AXON vs CPRT: How Axon Enterprise and Copart Compare (2026)

Last updated July 2026

Short answer

AXON is the larger of the two ($44.09B market cap): the incumbent the market prices for continued execution (52.01x forward earnings, beta 1.38). CPRT is the smaller challenger ($30.08B), cheaper on forward earnings (18.55x): more room to run, but more to prove. The real question is which set of drivers you believe, and whether owning one (or both) leaves you over-concentrated.

AXON vs CPRT: the tie-breaker metrics

Same yardstick, side by side (as of July 2026). Valuation lined up like this is most meaningful for two names in the same corner of the market, which these are. Figures are approximate; verify before investing.

MetricAXONCPRTWhat it tells you
Market cap$44.09B$30.08BSize. The larger name is the incumbent; the smaller has more room to grow and more to prove.
Forward P/E52.0118.55Valuation on next year's expected earnings, the same yardstick for both. Lower is cheaper for that growth; higher means the market is paying up.
Trailing P/E222.3619.39Valuation on the last 12 months. A big drop from trailing to forward means the market expects earnings to jump, so more growth is already in the price.
Beta1.381.02Volatility vs the market. Above 1 swings harder than the index; below 1 is steadier. Higher beta means bigger drawdowns to hold through.
Price vs 52-week range38% of range19% of rangeWhere today's price sits between the 52-week low and high. Near the high is momentum with less margin of safety; near the low is out of favor or a discount, depending on why.
Price / book12.473.29How much you pay over book value. Very high can signal an asset-light, high-return business or a rich price.

Reading it: CPRT is the cheaper of the two on forward earnings, but cheaper is not the same as better. Pair the valuation with growth (how far the forward P/E sits below the trailing P/E) and risk (beta) before you decide.

Before you buy: how AXON and CPRT affect your concentration

The metrics above tell you which is the marginally better business. The bigger risk for most people is not picking the slightly worse stock, it is over-concentrating. AXON and CPRT share themes, so owning both, or adding either to what you already hold, can quietly push a large share of your portfolio into one bet.

This is the part a generic comparison page cannot answer, because it depends on what you own. Connect your brokerage and Walnut shows your real, combined AXON and CPRT exposure, flags overlap with your existing positions, and tells you if adding one would tip you past a concentration you are comfortable with, read-only by default, with your login staying at your broker. Walnut is not an investment adviser.

What does Axon Enterprise (AXON) do?

Axon Enterprise (formerly TASER International) is the dominant supplier of body-worn cameras, in-car video, and conducted electrical weapons (TASERs) to law enforcement worldwide. The company also operates Axon Evidence (Evidence.com), the cloud-based digital evidence management platform that integrates video, audio, and case records, and Axon Records (records management system). Each Axon hardware device generates data that gets stored, processed, and analyzed in Axon's cloud platform, creating a recurring SaaS revenue stream.

Full AXON guide

What does Copart (CPRT) do?

Copart operates a leading global online marketplace for buying and selling used, wholesale, and salvage vehicles, primarily through internet auctions. Its biggest customers are insurance companies, which send Copart vehicles that have been declared total losses after accidents, floods, or other damage; Copart processes, stores, and remarkets those vehicles to a global base of dismantlers, rebuilders, used-car dealers, and individual buyers. The company runs a virtual auction platform (VB3) supported by a vast network of physical storage yards across North America and other countries. Copart makes money mainly through auction and service fees charged to both sellers and buyers, plus vehicle towing, storage, title processing, and related services. Its asset-heavy land holdings and dense yard network create high barriers to entry. Copart benefits from rising vehicle complexity (which raises total-loss frequency) and from a global buyer base. It is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

Full CPRT guide

AXON vs CPRT: how do they differ?

Both fit overlapping themes, but they are not interchangeable. The useful comparison is which set of drivers and risks you want exposure to.

  • AXON drivers: AI-powered features; International expansion.
  • CPRT drivers: Insurance total-loss tailwind; Global buyer network and pricing.

Which fits which kind of investor

A faster-growing, richer-valued name usually swings harder, so it suits a longer horizon and a higher tolerance for volatility; a steadier, more cash-generative business suits a more conservative or income-minded investor. The honest test is which set of risks you could hold through a drawdown: Public sector budget cycles affect short-term revenue. For CPRT, copart trades at a premium growth valuation that prices in continued strong execution, leaving it sensitive to any slowdown.

AXON or CPRT: which should you pick?

Growth-minded investors who believe the theme has years to run tend to accept the richer multiple for more upside; value-minded investors lean toward the cheaper forward earnings and steadier profile. Pick AXON if you believe its drivers more; CPRT if you believe its. Many investors hold both, but since they share themes, that is a concentrated bet, not diversification. Decide deliberately and check overlap. For the full detail, see the AXON and CPRT guides.

AXON vs CPRT: the full fundamentals

AXON. Axon trades at one of the highest valuations in public sector software, reflecting the dominant position in law enforcement video and TASERs, the high-margin SaaS conversion, and the AI feature roadmap. The premium embeds high expectations and is sensitive to budget cycles.

CPRT. Copart trades at a premium growth multiple that reflects its high-margin, asset-backed marketplace moat, secular total-loss tailwinds, and consistent earnings growth. The rich valuation embeds expectations for continued volume and margin strength; the net-cash balance sheet and high returns on capital are the quality features that justify the premium to investors who pay it.

Headline figures (approximate, early 2026): AXON shows revenue (ttm) ~$2.5 billion, operating margin ~25% (non-GAAP), net income (ttm) ~$400 million (GAAP), eps (ttm) ~$5.20; CPRT shows revenue (ttm) ~$4.5 billion, operating margin ~35-40% (very high), net income (ttm) ~$1.5 billion, dividend none; reinvests and holds net cash.

The bottom line: AXON vs CPRT

AXON and CPRT are related but distinct: same themes, different businesses and risks. Neither wins in the abstract; the right pick is whichever thesis you actually believe, sized so you are not over-concentrated in one theme. Walnut can show your combined AXON and CPRT exposure against your real portfolio. It is not an investment adviser.

Wondering how AXON or CPRT fits the portfolio you already own? Walnut is an AI investing app that connects your brokerage read-only and answers questions like that about your actual holdings: overlap, concentration, and how each position tracks the S&P 500. Compare the best AI portfolio analyzers or see the best AI investing apps in 2026.

Investing in Axon Enterprise with AI

Connect the broker you already use and ask Walnut's AI how AXON fits what you actually hold: whether you own it already through a fund, what it would do to your concentration, and how it has tracked the S&P 500. Read-only by default, and you approve anything before it reaches your broker.

FAQ

What is the difference between AXON and CPRT?

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Axon Enterprise (formerly TASER International) is the dominant supplier of body-worn cameras, in-car video, and conducted electrical weapons (TASERs) to law enforcement worldwide. Copart operates a leading global online marketplace for buying and selling used, wholesale, and salvage vehicles, primarily through internet auctions. They show up together because they share investment themes, but they are different businesses, so the better fit depends on which thesis you are expressing.

Is AXON or CPRT the better stock?

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Neither is universally better. AXON is the larger incumbent; CPRT is the smaller challenger and looks cheaper on forward earnings. Walnut is informational, not investment advice. Compare what each does, the tie-breaker metrics above, and the risks, then decide which fits your thesis and what you already own.

Which is cheaper, AXON or CPRT?

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On forward P/E (as of July 2026), AXON trades at 52.01x and CPRT at 18.55x, so CPRT is the cheaper of the two on next year's expected earnings. A lower multiple is not automatically the better buy: a richer valuation can be justified by faster growth, and a lower one can reflect real risk. Weigh the multiple against how fast each business is compounding.

Should you own both AXON and CPRT?

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Because they share themes, owning both concentrates you in that theme. That can be intentional (a focused bet) or accidental (less diversification than it looks). Walnut can show your combined exposure across both, and whether adding either over-concentrates you, before you buy.

What are the risks of AXON vs CPRT?

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AXON: Public sector budget cycles affect short-term revenue. Regulatory debates around law enforcement technology (facial recognition, predictive policing) constrain some product features. Competition from Motorola Solutions in body-worn cameras has intensified. CPRT: Copart trades at a premium growth valuation that prices in continued strong execution, leaving it sensitive to any slowdown. Its volume depends heavily on a concentrated set of large insurance clients, so contract losses or shifts in insurer behavior could hurt. Used-vehicle and scrap-metal price swings affect the value of vehicles sold and buyer demand. A shift toward safer vehicles or autonomous driving could, over the long run, reduce accident and total-loss frequency. Catastrophe-driven volume (hurricanes, floods) is lumpy and unpredictable. Competition from IAA (Insurance Auto Auctions, now part of RB Global) and rising land and labor costs add pressure. The rich multiple is the main near-term risk.

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Walnut is informational, not investment advice. This page is descriptive and not a recommendation to buy or sell AXON or CPRT; figures are approximate and dated (as of July 2026). Verify current data before investing.

    AXON vs CPRT: How Axon Enterprise and Copart Compare (2026), Walnut