Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Dollar Tree, Inc. (DLTR) vs Walmart Inc. (WMT) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | DLTR | 4.8% revenue growth vs WMT's 4.7% |
| Value | DLTR | Lower P/E (22.0x vs 43.8x) |
| Quality / Margins | WMT | 3.3% net margin vs DLTR's -15.6% |
| Stability / Safety | WMT | Beta 0.53 vs DLTR's 0.65, lower leverage |
| Dividends | WMT | 0.7% yield; 37-year raise streak; DLTR pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | DLTR | +73.6% vs WMT's +30.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | WMT | 7.9% ROA vs DLTR's -21.6%, ROIC 14.7% vs 8.8% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Dollar Tree operates a chain of discount variety retail stores that sell most items at fixed low price points — primarily $1.25 at its namesake stores and various low prices at Family Dollar locations. The company generates revenue through two main segments: Dollar Tree stores (fixed-price merchandise) and Family Dollar stores (general merchandise discount retail), with both segments contributing roughly equally to overall sales. Its competitive advantage lies in its extreme value positioning and massive scale — operating over 15,000 stores across North America — which creates significant purchasing power and distribution efficiencies.
Walmart is the world's largest retailer operating a vast network of physical stores and e-commerce platforms. It generates revenue primarily through retail sales — with Walmart U.S. contributing about 65% of total revenue, Walmart International around 20%, and Sam's Club membership warehouse clubs roughly 15%. Its key competitive advantage is massive scale and supply chain efficiency, enabling everyday low prices that competitors struggle to match.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
WMT leads in 4 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). DLTR leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
WMT is the larger business by revenue, generating $703.1B annually — 37.1x DLTR's $19.0B. WMT is the more profitable business, keeping 3.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to DLTR's -15.6%. On growth, WMT holds the edge at +5.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | DLTRDollar Tree, Inc. | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $19.0B | $703.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.8B | $42.8B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$3.0B | $22.9B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.6B | $15.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +35.9% | +24.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +7.9% | +4.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -15.6% | +3.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +8.7% | +2.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -37.2% | +5.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +11.1% | +35.1% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, DLTR's 16.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than WMT's 24.4x.
| Metric | DLTRDollar Tree, Inc. | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $25.4B | $1.02T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $32.0B | $1.08T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -9.00x | 46.87x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 21.98x | 43.76x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 4.26x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 16.07x | 24.44x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.44x | 1.43x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 6.87x | 10.27x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 16.25x | 24.53x |
Profitability & Efficiency
WMT delivers a 22.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $22 in annual profit, vs $-85 for DLTR. WMT carries lower financial leverage with a 0.67x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to DLTR's 1.97x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), WMT scores 6/9 vs DLTR's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | DLTRDollar Tree, Inc. | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -85.2% | +22.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -21.6% | +7.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +8.8% | +14.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +10.7% | +17.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.97x | 0.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $6.6B | $56.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.3B | $10.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $7.8B | $67.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 13.18x | 11.85x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in WMT five years ago would be worth $30,135 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $12,746 for DLTR. Over the past 12 months, DLTR leads with a +73.6% total return vs WMT's +30.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WMT at 40.2% vs DLTR's -4.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | DLTRDollar Tree, Inc. | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -1.0% | +13.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +73.6% | +30.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -12.9% | +175.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +27.5% | +201.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +57.6% | +512.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -4.5% | +40.2% |
Risk & Volatility
WMT is the less volatile stock with a 0.53 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than DLTR's 0.65 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. WMT currently trades 95.0% from its 52-week high vs DLTR's 88.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | DLTRDollar Tree, Inc. | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.65x | 0.53x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $142.40 | $134.69 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $61.80 | $79.81 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +88.8% | +95.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 49.4 | 49.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.5M | 29.5M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates DLTR as "Buy" and WMT as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 6.5% upside for WMT (target: $136) vs 0.6% for DLTR (target: $127). WMT is the only dividend payer here at 0.73% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | DLTRDollar Tree, Inc. | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $127.22 | $136.31 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 47 | 64 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.7% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 3 | 37 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.94 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.6% | +0.8% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dollar Tree, Inc. (DLTR) | 100 | 138.62 | +38.6% |
| Walmart Inc. (WMT) | 100 | 321.15 | +221.1% |
Walmart Inc. (WMT) returned +201% over 5 years vs Dollar Tree, Inc. (DLTR)'s +27%. A $10,000 investment in WMT 5 years ago would be worth $30,135 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dollar Tree, Inc. (DLTR) | $22.2B | $17.6B | -21.0% |
| Walmart Inc. (WMT) | $485.9B | $713.2B | +46.8% |
Walmart Inc.'s revenue grew from $485.9B (2017) to $713.2B (2026) — a 4.4% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dollar Tree, Inc. (DLTR) | 7.7% | -17.2% | -323.7% |
| Walmart Inc. (WMT) | 2.8% | 3.1% | +9.3% |
Walmart Inc.'s net margin went from 3% (2017) to 3% (2026).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dollar Tree, Inc. (DLTR) | 14.9 | 19.6 | +31.5% |
| Walmart Inc. (WMT) | 22.5 | 46.9 | +108.4% |
Dollar Tree, Inc. has traded in a 15x–27x P/E range over 5 years; current trailing P/E is ~-9x. Walmart Inc. has traded in a 23x–53x P/E range over 10 years; current trailing P/E is ~47x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dollar Tree, Inc. (DLTR) | 7.21 | -14.05 | -294.9% |
| Walmart Inc. (WMT) | 1.46 | 2.73 | +87.0% |
Walmart Inc.'s EPS grew from $1.46 (2017) to $2.73 (2026) — a 7% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Dollar Tree, Inc. generated $2B FCF in 2024 (+282% vs 2021). Walmart Inc. generated $42B FCF in 2026 (+61% vs 2021).
DLTR vs WMT: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is DLTR or WMT a better buy right now?
Walmart Inc. (WMT) offers the better valuation at 46.9x trailing P/E (43.8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Dollar Tree, Inc. (DLTR) a "Buy" — based on 47 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — DLTR or WMT?
On forward P/E, Dollar Tree, Inc. is actually cheaper at 22.0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — DLTR or WMT?
Over the past 5 years, Walmart Inc. (WMT) delivered a total return of +201.3%, compared to +27.5% for Dollar Tree, Inc. (DLTR). A $10,000 investment in WMT five years ago would be worth approximately $30K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WMT returned +512.5% versus DLTR's +57.6%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — DLTR or WMT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Walmart Inc. (WMT) is the lower-risk stock at 0.53β versus Dollar Tree, Inc.'s 0.65β — meaning DLTR is approximately 23% more volatile than WMT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Walmart Inc. (WMT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 67% versus 197% for Dollar Tree, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — DLTR or WMT?
Walmart Inc. (WMT) is the more profitable company, earning 3.1% net margin versus -17.2% for Dollar Tree, Inc. — meaning it keeps 3.1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DLTR leads at 8.3% versus 4.2% for WMT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DLTR leads at 35.8%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
06Is DLTR or WMT more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Dollar Tree, Inc. (DLTR) trades at 22.0x forward P/E versus 43.8x for Walmart Inc. — 21.8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WMT: 6.5% to $136.31.
07Which pays a better dividend — DLTR or WMT?
In this comparison, WMT (0.7% yield) pays a dividend. DLTR does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is DLTR or WMT better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Walmart Inc. (WMT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.53), 0.7% yield, +512.5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WMT: +512.5%, DLTR: +57.6%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
09What are the main differences between DLTR and WMT?
Both stocks operate in the Consumer Defensive sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. WMT pays a dividend while DLTR does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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