Core Viewpoint - Carvana Co. is under investigation for potential violations of federal securities laws due to significant stock price drops linked to claims of accounting improprieties [1][2]. Company Overview - Carvana operates as an online e-commerce platform and used-car retailer, facilitating the buying, selling, and financing of vehicles entirely online. A major portion of its revenue is derived from online vehicle sales and auto loans, which are often securitized or sold to external parties [3]. Investigation Details - The investigation by Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP focuses on whether Carvana overstated its earnings and improperly accounted for related party transactions [3]. - Gotham City Research LLC released a report indicating that Carvana's financial results are closely connected to a network of related party entities controlled by Ernest Garcia II, which includes DriveTime, Bridgecrest, and GoFi. The report claims that these relationships have led to an overstatement of Carvana's earnings by over $1 billion, raising substantial risks for investors [4]. Stock Performance - Following the release of the Gotham City report on January 28, 2026, Carvana's stock price fell over 20%, dropping from $474.06 per share at market open to a low of $374.55 per share [5].

Core Insights - CarMax Inc. reported better-than-expected third-quarter 2025 earnings with earnings per share of 43 cents, surpassing the analyst consensus estimate of 39 cents [1] - Adjusted earnings per share for the quarter were 51 cents, excluding restructuring charges of 8 cents per share [1] - Quarterly sales reached $5.794 billion, a decrease of 6.9% year-over-year, but exceeded the Street view of $5.678 billion [1] Management Commentary - Interim President and CEO David McCreight acknowledged the need for change despite the company's strong physical and digital infrastructure, brand, and culture [2] - McCreight emphasized the commitment to position CarMax for success while the Board searches for a permanent CEO [2] - Following the earnings announcement, CarMax shares dipped 1.6% to $38.71 [2] Analyst Reactions - Mizuho analyst David Bellinger maintained a Neutral rating and lowered the price target from $46 to $36 [4] - Wedbush analyst Scott Devitt also maintained a Neutral rating and cut the price target from $40 to $36 [4] - Stephens & Co. analyst Jeff Lick maintained an Equal-Weight rating and reduced the price target from $39 to $36 [4] - JP Morgan analyst Rajat Gupta maintained an Underweight rating and lowered the price target from $30 to $28 [4] - RBC Capital analyst Steven Shemesh maintained a Sector Perform rating and raised the price target from $34 to $37 [4]

Core Viewpoint - Wedbush Securities has upgraded Carvana (CVNA) stock from "Neutral" to "Outperform," raising the 12-month price target to $400, citing recent selloff as an opportunity for investors [1] Group 1: Company Performance - Carvana has delivered several quarters of strong growth, with expectations to surpass CarMax in used-car unit volume sooner than anticipated [2] - The company aims to reach 3 million annual retail sales by 2033 and expand adjusted EBITDA margins to 12% by 2027 [2] - Recent quarter saw record revenue and a 44% surge in vehicles sold, although margin pressure led to a temporary decline in shares [3] Group 2: Market Position and Innovations - Carvana operates as a fully online used-car retailer, allowing customers to browse, finance, purchase, trade in, and arrange delivery or pickup through its website or app [4] - The company has transformed the used-car market with innovations like car "vending machines," 360° virtual vehicle tours, and an integrated logistics, inspection, and reconditioning network [5] - Carvana's market capitalization currently stands at $86.7 billion [5] Group 3: Stock Performance and Market Trends - CVNA stock reached a 52-week high of $413.33 in late July but has since pulled back, currently sitting 4% below that peak and above the 52-week low of $148.25 [5] - The stock has shown a strong comeback throughout the year, reflecting renewed optimism in Carvana's business model despite volatility in the used-car and auto-credit markets [6]

Economic Data and Federal Reserve Outlook - Recent economic data has created uncertainty regarding the Federal Reserve's future interest rate cuts, with initial jobless claims dropping by 14,000 to a seasonally adjusted 218,000 for the week ended September 20 [10][11] - The U.S. economy grew faster than previously estimated in the second quarter, driven by strong consumer spending and business investment [10][11] - Investor expectations for another 25 basis points cut in the Fed's October meeting have decreased to 83.4%, down from approximately 92% [10][11] Market Performance - Most S&P 500 sectors ended lower, with energy gaining 0.9% and technology increasing by 0.03%, largely due to Intel's shares rising by 8.9% [5][11] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 173.96 points (0.38%) to 45,947.32, the S&P 500 lost 33.25 points (0.50%) to 6,604.72, and the Nasdaq Composite decreased by 113.16 points (0.50%) to 22,384.70 [6][11] - CarMax shares dropped by 20.1% following a report of lower second-quarter profit, while Accenture shares fell by 2.7% despite reporting revenue above expectations [6][11] Investor Sentiment and Future Expectations - Investors are keenly awaiting upcoming quarterly results from companies, particularly as market valuations are considered high after recent record highs [7][11] - There is a mixed sentiment among monetary policymakers regarding the direction of interest rates, with some advocating for accelerated policy easing [8][11] - The upcoming monthly U.S. jobs report is anticipated to be significant for market direction [7][11]