CarMax earnings send the auto market crashing – The Average Joe

    CarMax earnings send the auto market crashing

    Victor Lei — Head of Research

    September 29, 2022

    September 29, 2022

    Earlier this year, we questioned whether a recession was priced into auto stocks yet. After all, who wants to buy a car in a recession, especially with rates rising so fast?

    We got the answer yesterday. Used car dealer CarMax (NYSE:KMX) reported earnings that missed analyst forecasts on nearly every metric.

    $KMX fell 25%, and the news also crushed the entire auto market yesterday.

    • Auto retailers AutoNation (NYSE:AN) and Carvana (NASDAQ:CVNA) fell 10% and 20%, respectively.
    • Auto manufacturers General Motors (NYSE:GM) and Ford (NYSE:F) both fell 6%.

    Even electric vehicle makers, which have even larger order backlogs, weren’t spared — with Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) falling 7% yesterday.

    The industry went from having trouble meeting demand (see: supply chain issues) — to no one wanting to go anywhere near a dealership.

    • If a recession wasn’t priced into the market, it is now. And that might not even be the end…
    • Per OANDA analyst Ed Moya, “affordability challenges” suggest it is “only going to get worse” (BBG).

    The bright side (yes, there is one): Rising car prices have contributed to inflation — and falling demand is another indicator of peak inflation.

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