Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Acme United Corporation (ACU) 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 | WMT | 4.7% revenue growth vs ACU's 1.6% |
| Value | ACU | Lower P/E (27.8x vs 43.8x), PEG 3.12 vs 3.98 |
| Quality / Margins | ACU | 5.1% net margin vs WMT's 3.3% |
| Stability / Safety | ACU | Beta 0.51 vs WMT's 0.53, lower leverage |
| Dividends | ACU | 1.2% yield, vs WMT's 0.7% |
| Momentum (1Y) | WMT | +30.7% vs ACU's +16.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | WMT | 7.9% ROA vs ACU's 5.8%, ROIC 14.7% vs 8.4% |
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
Acme United Corporation is a manufacturer and distributor of first aid, safety, and cutting tools for consumer and industrial markets. It generates revenue primarily through sales of branded products across three main segments: first aid and safety products (around 50% of sales), cutting tools (roughly 30%), and measuring and craft tools (approximately 20%). The company's competitive advantage lies in its portfolio of established brands—like Westcott, First Aid Only, and Camillus—that have strong recognition in their respective niche markets.
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
ACU leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). WMT leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
WMT is the larger business by revenue, generating $703.1B annually — 3606.2x ACU's $195M. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 5.1% (ACU) to 3.3% (WMT). On growth, WMT holds the edge at +5.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ACUAcme United Corpo… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $195M | $703.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $20M | $42.8B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $10M | $22.9B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $5M | $15.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +39.5% | +24.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +7.2% | +4.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +5.1% | +3.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +2.6% | +2.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +1.9% | +5.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -14.8% | +35.1% |
Valuation Metrics
At 18.4x trailing earnings, ACU trades at a 61% valuation discount to WMT's 46.9x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), ACU offers better value at 2.07x vs WMT's 4.26x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | ACUAcme United Corpo… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $171M | $1.02T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $198M | $1.08T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 18.37x | 46.87x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 27.78x | 43.76x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 2.07x | 4.26x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 9.79x | 24.44x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.88x | 1.43x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.72x | 10.27x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 35.50x | 24.53x |
Profitability & Efficiency
WMT delivers a 22.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $22 in annual profit, vs $9 for ACU. ACU carries lower financial leverage with a 0.31x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to WMT's 0.67x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), WMT scores 6/9 vs ACU's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ACUAcme United Corpo… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +8.7% | +22.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.8% | +7.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +8.4% | +14.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +10.8% | +17.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.31x | 0.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $26M | $56.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $6M | $10.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $33M | $67.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 10.92x | 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 $12,944 for ACU. Over the past 12 months, WMT leads with a +30.7% total return vs ACU's +16.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WMT at 40.2% vs ACU's 24.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ACUAcme United Corpo… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +12.3% | +13.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +16.8% | +30.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +91.7% | +175.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +29.4% | +201.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +228.1% | +512.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +24.2% | +40.2% |
Risk & Volatility
ACU is the less volatile stock with a 0.51 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 | ACUAcme United Corpo… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.51x | 0.53x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $46.19 | $134.69 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $35.31 | $79.81 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +97.4% | +95.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 65.7 | 49.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 7K | 29.5M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ACU as "Buy" and WMT as "Buy". For income investors, ACU offers the higher dividend yield at 1.20% vs WMT's 0.73%.
| Metric | ACUAcme United Corpo… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $136.31 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 1 | 64 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.2% | +0.7% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 37 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.54 | $0.94 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acme United Corpora… (ACU) | 100 | 187.53 | +87.5% |
| Walmart Inc. (WMT) | 100 | 321.15 | +221.1% |
Walmart Inc. (WMT) returned +201% over 5 years vs Acme United Corpora… (ACU)'s +29%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acme United Corpora… (ACU) | $131M | $194M | +49.0% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acme United Corpora… (ACU) | 3.1% | 5.2% | +66.0% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acme United Corpora… (ACU) | 21.5 | 15.2 | -29.3% |
| Walmart Inc. (WMT) | 22.5 | 46.9 | +108.4% |
Acme United Corporation has traded in a 9x–27x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~18x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acme United Corpora… (ACU) | 1.09 | 2.45 | +124.8% |
| 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
Acme United Corporation generated $5M FCF in 2024 (+492% vs 2021). Walmart Inc. generated $42B FCF in 2026 (+61% vs 2021).
ACU vs WMT: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ACU or WMT a better buy right now?
Acme United Corporation (ACU) offers the better valuation at 18.4x trailing P/E (27.8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Acme United Corporation (ACU) a "Buy" — based on 1 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 — ACU or WMT?
On trailing P/E, Acme United Corporation (ACU) is the cheapest at 18.4x versus Walmart Inc. at 46.9x. On forward P/E, Acme United Corporation is actually cheaper at 27.8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Acme United Corporation wins at 3.12x versus Walmart Inc.'s 3.98x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ACU or WMT?
Over the past 5 years, Walmart Inc. (WMT) delivered a total return of +201.3%, compared to +29.4% for Acme United Corporation (ACU). 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 ACU's +228.1%. 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 — ACU or WMT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Acme United Corporation (ACU) is the lower-risk stock at 0.51β versus Walmart Inc.'s 0.53β — meaning WMT is approximately 4% more volatile than ACU relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Acme United Corporation (ACU) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 31% versus 67% for Walmart Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — ACU or WMT?
Acme United Corporation (ACU) is the more profitable company, earning 5.2% net margin versus 3.1% for Walmart Inc. — meaning it keeps 5.2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ACU leads at 7.3% versus 4.2% for WMT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ACU leads at 39.3%, 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 ACU or WMT 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, Acme United Corporation (ACU) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 3.12x versus Walmart Inc.'s 3.98x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Acme United Corporation (ACU) trades at 27.8x forward P/E versus 43.8x for Walmart Inc. — 16.0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
07Which pays a better dividend — ACU or WMT?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Acme United Corporation (ACU) offers the highest yield at 1.2%, versus 0.7% for Walmart Inc. (WMT).
08Is ACU 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%, ACU: +228.1%), 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 ACU 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. 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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