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The week's question
In December 2024, in the thread "Re: BRK: Why Not XOM?", BreckHutHigh asked the members: "What about the long road trips with kids?" This week it is put to everyone again. The button below opens the small thread re-asking it - read what others have said so far, then give your own answer as an ordinary reply.
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Stocks A to Z / Stocks B / Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A)
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Author: mungofitch 🐝🐝🐝 GOLD
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Number: of 21944 
Subject: Re: Car Shipping Issues
Date: 06/28/23 2:40 PM
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Some interesting comments on KMX from the Sequoia guys:...

Thanks for posting that.

It seems many Carmax investors are throwing in the towel, thinking the recent weakness is permanent.
I was having a glance at the Value Line report.
Not that I believe their forecasts, but they are often a good touchstone for the consensus of "the market".

In short, their expectations are very poor. They expect a share price in the $65-95 range 3-5 years out, which is where it is now ($83-ish).
It seems to be mainly because they expect growth, but with very low profitability.
They expect revenue per share 3-5 years hence to be up 20% from the past three year average (= growth at half the historical rate), but profits up only 2%.
They anticipate net profit margin of 1.7% - 1.9% now and into the future.
For comparison, the average 2013-2021 was 4.07%, lowest year 3.6%.
I'm not sure how they arrive at that 1.9% level of pessimism, other than assuming the past year is the permanent new normal.
Maybe they figure that Carmax's cost of financing will remain high with prevailing interest rates, but they won't ever be able to pass that along?

FWIW, if their revenue forecast is right but net profit margin rebounds to 3.5%, still below the old range, then EPS would be a pinch over $7, and today's price is just under 12 times that.
I think that sort of return to profitability (or more) is a more likely scenario. I think they will retain their long run success of growth, and will both deserve and receive good valuation levels after the cyclical and one-time issues.

Of course, as always I could be wrong : )
I'm currently a fair bit underwater, though that's not unusual.

Jim
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This community has written 21,448 posts about Berkshire Hathaway. The article-length ones it recommended most:
BRK: Why Not XOM? · 62 recs · 2024
Second quarter comments · 60 recs · 2023
Berkshire's Profit Contributors · 57 recs · 2023
Summary of 2Q 2026 · 54 recs · 2026
3Q Summary · 53 recs · 2024
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