CASY vs WMT

For growth investors, Casey's General Stores, Inc.

(CASY) is the stronger pick with 7. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 7% for Walmart Inc. (WMT). Walmart Inc. (WMT) offers the better valuation at 47. 9x trailing P/E (44. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Casey's General Stores, Inc. (CASY) a "Buy" — based on 25 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.

On trailing P/E, Walmart Inc.

(WMT) is the cheapest at 47. 9x versus Casey's General Stores, Inc. at 58. 9x. On forward P/E, Walmart Inc. is actually cheaper at 44. 9x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Casey's General Stores, Inc. wins at 3. 06x versus Walmart Inc. 's 4. 08x.

Over the past 5 years, Casey's General Stores, Inc.

(CASY) delivered a total return of +291. 9%, compared to +187. 7% for Walmart Inc. (WMT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CASY returned +682. 2% versus WMT's +517. 6%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Walmart Inc.

(WMT) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 12β versus Casey's General Stores, Inc. 's 0. 29β — meaning CASY is approximately 149% 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 84% for Casey's General Stores, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Casey's General Stores, Inc.

(CASY) is pulling ahead at 7. 3% 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 9. 0% for Casey's General Stores, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CASY leads at 7. 2% 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.

Casey's General Stores, Inc.

(CASY) is the more profitable company, earning 3. 4% net margin versus 3. 1% for Walmart Inc. — meaning it keeps 3. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CASY leads at 5. 0% versus 4. 2% for WMT. 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.

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, Casey's General Stores, Inc. (CASY) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 3. 06x versus Walmart Inc. 's 4. 08x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Walmart Inc. (WMT) trades at 44. 9x forward P/E versus 47. 7x for Casey's General Stores, Inc. — 2. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WMT: 4. 8% to $137. 04.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Walmart Inc. (WMT) offers the highest yield at 0. 7%, versus 0. 2% for Casey's General Stores, Inc. (CASY).

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, +517. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WMT: +517. 6%, CASY: +682. 2%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (CASY (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 CASY 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.