Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Walmart Inc. (WMT) vs Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) 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 | COST | 8.2% revenue growth vs WMT's 4.7% |
| Value | WMT | Lower P/E (43.8x vs 49.8x) |
| Quality / Margins | WMT | 3.3% net margin vs COST's 3.0% |
| Stability / Safety | COST | Beta 0.44 vs WMT's 0.53, lower leverage |
| Dividends | WMT | 0.7% yield, 37-year raise streak, vs COST's 0.5% |
| Momentum (1Y) | WMT | +30.7% vs COST's -3.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | COST | 10.0% ROA vs WMT's 7.9%, ROIC 34.5% vs 14.7% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Valuation efficiency (growth/$)
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
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.
Costco operates a global chain of membership warehouse clubs that sell a wide range of merchandise at low prices to members. It generates revenue primarily from membership fees — which account for roughly 70% of operating income — and merchandise sales, with a razor-thin markup on goods. The company's moat lies in its extreme operational efficiency, massive buying power, and fiercely loyal membership base that renews at over 90% rates.
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 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). COST leads in 1 (Profitability & Efficiency). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
WMT is the larger business by revenue, generating $703.1B annually — 2.5x COST's $280.4B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 3.3% (WMT) to 3.0% (COST).
| Metric | WMTWalmart Inc. | COSTCostco Wholesale … |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $703.1B | $280.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $42.8B | $13.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $22.9B | $8.3B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $15.3B | $9.0B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +24.9% | +12.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +4.1% | +3.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +3.3% | +3.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +2.2% | +3.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +5.8% | +8.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +35.1% | +11.4% |
Valuation Metrics
At 46.9x trailing earnings, WMT trades at a 16% valuation discount to COST's 55.5x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), COST offers better value at 3.68x vs WMT's 4.26x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | WMTWalmart Inc. | COSTCostco Wholesale … |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.02T | $448.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.08T | $442.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 46.87x | 55.51x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 43.76x | 49.80x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 4.26x | 3.68x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 24.44x | 34.51x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.43x | 1.63x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 10.27x | 15.42x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 24.53x | 57.17x |
Profitability & Efficiency
COST delivers a 27.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $27 in annual profit, vs $22 for WMT. COST carries lower financial leverage with a 0.28x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to WMT's 0.67x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), COST scores 7/9 vs WMT's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | WMTWalmart Inc. | COSTCostco Wholesale … |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +22.3% | +27.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +7.9% | +10.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +14.7% | +34.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +17.5% | +27.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.67x | 0.28x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $56.4B | -$6.0B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $10.7B | $14.2B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $67.1B | $8.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 11.85x | 72.26x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in COST five years ago would be worth $31,542 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $30,135 for WMT. Over the past 12 months, WMT leads with a +30.7% total return vs COST's -3.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WMT at 40.2% vs COST's 29.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | WMTWalmart Inc. | COSTCostco Wholesale … |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +13.5% | +18.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +30.7% | -3.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +175.4% | +114.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +201.3% | +215.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +512.5% | +616.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +40.2% | +29.0% |
Risk & Volatility
COST is the less volatile stock with a 0.44 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than WMT's 0.53 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | WMTWalmart Inc. | COSTCostco Wholesale … |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.53x | 0.44x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $134.69 | $1067.08 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $79.81 | $846.80 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +95.0% | +94.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 49.9 | 53.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 29.5M | 2.1M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates WMT as "Buy" and COST as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 6.5% upside for WMT (target: $136) vs 3.7% for COST (target: $1048). For income investors, WMT offers the higher dividend yield at 0.73% vs COST's 0.49%.
| Metric | WMTWalmart Inc. | COSTCostco Wholesale … |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $136.31 | $1048.21 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 64 | 57 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.7% | +0.5% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 37 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.94 | $4.91 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.8% | +0.2% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walmart Inc. (WMT) | 100 | 321.15 | +221.1% |
| Costco Wholesale Co… (COST) | 100 | 313.24 | +213.2% |
Costco Wholesale Co… (COST) returned +215% over 5 years vs Walmart Inc. (WMT)'s +201%. A $10,000 investment in COST 5 years ago would be worth $31,542 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walmart Inc. (WMT) | $485.9B | $713.2B | +46.8% |
| Costco Wholesale Co… (COST) | $129.0B | $275.2B | +113.3% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walmart Inc. (WMT) | 2.8% | 3.1% | +9.3% |
| Costco Wholesale Co… (COST) | 2.1% | 2.9% | +41.7% |
Walmart Inc.'s net margin went from 3% (2017) to 3% (2026).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walmart Inc. (WMT) | 22.5 | 46.9 | +108.4% |
| Costco Wholesale Co… (COST) | 30.6 | 47.4 | +54.9% |
Walmart Inc. has traded in a 23x–53x P/E range over 10 years; current trailing P/E is ~47x. Costco Wholesale Corporation has traded in a 29x–55x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~56x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walmart Inc. (WMT) | 1.46 | 2.73 | +87.0% |
| Costco Wholesale Co… (COST) | 6.08 | 18.21 | +199.5% |
Walmart Inc.'s EPS grew from $1.46 (2017) to $2.73 (2026) — a 7% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Walmart Inc. generated $42B FCF in 2026 (+61% vs 2021). Costco Wholesale Corporation generated $8B FCF in 2025 (+46% vs 2021).
WMT vs COST: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is WMT or COST 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 Walmart Inc. (WMT) a "Buy" — based on 64 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 — WMT or COST?
On trailing P/E, Walmart Inc. (WMT) is the cheapest at 46.9x versus Costco Wholesale Corporation at 55.5x. On forward P/E, Walmart Inc. is actually cheaper at 43.8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Costco Wholesale Corporation wins at 3.30x versus Walmart Inc.'s 3.98x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — WMT or COST?
Over the past 5 years, Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) delivered a total return of +215.4%, compared to +201.3% for Walmart Inc. (WMT). A $10,000 investment in COST five years ago would be worth approximately $32K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: COST returned +616.5% versus WMT's +512.5%. 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 — WMT or COST?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) is the lower-risk stock at 0.44β versus Walmart Inc.'s 0.53β — meaning WMT is approximately 19% more volatile than COST relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 28% versus 67% for Walmart Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — WMT or COST?
Walmart Inc. (WMT) is the more profitable company, earning 3.1% net margin versus 2.9% for Costco Wholesale Corporation — meaning it keeps 3.1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: WMT leads at 4.2% versus 3.8% for COST. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — WMT leads at 24.9%, 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 WMT or COST more undervalued right now?
The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential. By this metric, Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 3.30x versus Walmart Inc.'s 3.98x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Walmart Inc. (WMT) trades at 43.8x forward P/E versus 49.8x for Costco Wholesale Corporation — 6.0x 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 — WMT or COST?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Walmart Inc. (WMT) offers the highest yield at 0.7%, versus 0.5% for Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST).
08Is WMT or COST 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%, COST: +616.5%), 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 WMT and COST?
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 COST 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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- Sector: Consumer Defensive
- Market Cap > $100B
- Revenue Growth > 5%
- Dividend Yield > 0.5%