Let's dig into the relative performance of OneWater (NASDAQ:ONEW) and its peers as we unravel the now-completed Q4 automotive and marine retail earnings season.

At their essence, cars and boats get you from point A to point B, but the former is usually a necessity in everyday life while the latter is a luxury or leisure product. The retailers that sell these vehicles therefore cater to different needs and populations. There are also retailers that may not sell cars and boats themselves but the parts and accessories needed to keep these complex machines in tip top shape.

The 11 automotive and marine retail stocks we track reported a weaker Q4; on average, revenues missed analyst consensus estimates by 2.6%. Stocks, especially growth stocks where cash flows further in the future are more important to the story, had a good end of 2023. The beginning of 2024 saw mixed inflation data, however, leading to more volatile stock performance, and while some of the automotive and marine retail stocks have fared somewhat better than others, they collectively declined, with share prices falling 2.9% on average since the previous earnings results.

OneWater (NASDAQ:ONEW)

A public company since early 2020, OneWater Marine (NASDAQ:ONEW) sells boats, yachts, and other marine products.

OneWater reported revenues of $364 million, down 0.7% year on year, falling short of analyst expectations by 0.2%. It was a mixed quarter for the company, with same-stores sales coming in ahead of Consensus in the quarter and guidance for full year same-store sales exceeding expectations. Full year EPS guidance was maintained, which is comforting. On the other hand, gross margin and EPS both missed analysts' expectations this quarter.

“We delivered same store sales growth of 2% despite an increasingly competitive landscape with more moderated pricing. As expected, the return to traditional seasonal patterns and mix shift impacted results, with a preference towards our larger boat offerings during the historically slower winter months. While margins continue to stabilize, we are cautiously optimistic that we are nearing a new normal across the industry,” commented Austin Singleton, Chief Executive Officer at OneWater.

The stock is up 1.8% since the results and currently trades at $25.6.

Read our full report on OneWater here, it's free.

Best Q4: AutoZone (NYSE:AZO)

Aiming to be a one-stop shop for the DIY customer, AutoZone (NYSE:AZO) is an auto parts and accessories retailer that sells everything from car batteries to windshield wiper fluid to brake pads.

AutoZone reported revenues of $3.86 billion, up 4.6% year on year, in line with analyst expectations. It was a solid quarter for the company, with a decent beat of analysts' earnings estimates.

AutoZone scored the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The stock is up 6.7% since the results and currently trades at $2,961.

Is now the time to buy AutoZone? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it's free.

Slowest Q4: America's Car-Mart (NASDAQ:CRMT)

With a strong presence in the Southern and Central US, America’s Car-Mart (NASDAQ:CRMT) sells used cars to budget-conscious consumers.

America's Car-Mart reported revenues of $299.6 million, down 7.9% year on year, falling short of analyst expectations by 14.6%. It was a weak quarter for the company, with a miss of analysts' revenue estimates, as its sales volumes fell short (11,664 retail units sold vs Wall Street estimates of 14,523). Its gross margin also missed estimates.

America's Car-Mart had the weakest performance against analyst estimates in the group. The stock is down 9.1% since the results and currently trades at $56.66.

Read our full analysis of America's Car-Mart's results here.

Camping World (NYSE:CWH)

Founded in 1966 as a single recreational vehicle (RV) dealership, Camping World (NYSE:CWH) still sells RVs along with boats and general merchandise for outdoor activities.

Camping World reported revenues of $1.11 billion, down 13.4% year on year, falling short of analyst expectations by 2.5%. It was a mixed quarter for the company, with a decent beat of analysts' earnings estimates but a miss of analysts' revenue estimates.

Camping World had the slowest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is down 7.6% since the results and currently trades at $23.18.

Read our full, actionable report on Camping World here, it's free.

CarMax (NYSE:KMX)

Known for its transparent, customer-centric approach and wide selection of vehicles, Carmax (NYSE:KMX) is the largest automotive retailer in the United States.

CarMax reported revenues of $5.63 billion, down 1.7% year on year, falling short of analyst expectations by 3.2%. It was a weak quarter for the company, with a miss of analysts' earnings estimates.

The stock is down 8.1% since the results and currently trades at $72.7.

Read our full, actionable report on CarMax here, it's free.

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