Background Basis of Accounting (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Nov. 30, 2024
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Background	Business. CarMax, Inc. (“we,” “our,” “us,” “CarMax” and “the company”), including its wholly owned subsidiaries, 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. On June 1, 2021, we completed the acquisition of Edmunds Holding Company (“Edmunds”). At that time, Edmunds was identified as a non-reportable operating segment and has been presented as “Other” in the Segment Information footnote in our prior period financial statements. Since the acquisition, Edmunds’ business strategy has become increasingly integrated with that of CarMax Sales Operations. Beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) assessed the financial performance related to Edmunds’ operations together with the rest of the CarMax Sales Operations segment. As a result, as of May 31, 2024, the company realigned its operating segments to be consistent with the manner in which the CODM assesses performance and makes resource allocations. The company now operates in two operating segments, CarMax Sales Operations and CAF, both of which continue to be reportable segments. The operating segment change did not impact the company’s consolidated financial statements but did impact our previous segment footnote disclosure. The Segment Information footnote is no longer presented, as the previous disclosures were for the purpose of presenting the Edmunds operating segment separate from CarMax Sales Operations. The current and prior period required disclosures related to our reportable segments are included elsewhere within the consolidated financial statements and related footnotes. The performance of our CarMax Sales Operations segment is reviewed by our CODM at the gross profit level, the components of which are presented within the consolidated statement of earnings. The required segment information related to our CAF segment is presented in Note 3. Additionally, asset information by segment is not utilized for purposes of assessing performance or allocating resources and, as a result, such information has not been presented. We deliver an unrivaled customer experience by offering a broad selection of quality used vehicles and related products and services at competitive, no-haggle prices using a customer-friendly sales process. 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. We offer customers a range of related products and services, including the appraisal and purchase of vehicles directly from consumers and dealers; the financing of retail vehicle purchases through CAF and third-party finance providers; the sale of extended protection plan (“EPP”) products, which include extended service plans (“ESPs”) and guaranteed asset protection (“GAP”); advertising and subscription services; and vehicle repair service. Vehicles purchased through the appraisal process that do not meet our retail standards are sold to licensed dealers through on-site or virtual wholesale auctions.
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates. The accompanying interim unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of CarMax and our wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. These interim unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, such interim consolidated financial statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments considered necessary to present fairly the financial position and the results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full fiscal year. The accounting policies followed in the presentation of our interim financial results are consistent with those included in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2024 (the “2024 Annual Report”), with the exception of those related to recent accounting pronouncements adopted in the current fiscal year. These interim unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in our 2024 Annual Report.
Use of Estimates	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation. Amounts and percentages may not total due to rounding.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Pronouncements. Effective in Future Periods In November 2024, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an accounting pronouncement (ASU 2024-03) related to expense disclosures. The amendments in this update require public entities to provide disaggregated disclosure of expenses included within relevant income statement expense captions, as well as additional disclosures about selling expenses. This update is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027. We plan to adopt this pronouncement beginning with our fiscal year ended February 29, 2028. We are currently in the process of evaluating the effects of this pronouncement on our consolidated financial statements. In November 2024, the FASB issued an accounting pronouncement (ASU 2024-04) related to induced conversions of convertible debt instruments. The amendments in this update clarify the requirements for determining whether certain settlements of convertible debt instruments should be accounted for as induced conversions rather than as debt extinguishments. This update is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2025, including interim periods within those fiscal years, though early adoption is permitted. We plan to adopt this pronouncement for our fiscal year beginning March 1, 2026, and we do not expect it to have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

Background Basis of Accounting (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Nov. 30, 2024

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Business. CarMax, Inc. (“we,” “our,” “us,” “CarMax” and “the company”), including its wholly owned subsidiaries, 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.

On June 1, 2021, we completed the acquisition of Edmunds Holding Company (“Edmunds”). At that time, Edmunds was identified as a non-reportable operating segment and has been presented as “Other” in the Segment Information footnote in our prior period financial statements. Since the acquisition, Edmunds’ business strategy has become increasingly integrated with that of CarMax Sales Operations. Beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) assessed the financial performance related to Edmunds’ operations together with the rest of the CarMax Sales Operations segment. As a result, as of May 31, 2024, the company realigned its operating segments to be consistent with the manner in which the CODM assesses performance and makes resource allocations. The company now operates in two operating segments, CarMax Sales Operations and CAF, both of which continue to be reportable segments.

The operating segment change did not impact the company’s consolidated financial statements but did impact our previous segment footnote disclosure. The Segment Information footnote is no longer presented, as the previous disclosures were for the purpose of presenting the Edmunds operating segment separate from CarMax Sales Operations. The current and prior period required disclosures related to our reportable segments are included elsewhere within the consolidated financial statements and related footnotes. The performance of our CarMax Sales Operations segment is reviewed by our CODM at the gross profit level, the components of which are presented within the consolidated statement of earnings. The required segment information related to our CAF segment is presented in Note 3. Additionally, asset information by segment is not utilized for purposes of assessing performance or allocating resources and, as a result, such information has not been presented.

We deliver an unrivaled customer experience by offering a broad selection of quality used vehicles and related products and services at competitive, no-haggle prices using a customer-friendly sales process. 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. We offer customers a range of related products and services, including the appraisal and purchase of vehicles directly from consumers and dealers; the financing of retail vehicle purchases through CAF and third-party finance providers; the sale of extended protection plan (“EPP”) products, which include extended service plans (“ESPs”) and guaranteed asset protection (“GAP”); advertising and subscription services; and vehicle repair service. Vehicles purchased through the appraisal process that do not meet our retail standards are sold to licensed dealers through on-site or virtual wholesale auctions.

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates. The accompanying interim unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of CarMax and our wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. These interim unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, such interim consolidated financial statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments considered necessary to present fairly the financial position and the results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full fiscal year.

The accounting policies followed in the presentation of our interim financial results are consistent with those included in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2024 (the “2024 Annual Report”), with the exception of those related to recent accounting pronouncements adopted in the current fiscal year. These interim unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in our 2024 Annual Report.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation. Amounts and percentages may not total due to rounding.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements.

Effective in Future Periods

In November 2024, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an accounting pronouncement (ASU 2024-03) related to expense disclosures. The amendments in this update require public entities to provide disaggregated disclosure of expenses included within relevant income statement expense captions, as well as additional disclosures about selling expenses. This update is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027. We plan to adopt this pronouncement beginning with our fiscal year ended February 29, 2028. We are currently in the process of evaluating the effects of this pronouncement on our consolidated financial statements.

In November 2024, the FASB issued an accounting pronouncement (ASU 2024-04) related to induced conversions of convertible debt instruments. The amendments in this update clarify the requirements for determining whether certain settlements of convertible debt instruments should be accounted for as induced conversions rather than as debt extinguishments. This update is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2025, including interim periods within those fiscal years, though early adoption is permitted. We plan to adopt this pronouncement for our fiscal year beginning March 1, 2026, and we do not expect it to have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.