ADM
Archer-Daniels-Midland Company
Agricultural Farm Products
Market Cap$37.60B
5Y Perf.+98.5%
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Stock Comparison
ADM vs WMT
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
WMT
Walmart Inc.
Specialty Retail
Market Cap$1.04T
5Y Perf.+214.6%
ADM vs WMT — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ADM | WMT |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Agricultural Farm Products | Specialty Retail |
| Market Cap | $37.60B | $1.04T |
| Revenue (TTM) | $80.61B | $703.06B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $1.08B | $22.91B |
| Gross Margin | 5.8% | 24.9% |
| Operating Margin | 1.5% | 4.1% |
| Forward P/E | 18.7x | 44.7x |
| Total Debt | $8.41B | $67.09B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $1.01B | $10.73B |
ADM vs WMT — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
ADM
WMT
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archer-Daniels-Midl… (ADM) | 100 | 198.5 | +98.5% |
| Walmart Inc. (WMT) | 100 | 314.6 | +214.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ADM vs WMT
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: ADM leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and capital preservation and lower volatility. Walmart Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
ADM
Archer-Daniels-Midland Company
The Income Pick
ADM carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 31 yrs, beta 0.12, yield 2.6%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.12, Low D/E 36.5%, current ratio 11.20x
- Beta 0.12, yield 2.6%, current ratio 11.20x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
WMT
Walmart Inc.
The Growth Play
WMT is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 4.7%, EPS growth 13.3%, 3Y rev CAGR 5.3%
- 5.0% 10Y total return vs ADM's 145.6%
- 4.7% revenue growth vs ADM's -6.2%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | WMT | 4.7% revenue growth vs ADM's -6.2% |
| Value | ADM | Lower P/E (18.7x vs 44.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | WMT | 3.3% margin vs ADM's 1.3% |
| Stability / Safety | ADM | Beta 0.12 vs WMT's 0.12, lower leverage |
| Dividends | ADM | 2.6% yield, 31-year raise streak, vs WMT's 0.7% |
| Momentum (1Y) | ADM | +65.7% vs WMT's +33.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | WMT | 7.9% ROA vs ADM's 2.8%, ROIC 14.7% vs 3.3% |
ADM vs WMT — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
ADM vs WMT — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLWMTLAGGINGADM
ADMArcher-Daniels-Midlan…
1leads
WMTWalmart Inc.
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs ADMMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
WMT5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
ADM6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
WMT5/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
WMT4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
WMT leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
WMT is the larger business by revenue, generating $703.1B annually — 8.7x ADM's $80.6B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 3.3% (WMT) to 1.3% (ADM). On growth, WMT holds the edge at +5.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ADMArcher-Daniels-Mi… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $80.6B | $703.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $3.0B | $42.8B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.1B | $22.9B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $4.8B | $15.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +5.8% | +24.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +1.5% | +4.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +1.3% | +3.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +6.0% | +2.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +1.6% | +5.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +1.6% | +35.1% |
WMT leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
ADM leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 35.0x trailing earnings, ADM trades at a 27% valuation discount to WMT's 47.6x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, ADM's 17.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than WMT's 24.8x.
| Metric | ADMArcher-Daniels-Mi… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $37.6B | $1.04T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $45.0B | $1.09T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 34.99x | 47.65x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 18.74x | 44.67x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 4.33x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 17.27x | 24.83x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.47x | 1.45x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.64x | 10.44x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 8.94x | 24.94x |
ADM leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
WMT leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
WMT delivers a 22.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $22 in annual profit, vs $5 for ADM. ADM carries lower financial leverage with a 0.37x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to WMT's 0.67x.
| Metric | ADMArcher-Daniels-Mi… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +4.7% | +22.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.8% | +7.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.3% | +14.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +4.2% | +17.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.37x | 0.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $7.4B | $56.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.0B | $10.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $8.4B | $67.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 3.03x | 11.85x |
WMT leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
WMT leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in WMT five years ago would be worth $28,531 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $13,059 for ADM. Over the past 12 months, ADM leads with a +65.7% total return vs WMT's +33.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WMT at 37.5% vs ADM's 3.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ADMArcher-Daniels-Mi… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +33.0% | +15.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +65.7% | +33.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +11.3% | +160.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +30.6% | +185.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +145.6% | +505.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +3.6% | +37.5% |
WMT leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — ADM and WMT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ADM is the less volatile stock with a 0.12 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than WMT's 0.12 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | ADMArcher-Daniels-Mi… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.12x | 0.12x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $81.75 | $134.69 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $46.81 | $91.89 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +95.4% | +96.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 73.4 | 58.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.7M | 17.2M |
Evenly matched — ADM and WMT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — ADM and WMT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ADM as "Hold" and WMT as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 5.4% upside for WMT (target: $137) vs -23.1% for ADM (target: $60). For income investors, ADM offers the higher dividend yield at 2.61% vs WMT's 0.72%.
| Metric | ADMArcher-Daniels-Mi… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $60.00 | $137.04 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 36 | 64 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.6% | +0.7% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 31 | 37 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.04 | $0.94 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.8% |
Evenly matched — ADM and WMT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
WMT leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). ADM leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Best OverallWalmart Inc. (WMT)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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ADM vs WMT: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ADM or WMT a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Walmart Inc.
(WMT) is the stronger pick with 4. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -6. 2% for Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM). Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) offers the better valuation at 35. 0x trailing P/E (18. 7x 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 — ADM or WMT?
On trailing P/E, Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) is the cheapest at 35.
0x versus Walmart Inc. at 47. 6x. On forward P/E, Archer-Daniels-Midland Company is actually cheaper at 18. 7x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ADM or WMT?
Over the past 5 years, Walmart Inc.
(WMT) delivered a total return of +185. 3%, compared to +30. 6% for Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WMT returned +505. 0% versus ADM's +145. 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 — ADM or WMT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
12β versus Walmart Inc. 's 0. 12β — meaning WMT is approximately 2% more volatile than ADM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 37% versus 67% for Walmart Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — ADM or WMT?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Walmart Inc.
(WMT) is pulling ahead at 4. 7% versus -6. 2% for Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Walmart Inc. grew EPS 13. 3% year-over-year, compared to -38. 9% for Archer-Daniels-Midland Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, WMT leads at 5. 3% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — ADM or WMT?
Walmart Inc.
(WMT) is the more profitable company, earning 3. 1% net margin versus 1. 3% for Archer-Daniels-Midland Company — 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 1. 8% for ADM. 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.
07Is ADM or WMT more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) trades at 18.
7x forward P/E versus 44. 7x for Walmart Inc. — 25. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WMT: 5. 4% to $137. 04.
08Which pays a better dividend — ADM or WMT?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) offers the highest yield at 2. 6%, versus 0. 7% for Walmart Inc. (WMT).
09Is ADM 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. 12), 0. 7% yield, +505. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WMT: +505. 0%, ADM: +145. 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.
10What are the main differences between ADM 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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