CART
Instacart (Maplebear Inc.)
Specialty Retail
Market Cap$9.52B
5Y Perf.+35.4%
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Stock Comparison
CART vs WMT
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
WMT
Walmart Inc.
Specialty Retail
Market Cap$1.04T
5Y Perf.+144.0%
CART vs WMT — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | CART | WMT |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Specialty Retail | Specialty Retail |
| Market Cap | $9.52B | $1.04T |
| Revenue (TTM) | $3.86B | $703.06B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $485M | $22.91B |
| Gross Margin | 73.0% | 24.9% |
| Operating Margin | 15.8% | 4.1% |
| Forward P/E | 16.7x | 44.7x |
| Total Debt | $36M | $67.09B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $637M | $10.73B |
CART vs WMT — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
CART
WMT
| Stock | Sep 23 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instacart (Maplebea… (CART) | 100 | 135.4 | +35.4% |
| Walmart Inc. (WMT) | 100 | 244.0 | +144.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CART vs WMT
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: CART leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Walmart Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility and dividend income and shareholder returns. This set spans 2 sectors — these stocks serve different portfolio roles, not just different price points.
CART
Instacart (Maplebear Inc.)
The Growth Play
CART carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night.
- Rev growth 10.8%, EPS growth 1.3%, 3Y rev CAGR 13.6%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.39, Low D/E 1.4%, current ratio 2.40x
- 10.8% revenue growth vs WMT's 4.7%
Best for: growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night
WMT
Walmart Inc.
The Income Pick
WMT is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 37 yrs, beta 0.12, yield 0.7%
- 5.0% 10Y total return vs CART's 19.3%
- Beta 0.12, yield 0.7%, current ratio 0.79x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | CART | 10.8% revenue growth vs WMT's 4.7% |
| Value | CART | Lower P/E (16.7x vs 44.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | CART | 12.6% margin vs WMT's 3.3% |
| Stability / Safety | WMT | Beta 0.12 vs CART's 0.39 |
| Dividends | WMT | 0.7% yield; 37-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | WMT | +33.0% vs CART's -11.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CART | 12.0% ROA vs WMT's 7.9%, ROIC 24.0% vs 14.7% |
CART vs WMT — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
CART vs WMT — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLCARTLAGGINGWMT
WMTWalmart Inc.
2leads
CARTInstacart (Maplebear …
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs WMTMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
CART6/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
CART5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
CART6/7
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
WMT6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
WMT2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CART leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
WMT is the larger business by revenue, generating $703.1B annually — 182.0x CART's $3.9B. CART is the more profitable business, keeping 12.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to WMT's 3.3%. On growth, CART holds the edge at +13.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CARTInstacart (Mapleb… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $3.9B | $703.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $688M | $42.8B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $485M | $22.9B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $883M | $15.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +73.0% | +24.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +15.8% | +4.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +12.6% | +3.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +22.9% | +2.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +13.6% | +5.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +50.0% | +35.1% |
CART leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
CART leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 25.1x trailing earnings, CART trades at a 47% valuation discount to WMT's 47.6x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, CART's 13.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than WMT's 24.8x.
| Metric | CARTInstacart (Mapleb… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $9.5B | $1.04T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $8.9B | $1.09T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 25.13x | 47.65x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 16.74x | 44.67x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 4.33x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 13.21x | 24.83x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.54x | 1.45x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 4.46x | 10.44x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 10.45x | 24.94x |
CART leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CART leads this category, winning 6 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
WMT delivers a 22.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $22 in annual profit, vs $17 for CART. CART carries lower financial leverage with a 0.01x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to WMT's 0.67x.
| Metric | CARTInstacart (Mapleb… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +16.6% | +22.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +12.0% | +7.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +24.0% | +14.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +18.9% | +17.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.01x | 0.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$601M | $56.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $637M | $10.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $36M | $67.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 11.85x |
CART leads this category, winning 6 of 7 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
WMT leads this category, winning 6 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 $11,931 for CART. Over the past 12 months, WMT leads with a +33.0% total return vs CART's -11.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WMT at 37.5% vs CART's 6.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CARTInstacart (Mapleb… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -8.4% | +15.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -11.8% | +33.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +19.3% | +160.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +19.3% | +185.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +19.3% | +505.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +6.1% | +37.5% |
WMT leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
WMT leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
WMT is the less volatile stock with a 0.12 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CART's 0.39 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. WMT currently trades 96.6% from its 52-week high vs CART's 75.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CARTInstacart (Mapleb… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.39x | 0.12x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $53.50 | $134.69 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $32.73 | $91.89 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +75.2% | +96.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 62.6 | 58.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.9M | 17.2M |
WMT leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CART as "Buy" and WMT as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 23.6% upside for CART (target: $50) vs 5.4% for WMT (target: $137). WMT is the only dividend payer here at 0.72% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | CARTInstacart (Mapleb… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $49.70 | $137.04 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 26 | 64 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.7% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 37 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.94 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +14.6% | +0.8% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
CART leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). WMT leads in 2 (Total Returns, Risk & Volatility).
Best OverallInstacart (Maplebear Inc.) (CART)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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CART vs WMT: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CART or WMT a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Instacart (Maplebear Inc.
) (CART) is the stronger pick with 10. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 7% for Walmart Inc. (WMT). Instacart (Maplebear Inc. ) (CART) offers the better valuation at 25. 1x trailing P/E (16. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Instacart (Maplebear Inc. ) (CART) a "Buy" — based on 26 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 — CART or WMT?
On trailing P/E, Instacart (Maplebear Inc.
) (CART) is the cheapest at 25. 1x versus Walmart Inc. at 47. 6x. On forward P/E, Instacart (Maplebear Inc. ) is actually cheaper at 16. 7x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CART or WMT?
Over the past 5 years, Walmart Inc.
(WMT) delivered a total return of +185. 3%, compared to +19. 3% for Instacart (Maplebear Inc. ) (CART). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WMT returned +505. 0% versus CART's +19. 3%. 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 — CART or WMT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Walmart Inc.
(WMT) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 12β versus Instacart (Maplebear Inc. )'s 0. 39β — meaning CART is approximately 231% more volatile than WMT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Instacart (Maplebear Inc. ) (CART) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 67% for Walmart Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — CART or WMT?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Instacart (Maplebear Inc.
) (CART) is pulling ahead at 10. 8% versus 4. 7% for Walmart Inc. (WMT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Walmart Inc. grew EPS 13. 3% year-over-year, compared to 1. 3% for Instacart (Maplebear Inc. ). Over a 3-year CAGR, CART leads at 13. 6% 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 — CART or WMT?
Instacart (Maplebear Inc.
) (CART) is the more profitable company, earning 11. 9% net margin versus 3. 1% for Walmart Inc. — meaning it keeps 11. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CART leads at 15. 4% versus 4. 2% for WMT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CART leads at 73. 6%, 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 CART or WMT more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Instacart (Maplebear Inc.
) (CART) trades at 16. 7x forward P/E versus 44. 7x for Walmart Inc. — 27. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CART: 23. 6% to $49. 70.
08Which pays a better dividend — CART or WMT?
In this comparison, WMT (0.
7% yield) pays a dividend. CART does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is CART 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%, CART: +19. 3%), 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 CART and WMT?
These companies operate in different sectors (CART (Consumer Cyclical) and WMT (Consumer Defensive)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
WMT pays a dividend while CART 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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Revenue Growth>
%
(CART: 13.6% · WMT: 5.8%)Net Margin>
%
(CART: 12.6% · WMT: 3.3%)P/E Ratio<
x
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