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CVNA vs. LOW: Carvana vs. Lowe's Stock Comparison

How do Carvana (CVNA) and Lowe's (LOW) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Carvana (CVNA) and Lowe's (LOW) both belong to the Specialty Retail industry, though CVNA is classified under Automotive Retail while LOW falls under Home Improvement Retail.

Company profile comparison for Carvana (CVNA) and Lowe's (LOW)
Profile ItemCVNALOW
NameCarvana Co. Class A Common StockLowe's Companies, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer DiscretionaryConsumer Discretionary
GICS Industry GroupConsumer Discretionary Distribution & RetailConsumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail
GICS IndustrySpecialty RetailSpecialty Retail
GICS Sub-IndustryAutomotive RetailHome Improvement Retail
Market Capitalization65.96 billion USD104.11 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateApril 28, 2017March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CVNA
LOW
GSPC
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Carvana (CVNA) vs. Lowe's (LOW), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Carvana (CVNA) and Lowe's (LOW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Carvana (CVNA) and Lowe's (LOW). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Carvana (CVNA) and Lowe's (LOW)
MetricCVNALOW
Total Return (1Y)-12.94%-18.46%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)105.63%0.54%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)0.83%-0.55%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CVNA
LOW
GSPC
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Carvana (CVNA) vs. Lowe's (LOW), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Carvana (CVNA) and Lowe's (LOW). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Carvana (CVNA) carries a highly aggressive beta of 3.66, indicating much higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, whereas Lowe's (LOW) is closer to market-like at 0.83 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.

Risk profile metrics for Carvana (CVNA) and Lowe's (LOW)
MetricCVNALOW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)61.80%27.62%
Beta (5Y)3.660.83
Max Drawdown (5Y)-98.77%-36.85%
Avg. Volume (3M)8.57M3.14M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CVNA and LOW are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Carvana (CVNA) and Lowe's (LOW)
MetricCVNALOW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.28-0.83
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.39-1.20

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Carvana (CVNA) earns 58.77% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Lowe's (LOW) has no ROE this period.

CVNA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

58.77%

Max
62.17%
CVNA
58.77%
Q3
32.42%
Median
15.81%
Q1
6.44%
Min
-20.00%

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

--

Max
62.17%
Q3
32.42%
Median
15.81%
Q1
6.44%
Min
-20.00%
LOW
--
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Carvana (CVNA) vs. Lowe's (LOW): LOW does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; CVNA is benchmarked against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Carvana (CVNA) at 6.26% and Lowe's (LOW) at 7.35% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

CVNA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

6.26%

Max
18.57%
Q3
8.71%
CVNA
6.26%
Median
4.29%
Q1
1.17%
Min
-9.41%

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

7.35%

Max
18.57%
Q3
8.71%
LOW
7.35%
Median
4.29%
Q1
1.17%
Min
-9.41%
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Carvana (CVNA) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Lowe's (LOW) at 13.37% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Carvana (CVNA) at 9.22%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

CVNA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

9.22%

Max
24.71%
Q3
11.60%
CVNA
9.22%
Median
6.20%
Q1
2.73%
Min
-6.74%

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

13.37%

Max
24.71%
LOW
13.37%
Q3
11.60%
Median
6.20%
Q1
2.73%
Min
-6.74%
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Carvana (CVNA) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Carvana (CVNA) and Lowe's (LOW)
MetricCVNALOW
ROE (TTM)58.77%--
ROA (TTM)11.70%12.52%
Net Margin (TTM)6.26%7.35%
Operating Margin (TTM)9.22%13.37%
Gross Margin (TTM)19.37%32.99%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Carvana (CVNA) at 48.63% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than Lowe's (LOW) at 3.12%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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Carvana (CVNA) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Carvana (CVNA) at 431.45% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than Lowe's (LOW) at -3.11%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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Carvana (CVNA) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Carvana (CVNA) and Lowe's (LOW)
MetricCVNALOW
Revenue Growth (YoY)48.63%3.12%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)14.31%-3.85%
EPS Growth (YoY)431.45%-3.11%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--5.23%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Lowe's (LOW) at 1.11 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Carvana (CVNA) at 3.93 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.

CVNA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

3.93

CVNA
3.93
Max
2.67
Q3
1.80
Median
1.36
Q1
1.02
Min
0.49

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.11

Max
2.67
Q3
1.80
Median
1.36
LOW
1.11
Q1
1.02
Min
0.49
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Carvana (CVNA) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Carvana (CVNA) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11 against its industry range, while Lowe's (LOW) reports no figure this period.

CVNA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.11

Max
3.53
Q3
1.84
CVNA
1.11
Median
1.11
Q1
0.70
Min
0.01

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

--

Max
3.53
Q3
1.84
Median
1.11
Q1
0.70
Min
0.01
LOW
--
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Carvana (CVNA) vs. Lowe's (LOW): LOW does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; CVNA is benchmarked against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Carvana (CVNA) and Lowe's (LOW)
MetricCVNALOW
Current Ratio (MRQ)3.931.11
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.11--
Net Debt / EBITDA1.023.05

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Carvana (CVNA) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Lowe's (LOW) reports a yield of 2.61%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CVNA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.00%

Max
6.50%
Q3
2.72%
CVNA
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

2.61%

Max
6.50%
Q3
2.72%
LOW
2.61%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Carvana (CVNA) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Carvana (CVNA) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Lowe's (LOW) reports a payout of 41.00%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CVNA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.00%

Max
72.73%
Q3
29.75%
CVNA
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

41.00%

Max
72.73%
LOW
41.00%
Q3
29.75%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Carvana (CVNA) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Carvana (CVNA) and Lowe's (LOW)
MetricCVNALOW
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%2.61%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%41.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Lowe's (LOW) at 15.69 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Carvana (CVNA) at 31.49 sits in the richer quartile — CVNA needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

CVNA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

31.49

Max
37.23
CVNA
31.49
Q3
24.09
Median
17.91
Q1
12.28
Min
0.91

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

15.69

Max
37.23
Q3
24.09
Median
17.91
LOW
15.69
Q1
12.28
Min
0.91
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Carvana (CVNA) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Lowe's (LOW) at 1.15 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Carvana (CVNA) at 2.63 sits in the pricier quartile — CVNA costs more per dollar of sales.

CVNA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

2.63

Max
3.87
CVNA
2.63
Q3
1.71
Median
0.66
Q1
0.27
Min
0.03

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.15

Max
3.87
Q3
1.71
LOW
1.15
Median
0.66
Q1
0.27
Min
0.03
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Carvana (CVNA) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Lowe's (LOW) reports a negative P/B ratio of -14.00, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Carvana (CVNA) reports 10.62, ranking against industry peers normally.

CVNA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

10.62

CVNA
10.62
Max
9.23
Q3
4.75
Median
1.95
Q1
1.03
Min
-3.33

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

-14.00

Max
9.23
Q3
4.75
Median
1.95
Q1
1.03
Min
-3.33
LOW
-14.00
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Carvana (CVNA) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Carvana (CVNA) and Lowe's (LOW)
MetricCVNALOW
P/E Ratio (TTM)31.4915.69
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.631.15
P/B Ratio (MRQ)10.62-14.00
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)0.64%4.43%