, primarily during the first quarter.
During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, however, we believe a number of macroeconomic factors impacted our comparable store used unit sales performance, including declining consumer confidence, the COVID-19 Omicron variant, vehicle affordability, and the lapping of stimulus benefits paid in the prior year quarter.
The increase in average retail selling price in fiscal 2022 reflected higher vehicle acquisition costs driven by market appreciation.
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Wholesale Vehicle Sales
Vehicles sold at our wholesale auctions are, on average, approximately 10 years old with more than 100,000 miles and are primarily comprised of vehicles purchased through our appraisal process that do not meet our retail standards. Our wholesale auction prices usually reflect trends in the general wholesale market for the types of vehicles we sell, although they can also be affected by changes in vehicle mix or the average age, mileage or condition of the vehicles being sold. During fiscal 2021, our wholesale auctions were moved to an online format in response to COVID-19 and continue to operate completely online.
Fiscal 2022 Versus Fiscal 2021. The 153.4% increase in wholesale vehicle revenues in fiscal 2022 was primarily due to a 65.7% increase in used unit sales as well as a 55.1% increase in average selling price. The wholesale unit growth in fiscal 2022 was largely driven by increased appraisal volume from online offerings as well as an increased buy rate, which was over 40% in fiscal 2022. During fiscal 2022, our strong appraisal offers, in response to the increase in market prices, contributed to our higher appraisal buy rate. The increase in average selling price was primarily due to increased acquisition costs driven by market appreciation.
Other Sales and Revenues
Other sales and revenues include revenue from the sale of ESPs and GAP (collectively reported in EPP revenues, net of a reserve for estimated contract cancellations), net third-party finance income/(fees), advertising and subscription revenues earned by our Edmunds business, and other revenues, which are predominantly comprised of service department and new vehicle sales. The fees we pay to the Tier 3 providers are reflected as an offset to finance fee revenues received from the Tier 2 providers. The mix of our retail vehicles financed by CAF, Tier 2 and Tier 3 providers, or customers that arrange their own financing, may vary from quarter to quarter depending on several factors including the credit quality of applicants, changes in providers’ credit decisioning and external market conditions. Changes in originations by one tier of credit providers may also affect the originations made by providers in other tiers.
Fiscal 2022 Versus Fiscal 2021. Other sales and revenues increased 23.2% in fiscal 2022, reflecting the addition of Edmunds’ revenue of $101.8 million as well as growth in EPP revenues and net third-party finance income, partially offset by a decline in new vehicle sales. EPP revenues increased 15.9%, reflecting the increase in our retail unit volume partially offset by unfavorable year-over-year changes in cancellation reserves. Net third-party finance income improved as a result of favorable adjustments in the fee arrangements with our Tier 2 and Tier 3 providers made during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021 as well as shifts in our sales mix by finance channel, partially offset by increased sales. The decline in new car sales was driven by the divestiture of our remaining new car franchises, as noted above.
GROSS PROFIT
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 (1) | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In millions) | 2022 | Change | 2021 | Change | 2020 | |||||||||||
| Used vehicle gross profit | $ | 2,038.4 | 28.3 | % | $ | 1,588.9 | (12.7) | % | $ | 1,820.1 | ||||||
| Wholesale vehicle gross profit | 764.5 | 80.6 | % | 423.3 | (6.8) | % | 454.4 | |||||||||
| Other gross profit | 484.6 | 32.1 | % | 366.9 | (18.1) | % | 447.8 | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 3,287.5 | 38.2 | % | $ | 2,379.1 | (12.6) | % | $ | 2,722.3 |
(1)Amounts are net of intercompany eliminations.
GROSS PROFIT PER UNIT
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 (1) | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||||
| $ per unit (2) | % (3) | $ per unit (2) | % (3) | $ per unit (2) | % (3) | ||||||||||||||
| Used vehicle gross profit | $ | 2,205 | 8.3 | $ | 2,113 | 10.1 | $ | 2,186 | 10.6 | ||||||||||
| Wholesale vehicle gross profit | $ | 1,083 | 11.3 | $ | 993 | 15.9 | $ | 975 | 18.2 | ||||||||||
| Other gross profit | $ | 524 | 69.3 | $ | 488 | 64.6 | $ | 538 | 68.9 |
(1)Amounts are net of intercompany eliminations. Those eliminations had the effect of increasing used vehicle gross profit per unit and wholesale vehicle gross profit per unit and decreasing other gross profit per unit by immaterial amounts.
(2)Calculated as category gross profit divided by its respective units sold, except the other category, which is divided by total used units sold.
(3)Calculated as a percentage of its respective sales or revenue.
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Used Vehicle Gross Profit
We target a dollar range of gross profit per used unit sold. The gross profit dollar target for an individual vehicle is based on a variety of factors, including its probability of sale and its mileage relative to its age; however, it is not primarily based on the vehicle’s selling price. Our ability to quickly adjust appraisal offers to be consistent with the broader market trade-in trends and the pace of our inventory turns reduce our exposure to the inherent continual fluctuation in used vehicle values and contribute to our ability to manage gross profit dollars per unit. Gross profit per used unit is consistent across our omni-channel platform.
We systematically adjust individual vehicle prices based on proprietary pricing algorithms in order to appropriately balance sales trends, inventory turns and gross profit achievement. Other factors that may influence gross profit include the wholesale and retail vehicle pricing environments, vehicle reconditioning and logistics costs, and the percentage of vehicles sourced directly from consumers through our appraisal process. Vehicles purchased directly from consumers generally have a lower cost per unit compared with vehicles purchased at auction or through other channels, which may generate more gross profit per unit. We monitor macroeconomic factors and pricing elasticity and adjust our pricing accordingly to optimize unit sales and profitability while also maintaining a competitively priced inventory.
Fiscal 2022 Versus Fiscal 2021. Used vehicle gross profit increased 28.3% in fiscal 2022, driven by the 22.9% increase in total used unit sales as well as the $92 increase in used vehicle gross profit per unit. With used car prices at all-time highs during fiscal 2022, we chose to pass along some of our self-sufficiency driven acquisition cost savings to consumers by way of lower prices to make our vehicles more accessible, while balancing inflationary costs and target margin increases.
Wholesale Vehicle Gross Profit
Our wholesale gross profit per unit reflects the demand for older, higher mileage vehicles, which are the mainstay of our auctions, as well as strong dealer attendance and resulting high dealer-to-car ratios at our auctions. The frequency of our auctions, which are generally held weekly or bi-weekly, minimizes the depreciation risk on these vehicles. Our ability to adjust appraisal offers in response to the wholesale pricing environment is a key factor that influences wholesale gross profit.
Fiscal 2022 Versus Fiscal 2021. Wholesale vehicle gross profit increased 80.6% in fiscal 2022, driven by the 65.7% increase in wholesale unit sales as well as a $90 increase in wholesale vehicle gross profit per unit.
Other Gross Profit
Other gross profit includes profits related to EPP revenues, net third-party finance income/(fees), advertising and subscription profits earned by our Edmunds business, and other revenues. Other revenues are predominantly comprised of service department operations, including used vehicle reconditioning, and new vehicle sales. We have no cost of sales related to EPP revenues or net third-party finance income/(fees), as these represent revenues paid to us by certain third-party providers. Third-party finance income is reported net of the fees we pay to third-party Tier 3 finance providers. Accordingly, changes in the relative mix of the components of other gross profit can affect the composition and amount of other gross profit.
Fiscal 2022 Versus Fiscal 2021. Other gross profit increased 32.1% in fiscal 2022, reflecting the addition of Edmunds’ gross profit of $62.6 million as well as increases in EPP revenues and net third-party finance income, as discussed above, partially offset by a decline in service department profits. The decline in service department profits was primarily experienced in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, reflecting deleverage resulting from lower retail unit sales as well as the adverse effects on technician staffing and reconditioning efficiency from the COVID-19 Omicron variant. Additionally, prior to the fourth quarter, we experienced pressure from our efforts to support our higher level of retail sales, including growing technician staffing and shifting retail service capacity to support vehicle reconditioning.
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COMPONENTS OF SG&A EXPENSES AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL SG&A EXPENSES
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| Fiscal Year 2022 |
COMPONENTS OF SG&A EXPENSES COMPARED WITH PRIOR PERIODS (1) (2)
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In millions except per unit data) | 2022 | Change | 2021 | Change | 2020 | |||||||||||
| Compensation and benefits: | ||||||||||||||||
| Compensation and benefits, excluding share-based compensation expense | $ | 1,224.4 | 34.6 | % | $ | 909.8 | (0.4) | % | $ | 913.2 | ||||||
| Share-based compensation expense | 102.0 | (8.8) | % | 111.7 | 12.4 | % | 99.4 | |||||||||
| Total compensation and benefits (3) | $ | 1,326.4 | 29.8 | % | $ | 1,021.5 | 0.9 | % | $ | 1,012.6 | ||||||
| Store occupancy costs | 229.9 | 12.3 | % | 204.7 | 0.6 | % | 203.5 | |||||||||
| Advertising expense | 325.9 | 49.8 | % | 217.5 | 13.7 | % | 191.3 | |||||||||
| Other overhead costs (4) | 443.0 | 70.0 | % | 260.7 | (24.0) | % | 342.8 | |||||||||
| Total SG&A expenses | $ | 2,325.2 | 36.4 | % | $ | 1,704.4 | (2.6) | % | $ | 1,750.2 | ||||||
| SG&A as a % of gross profit | 70.7 | % | (0.9) | % | 71.6 | % | 7.3 | % | 64.3 | % |
(1)Depreciation and amortization previously included in SG&A expenses is now separately presented and is excluded from this table. Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period’s presentation.
(2)Amounts are net of intercompany eliminations.
(3)Excludes compensation and benefits related to reconditioning and vehicle repair service, which are included in cost of sales. See Note 14 for details of share-based compensation expense by grant type.
(4)Includes IT expenses, non-CAF bad debt, insurance, preopening and relocation costs, charitable contributions, travel and other administrative expenses.
Fiscal 2022 Versus Fiscal 2021 (Increase of $620.8 million or 36.4%). This increase reflected an increase in costs associated with our growth in sales volume, growth costs related to the increase in appraisal buys, new stores and customer support at our CECs and continued spending to advance our technology platforms and support strategic initiatives, as well as cost-reduction actions taken in response to the pandemic in the prior year. The increase also reflected the following:
•$314.6 million increase in compensation and benefits expense, excluding share-based compensation expense, driven by increased staffing, sales growth, a $26.2 million increase in our annual bonus compensation and a $24.5 million increase resulting from the addition of Edmunds during the current year, as well as cost-reduction actions taken in response to the pandemic in the prior year period.
•$108.4 million increase in advertising expense driven by our previously communicated investment in advertising spend.
•$182.3 million increase in other overhead costs, primarily reflecting investments to advance our technology platforms and support our strategic initiatives as well as cost-reduction actions taken in response to the pandemic in the prior year period. The current year included a $22.6 million one-time benefit related to the receipt of settlement proceeds in a class action lawsuit while the prior year included a one-time benefit of $40.3 million related to the receipt of settlement proceeds in a class action lawsuit.
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Interest Expense
Interest expense includes the interest related to short- and long-term debt, financing obligations and finance lease obligations. It does not include interest on the non-recourse notes payable, which is reflected within CAF income.
Fiscal 2022 Versus Fiscal 2021. Interest expense increased to $94.1 million in fiscal 2022 versus $86.2 million in fiscal 2021. The increase primarily reflected an increase in finance lease obligations and higher outstanding debt levels in fiscal 2022.
Other (Income) Expense
Other income increased to $34.6 million in fiscal 2022 compared with $8.3 million in fiscal 2021. The increase was primarily due to net gains on an equity investment recorded during fiscal 2022.
Income Taxes
The effective income tax rate was 22.9% in fiscal 2022 compared with 22.6% in fiscal 2021.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS – CARMAX AUTO FINANCE
CAF income primarily reflects interest and fee income generated by CAF’s portfolio of auto loans receivable less the interest expense associated with the debt issued to fund these receivables, a provision for estimated loan losses and direct CAF expenses. Total interest margin reflects the spread between interest and fees charged to consumers and our funding costs. Changes in the interest margin on new originations affect CAF income over time. Increases in interest rates, which affect CAF’s funding costs, or other competitive pressures on consumer rates, could result in compression in the interest margin on new originations. Changes in the allowance for loan losses as a percentage of ending managed receivables reflect the effect of changes in loss and delinquency experience and economic factors on our outlook for net losses expected to occur over the remaining contractual life of the loans receivable.
CAF’s managed portfolio is composed primarily of loans originated over the past several years. Trends in receivable growth and interest margins primarily reflect the cumulative effect of changes in the business over a multi-year period. Historically, we have sought to originate loans in our core portfolio, which excludes Tier 2 and Tier 3 originations, with an underlying risk profile that we believe will, in the aggregate, result in cumulative net losses in the 2% to 2.5% range (excluding CECL-required recovery costs) over the life of the loans. Actual loss performance of the loans may fall outside of this range based on various factors, including intentional changes in the risk profile of originations, economic conditions (including the effects of COVID-19) and wholesale recovery rates. Current period originations reflect current trends in both our retail sales and the CAF business, including the volume of loans originated, current interest rates charged to consumers, loan terms and average credit scores. Loans originated in a given fiscal period impact CAF income over time, as we recognize income over the life of the underlying auto loan.
CAF also originates a small portion of auto loans to customers who typically would be financed by our Tier 3 finance providers, in order to better understand the performance of these loans, mitigate risk and add incremental profits. Historically, CAF targeted originating approximately 5% of the total Tier 3 loan volume. During the first quarter of fiscal 2022, we began to increase our Tier 3 loan volume beyond our target of 5% of total Tier 3 loan volume to 10% by the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2022. Additionally, in the second quarter of fiscal 2022, CAF began to originate loans in the Tier 2 space on a test basis. Any future adjustments in Tier 2 and Tier 3 will consider the broader lending environment along with the long-term sustainability of the change. These loans have higher loss and delinquency rates than the remainder of the CAF portfolio, as well as higher contract rates.
CAF income does not include any allocation of indirect costs. Although CAF benefits from certain indirect overhead expenditures, we have not allocated indirect costs to CAF to avoid making subjective allocation decisions. Examples of indirect costs not allocated to CAF include retail store expenses and corporate expenses.
See Note 4 for additional information on CAF income and Note 5 for information on auto loans receivable, including credit quality.
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SELECTED CAF FINANCIAL INFORMATION
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In millions) | 2022 | % (1) | 2021 | % (1) | 2020 | % (1) | |||||||||||||
| Interest margin: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Interest and fee income | $ | 1,296.8 | 8.7 | $ | 1,142.0 | 8.5 | $ | 1,104.1 | 8.4 | ||||||||||
| Interest expense | (228.8) | (1.5) | (314.1) | (2.3) | (358.1) | (2.7) | |||||||||||||
| Total interest margin | $ | 1,068.0 | 7.2 | $ | 827.9 | 6.1 | $ | 746.0 | 5.7 | ||||||||||
| Provision for loan losses | $ | (141.7) | (0.9) | $ | (160.7) | (1.2) | $ | (185.7) | (1.4) | ||||||||||
| CarMax Auto Finance income | $ | 801.5 | 5.4 | $ | 562.8 | 4.2 | $ | 456.0 | 3.5 |
(1)Percent of total average managed receivables.
CAF ORIGINATION INFORMATION (AFTER THE IMPACT OF 3-DAY PAYOFFS)
| Years Ended February 28 or 29 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
| Net loans originated (in millions) | $ | 9,371.2 | $ | 6,395.0 | $ | 7,089.7 | ||||
| Vehicle units financed | 393,681 | 319,346 | 353,654 | |||||||
| Net penetration rate (1) | 42.6 | % | 42.5 | % | 42.5 | % | ||||
| Weighted average contract rate | 8.5 | % | 8.4 | % | 8.4 | % | ||||
| Weighted average credit score (2) | 703 | 706 | 710 | |||||||
| Weighted average loan-to-value (LTV) (3) | 88.7 | % | 92.0 | % | 94.2 | % | ||||
| Weighted average term (in months) | 66.6 | 66.0 | 66.1 |
(1)Vehicle units financed as a percentage of total used units sold.
(2)The credit scores represent FICO® scores and reflect only receivables with obligors that have a FICO® score at the time of application. The FICO® score with respect to any receivable with co-obligors is calculated as the average of each obligor’s FICO® score at the time of application. FICO® scores are not a significant factor in our primary scoring model, which relies on information from credit bureaus and other application information as discussed in Note 5. FICO® is a federally registered servicemark of Fair Isaac Corporation.
(3)LTV represents the ratio of the amount financed to the total collateral value, which is measured as the vehicle selling price plus applicable taxes, title and fees.
LOAN PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
| As of and for the Years Ended February 28 or 29 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In millions) | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
| Total ending managed receivables | $ | 15,652.3 | $ | 13,847.2 | $ | 13,617.8 | ||||
| Total average managed receivables | $ | 14,934.0 | $ | 13,463.3 | $ | 13,105.1 | ||||
| Allowance for loan losses (1) | $ | 433.0 | $ | 411.1 | $ | 157.8 | ||||
| Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of ending managed receivables | 2.77 | % | 2.97 | % | 1.16 | % | ||||
| Net credit losses on managed receivables | $ | 119.8 | $ | 109.4 | $ | 166.1 | ||||
| Net credit losses as a percentage of total average managed receivables | 0.80 | % | 0.81 | % | 1.27 | % | ||||
| Past due accounts as a percentage of ending managed receivables | 4.02 | % | 2.83 | % | 3.44 | % | ||||
| Average recovery rate (2) | 70.8 | % | 53.5 | % | 48.1 | % |
(1) The allowance for loan losses as of February 28, 2021 includes a $202.0 million increase as a result of our adoption of CECL during the first quarter of fiscal 2021.
(2) The average recovery rate represents the average percentage of the outstanding principal balance we receive when a vehicle is repossessed and liquidated, generally at our wholesale auctions. While in any individual period conditions may vary, over the past 10 fiscal years, the annual recovery rate has ranged from a low of 46% to a high of 71%, and it is primarily affected by the wholesale market environment.
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Fiscal 2022 Versus Fiscal 2021.
•CAF Income increased $238.7 million, or 42.4%, reflecting increases in the total interest margin percentage and average managed receivables as well as a decrease in the provision for loan losses.
•Provision for Loan Losses (Decreased to $141.7 million from $160.7 million)
◦The change in the provision was primarily driven by reserve increases during the first quarter of fiscal 2021 associated with deterioration in the macroeconomic environment resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
◦The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of ending managed receivables was 2.77% as of February 28, 2022 compared with 2.97% as of February 28, 2021.
•Total interest margin increased as a percentage of average managed receivables to 7.2% in fiscal 2022 compared with 6.1% in fiscal 2021 as a result of lower funding costs.
•Loan Performance
◦The increase in net loan originations in fiscal 2022 resulted from an increase in the average amount financed as well as our used unit sales growth.
◦CAF net penetration for fiscal 2022 was relatively consistent with the prior year. However, during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, CAF net penetration declined slightly, driven by an increase in the mix of customers utilizing outside financing. In the current environment, we seek to remain highly competitive in the marketplace while also maintaining the quality of CAF’s portfolio.
◦The increase in past due accounts as a percentage of ending managed receivables for fiscal 2022 primarily reflected a return to pre-pandemic delinquency levels as well as an increase, primarily in the 31-60 day past due bucket, resulting from the transition to CAF’s new auto loan receivable servicing system. During this transition, we continue to adjust resources as needed from early stage collection efforts to handling the increased volume of incoming phone calls we are receiving as customers get accustomed to the new platform. We ultimately expect this to normalize over time.
◦The annual recovery rate for fiscal 2022 was at the top of our range due to market appreciation experienced during the year.
PLANNED FUTURE ACTIVITIES
We anticipate opening ten stores in fiscal 2023, which will include our expected entry into the New York metro market. We currently estimate capital expenditures will total approximately $500 million in fiscal 2023, an increase from $308.5 million in fiscal 2022. The increase in planned capital spending in fiscal 2023 largely reflects long-term growth capacity initiatives for our auction, sales and production facilities in addition to continued investments in technology. We expect approximately 30% of our capital expenditures in fiscal 2023 will be focused on investments in technology.
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
See Note 1(X) to the consolidated financial statements for information on recent accounting pronouncements applicable to CarMax.
FINANCIAL CONDITION
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our primary ongoing cash requirements are to fund our existing operations, store expansion and improvement, CAF and strategic growth initiatives. Since fiscal 2013, we have also elected to use cash for our share repurchase program. Our primary ongoing sources of liquidity include funds provided by operations, proceeds from non-recourse funding vehicles and borrowings under our revolving credit facility or through other financing sources.
Our current capital allocation strategy is to focus on our core business, including investing in digital capabilities and the strategic expansion of our store footprint, pursue new growth opportunities through investments, partnerships and acquisitions and return excess capital to shareholders. Given the year-over-year improvement in our business, the strength of the credit markets and our solid balance sheet, we believe we have the appropriate liquidity, access to capital and financial strength to support our operations and continue investing in our strategic initiatives for the foreseeable future.
On June 1, 2021, we completed our acquisition of Edmunds for a total purchase price of $401.8 million, inclusive of our initial investment. The consideration paid at closing included a combination of cash and shares of CarMax common stock. See Note 2 for additional information.
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We are party to contractual obligations involving commitments to make payments to third parties. These obligations impact our liquidity and capital resource needs. Our contractual obligations primarily consist of long-term debt and related interest payments, leases, purchase obligations and commitments, income taxes and defined benefit retirement plans. See Notes 13 and 17 for amounts outstanding as of February 28, 2022 related to debt and leases, respectively.
Our contractual obligations related to income taxes represent the net unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions. See Note 11 for information related to income taxes. Our contractual obligations related to defined benefit retirement plans represent the funded status recognized as of February 28, 2022. See Note 12 for information related to these plans.
Purchase obligations and commitments consist of certain enforceable and legally binding obligations related to real estate purchases, third-party outsourcing services and advertising. As of February 28, 2022, our purchase obligations and commitments were approximately $200.9 million, of which $108.0 million are due in fiscal 2023. The majority of the remaining purchase obligations and commitments are due within the next three years.
We currently target an adjusted debt-to-total capital ratio in a range of 35% to 45%. At the end of fiscal 2022, our adjusted debt to capital ratio, net of cash on hand, was at the higher end of our targeted range for the year. In calculating this ratio, we utilize total debt excluding non-recourse notes payable, finance lease liabilities, a multiple of eight times rent expense and total shareholders’ equity. Generally, we expect to use our revolving credit facility and other financing sources, together with stock repurchases, to maintain this targeted ratio; however, in any period, we may be outside this range due to seasonal, market, strategic or other factors.
Operating Activities. During fiscal 2022, net cash used in operating activities totaled $2.55 billion, compared with net cash provided by operating activities of $667.8 million in fiscal 2021. Our operating cash flows are significantly impacted by changes in auto loans receivable, which increased $1.94 billion in fiscal 2022 compared with $300.8 million in fiscal 2021.
The majority of the changes in auto loans receivable are accompanied by changes in non-recourse notes payable, which are issued to fund auto loans originated by CAF. Net issuances of non-recourse notes payable were $1.70 billion in fiscal 2022 compared with $151.5 million in fiscal 2021 and are separately reflected as cash from financing activities. Due to the presentation differences between auto loans receivable and non-recourse notes payable on the consolidated statements of cash flows, fluctuations in these amounts can have a significant impact on our operating and financing cash flows without affecting our overall liquidity, working capital or cash flows.
As of February 28, 2022, total inventory was $5.12 billion, representing an increase of $1.97 billion, or 62.3%, compared with the balance as of the start of the fiscal year. The increase was primarily due to an increase in the average carrying cost of inventory as a result of higher acquisition costs, driven by market appreciation, as well as an increase in vehicle units. Saleable inventory levels have been below our targets throughout the current fiscal year as a result of temporary production slowdowns experienced in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021 and strong demand experienced during fiscal 2022. We made substantial progress in building our inventory position during the second quarter of fiscal 2022, and we achieved sequential growth in saleable inventory each month during the third quarter. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, we continued to build inventory for tax refund season, which typically has stronger demand. As of February 28, 2022, we believe our inventory is well positioned to support anticipated sales in the first quarter of fiscal 2023.
The change in net cash (used in) provided by operating activities for fiscal 2022 compared with fiscal 2021 reflected the changes in auto loans receivable and inventory, as discussed above, as well as accounts receivable, driven by increased sales and timing, partially offset by an increase in net earnings when excluding non-cash expenses, which include depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation expense and the provisions for loan losses and cancellation reserves. Our results for fiscal 2021 were significantly impacted by COVID-19, primarily during the first quarter. In response, we took proactive measures to strengthen our liquidity position, including reducing our inventory levels and aligning our costs to lower sales volume.
Investing Activities. Net cash used in investing activities totaled $523.7 million in fiscal 2022 compared with $128.2 million in fiscal 2021. For fiscal 2022, this included $241.6 million in cash paid in connection with the Edmunds acquisition, net of cash acquired. Capital expenditures were $308.5 million in fiscal 2022 versus $164.5 million in fiscal 2021. Capital expenditures primarily included store construction costs and store remodeling expenses, as well as investments in technology. We maintain a multi-year pipeline of sites to support our store growth, so portions of capital spending in one year may relate to stores that we open in subsequent fiscal years.
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Financing Activities. Net cash provided by financing activities was $3.10 billion in fiscal 2022, compared with net cash used in financing activities of $424.0 million in fiscal 2021. Included in these amounts were net issuances of non-recourse notes payable of $1.70 billion compared with $151.5 million, respectively. Non-recourse notes payable are typically used to fund changes in auto loans receivable (see “Operating Activities”).
During fiscal 2022, cash provided by financing activities was impacted by stock repurchases of $576.5 million as well as net borrowings on our long-term debt of $1.93 billion, including a new $700 million term loan entered into during the third quarter of fiscal 2022. During fiscal 2021, cash used in financing activities was impacted by stock repurchases of $229.9 million as well as net payments on our long-term debt of $463.0 million.
TOTAL DEBT AND CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
| (In thousands) | As of February 28 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt Description (1) | Maturity Date | 2022 | 2021 | ||||
| Revolving credit facility (2) | June 2024 | $ | 1,243,500 | $ | — | ||
| Term loan (2) | June 2024 | 300,000 | 300,000 | ||||
| Term loan (2) | October 2026 | 699,352 | — | ||||
| 3.86% Senior notes | April 2023 | 100,000 | 100,000 | ||||
| 4.17% Senior notes | April 2026 | 200,000 | 200,000 | ||||
| 4.27% Senior notes | April 2028 | 200,000 | 200,000 | ||||
| Financing obligations | Various dates through February 2059 | 524,766 | 533,578 | ||||
| Non-recourse notes payable | Various dates through August 2028 | 15,466,799 | 13,764,808 | ||||
| Total debt (3) | $ | 18,734,417 | $ | 15,098,386 | |||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 102,716 | $ | 132,319 |
(1)Interest is payable monthly, with the exception of our senior notes, which are payable semi-annually.
(2)Borrowings accrue interest at variable rates based on the Eurodollar rate (LIBOR), or successor benchmark rate, the federal funds rate, or the prime rate, depending on the type of borrowing.
(3)Total debt excludes unamortized debt issuance costs. See Note 13 for additional information.
Borrowings under our $2.00 billion unsecured revolving credit facility are available for working capital and general corporate purposes, and the unused portion is fully available to us. The credit facility, term loans and senior note agreements contain representations and warranties, conditions and covenants. If these requirements are not met, all amounts outstanding or otherwise owed could become due and payable immediately and other limitations could be placed on our ability to use any available borrowing capacity. As of February 28, 2022, we were in compliance with these financial covenants.
See Note 13 for additional information on our revolving credit facility, term loans, senior notes and financing obligations.
CAF auto loans receivable are primarily funded through our warehouse facilities and asset-backed term funding transactions. These non-recourse funding vehicles are structured to legally isolate the auto loans receivable, and we would not expect to be able to access the assets of our non-recourse funding vehicles, even in insolvency, receivership or conservatorship proceedings. Similarly, the investors in the non-recourse notes payable have no recourse to our assets beyond the related receivables, the amounts on deposit in reserve accounts and the restricted cash from collections on auto loans receivable. We do, however, continue to have the rights associated with the interest we retain in these non-recourse funding vehicles.
As of February 28, 2022, $12.18 billion and $3.29 billion of non-recourse notes payable were outstanding related to asset-backed term funding transactions and our warehouse facilities, respectively. During fiscal 2022, we funded a total of $7.32 billion in asset-backed term funding transactions. As of February 28, 2022, we had $1.76 billion of unused capacity in our warehouse facilities.
We have periodically increased our warehouse facility limit over time, as our store base, sales and CAF loan originations have grown. See Notes 1(F) and 13 for additional information on the warehouse facilities.
We generally repurchase the receivables funded through our warehouse facilities when we enter into an asset-backed term funding transaction. If our counterparties were to refuse to permit these repurchases it could impact our ability to execute on our funding program. Additionally, the agreements related to the warehouse facilities include various representations and warranties, covenants and performance triggers. If these requirements are not met, we could be unable to continue to fund
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receivables through the warehouse facilities. In addition, warehouse facility investors could charge us a higher rate of interest and could have us replaced as servicer. Further, we could be required to deposit collections on the related receivables with the warehouse facility agents on a daily basis and deliver executed lockbox agreements to the warehouse facility agents.
The timing and amount of stock repurchases are determined based on stock price, market conditions, legal requirements and other factors. Shares repurchased are deemed authorized but unissued shares of common stock. As of February 28, 2022, a total of $2 billion of board authorizations for repurchases was outstanding, with no expiration date, of which $774.5 million remained available for repurchase. In April 2022, our board of directors increased our share repurchase authorization by $2 billion. See Note 14 for more information on share repurchase activity.
Fair Value Measurements. We recognize money market securities, mutual fund investments, certain equity investments and derivative instruments at fair value. See Note 7 for more information on fair value measurements.