Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) 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 | ELF | 28.3% revenue growth vs WMT's 4.7% |
| Value | ELF | Lower P/E (29.7x vs 43.8x), PEG 0.73 vs 3.98 |
| Quality / Margins | ELF | 6.8% net margin vs WMT's 3.3% |
| Stability / Safety | WMT | Beta 0.53 vs ELF's 1.66 |
| Dividends | WMT | 0.7% yield; 37-year raise streak; ELF pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | ELF | +31.0% vs WMT's +30.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | WMT | 7.9% ROA vs ELF's 4.5%, ROIC 14.7% vs 13.5% |
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
e.l.f. Beauty is a cosmetics and skincare company offering affordable, high-quality beauty products under brands like e.l.f. Cosmetics, e.l.f. Skin, Well People, and Keys Soulcare. It generates revenue primarily through wholesale distribution to major retailers — accounting for most sales — complemented by direct-to-consumer e-commerce channels. The company's competitive advantage lies in its "accessible luxury" positioning — delivering premium-quality products at drugstore prices through efficient supply chains and strong social media marketing that resonates with younger consumers.
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
Segment breakdown not available.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
WMT leads in 4 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). ELF leads in 1 (Financial Metrics). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
WMT is the larger business by revenue, generating $703.1B annually — 462.6x ELF's $1.5B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 6.8% (ELF) to 3.3% (WMT). On growth, ELF holds the edge at +37.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.5B | $703.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $235M | $42.8B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $104M | $22.9B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $215M | $15.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +70.3% | +24.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +11.1% | +4.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +6.8% | +3.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +14.1% | +2.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +37.8% | +5.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +116.7% | +35.1% |
Valuation Metrics
At 46.9x trailing earnings, WMT trades at a 2% valuation discount to ELF's 47.9x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), ELF offers better value at 1.18x vs WMT's 4.26x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $5.1B | $1.02T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $5.3B | $1.08T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 47.94x | 46.87x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 29.66x | 43.76x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.18x | 4.26x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 26.19x | 24.44x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.91x | 1.43x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 7.06x | 10.27x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 44.48x | 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 ELF. ELF carries lower financial leverage with a 0.41x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to WMT's 0.67x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ELF scores 7/9 vs WMT's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +8.9% | +22.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.5% | +7.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +13.5% | +14.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +16.6% | +17.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.41x | 0.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $164M | $56.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $149M | $10.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $313M | $67.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 6.48x | 11.85x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in ELF five years ago would be worth $33,842 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $30,135 for WMT. Over the past 12 months, ELF leads with a +31.0% total return vs WMT's +30.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WMT at 40.2% vs ELF's 7.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +18.3% | +13.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +31.0% | +30.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +23.1% | +175.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +238.4% | +201.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +247.4% | +512.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +7.2% | +40.2% |
Risk & Volatility
WMT is the less volatile stock with a 0.53 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ELF's 1.66 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. WMT currently trades 95.0% from its 52-week high vs ELF's 61.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.66x | 0.53x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $150.99 | $134.69 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $49.40 | $79.81 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +61.0% | +95.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 60.6 | 49.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.7M | 29.5M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ELF as "Buy" and WMT as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 22.6% upside for ELF (target: $113) vs 6.5% for WMT (target: $136). WMT is the only dividend payer here at 0.73% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ELFe.l.f. Beauty, In… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $112.86 | $136.31 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 27 | 64 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.7% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 37 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.94 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.3% | +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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) | 100 | 521.8 | +421.8% |
| Walmart Inc. (WMT) | 100 | 321.15 | +221.1% |
e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) returned +238% over 5 years vs Walmart Inc. (WMT)'s +201%. A $10,000 investment in ELF 5 years ago would be worth $33,842 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) | $230M | $1.3B | +472.2% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) | 2.3% | 8.5% | +268.7% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) | 202.8 | 39.6 | -80.5% |
| Walmart Inc. (WMT) | 22.5 | 46.9 | +108.4% |
e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. has traded in a 13x–277x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~48x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) | 0.11 | 1.92 | +1645.5% |
| 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
e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. generated $115M FCF in 2025 (+401% vs 2021). Walmart Inc. generated $42B FCF in 2026 (+61% vs 2021).
ELF vs WMT: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ELF or WMT 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 e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) a "Buy" — based on 27 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 — ELF or WMT?
On trailing P/E, Walmart Inc. (WMT) is the cheapest at 46.9x versus e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. at 47.9x. On forward P/E, e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. is actually cheaper at 29.7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. wins at 0.73x versus Walmart Inc.'s 3.98x — a PEG below 1.0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ELF or WMT?
Over the past 5 years, e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) delivered a total return of +238.4%, compared to +201.3% for Walmart Inc. (WMT). A $10,000 investment in ELF five years ago would be worth approximately $34K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WMT returned +512.5% versus ELF's +247.4%. 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 — ELF or WMT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Walmart Inc. (WMT) is the lower-risk stock at 0.53β versus e.l.f. Beauty, Inc.'s 1.66β — meaning ELF is approximately 213% more volatile than WMT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 41% versus 67% for Walmart Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — ELF or WMT?
e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) is the more profitable company, earning 8.5% net margin versus 3.1% for Walmart Inc. — meaning it keeps 8.5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ELF leads at 12.0% versus 4.2% for WMT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ELF leads at 71.2%, 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 ELF 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, e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0.73x versus Walmart Inc.'s 3.98x. A PEG below 1.0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) trades at 29.7x forward P/E versus 43.8x for Walmart Inc. — 14.1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ELF: 22.6% to $112.86.
07Which pays a better dividend — ELF or WMT?
In this comparison, WMT (0.7% yield) pays a dividend. ELF does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is ELF 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). e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) carries a higher beta of 1.66 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (WMT: +512.5%, ELF: +247.4%), 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 ELF 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. WMT pays a dividend while ELF 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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