Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Five Below, Inc. (FIVE) 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 | FIVE | 8.9% revenue growth vs WMT's 4.7% |
| Value | WMT | PEG 3.98 vs 4.38 |
| Quality / Margins | FIVE | 7.0% net margin vs WMT's 3.3% |
| Stability / Safety | WMT | Beta 0.53 vs FIVE's 1.78, lower leverage |
| Dividends | WMT | 0.7% yield; 37-year raise streak; FIVE pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | FIVE | +157.3% vs WMT's +30.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | WMT | 7.9% ROA vs FIVE's 6.4%, ROIC 14.7% vs 7.4% |
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
Five Below is a specialty value retailer targeting teens and pre-teens with trendy merchandise priced at $5 or less. It generates revenue primarily from retail store sales — over 1,400 locations across the U.S. — with a broad product mix spanning accessories, tech gadgets, games, and seasonal items. The company's competitive advantage lies in its disciplined price-point focus and treasure-hunt shopping experience that drives high foot traffic and repeat visits.
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
WMT leads in 4 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). FIVE leads in 1 (Financial Metrics). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
WMT is the larger business by revenue, generating $703.1B annually — 158.8x FIVE's $4.4B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 7.0% (FIVE) to 3.3% (WMT). On growth, FIVE holds the edge at +23.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | FIVEFive Below, Inc. | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $4.4B | $703.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $582M | $42.8B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $308M | $22.9B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $323M | $15.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +33.4% | +24.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +8.9% | +4.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +7.0% | +3.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +7.3% | +2.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +23.1% | +5.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +21.0% | +35.1% |
Valuation Metrics
At 46.9x trailing earnings, WMT trades at a 4% valuation discount to FIVE's 48.6x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), WMT offers better value at 4.26x vs FIVE's 6.02x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | FIVEFive Below, Inc. | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $12.3B | $1.02T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $14.0B | $1.08T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 48.59x | 46.87x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 35.34x | 43.76x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 6.02x | 4.26x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 28.46x | 24.44x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.18x | 1.43x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 6.82x | 10.27x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 115.60x | 24.53x |
Profitability & Efficiency
WMT delivers a 22.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $22 in annual profit, vs $16 for FIVE. WMT carries lower financial leverage with a 0.67x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to FIVE's 1.10x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), WMT scores 6/9 vs FIVE's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | FIVEFive Below, Inc. | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +15.8% | +22.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.4% | +7.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +7.4% | +14.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +9.6% | +17.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.10x | 0.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.6B | $56.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $332M | $10.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.0B | $67.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 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 $11,517 for FIVE. Over the past 12 months, FIVE leads with a +157.3% total return vs WMT's +30.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WMT at 40.2% vs FIVE's 3.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | FIVEFive Below, Inc. | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +15.5% | +13.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +157.3% | +30.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +9.4% | +175.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +15.2% | +201.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +482.9% | +512.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +3.0% | +40.2% |
Risk & Volatility
WMT is the less volatile stock with a 0.53 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than FIVE's 1.78 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | FIVEFive Below, Inc. | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.78x | 0.53x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $229.08 | $134.69 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $52.38 | $79.81 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +97.6% | +95.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 74.3 | 49.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 869K | 29.5M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates FIVE as "Buy" and WMT as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 6.5% upside for WMT (target: $136) vs -5.1% for FIVE (target: $212). WMT is the only dividend payer here at 0.73% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | FIVEFive Below, Inc. | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $212.19 | $136.31 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 49 | 64 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.7% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 37 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.94 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.4% | +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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Below, Inc. (FIVE) | 100 | 201.67 | +101.7% |
| Walmart Inc. (WMT) | 100 | 321.15 | +221.1% |
Walmart Inc. (WMT) returned +201% over 5 years vs Five Below, Inc. (FIVE)'s +15%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Below, Inc. (FIVE) | $1.3B | $3.9B | +203.3% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Below, Inc. (FIVE) | 8.0% | 6.5% | -18.4% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Below, Inc. (FIVE) | 36 | 22.8 | -36.7% |
| Walmart Inc. (WMT) | 22.5 | 46.9 | +108.4% |
Five Below, Inc. has traded in a 23x–80x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~49x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Below, Inc. (FIVE) | 1.84 | 4.6 | +150.0% |
| 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
Five Below, Inc. generated $107M FCF in 2024 (+168% vs 2021). Walmart Inc. generated $42B FCF in 2026 (+61% vs 2021).
FIVE vs WMT: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is FIVE 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 Five Below, Inc. (FIVE) a "Buy" — based on 49 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 — FIVE or WMT?
On trailing P/E, Walmart Inc. (WMT) is the cheapest at 46.9x versus Five Below, Inc. at 48.6x. On forward P/E, Five Below, Inc. is actually cheaper at 35.3x — 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: Walmart Inc. wins at 3.98x versus Five Below, Inc.'s 4.38x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — FIVE or WMT?
Over the past 5 years, Walmart Inc. (WMT) delivered a total return of +201.3%, compared to +15.2% for Five Below, Inc. (FIVE). 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 FIVE's +482.9%. 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 — FIVE or WMT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Walmart Inc. (WMT) is the lower-risk stock at 0.53β versus Five Below, Inc.'s 1.78β — meaning FIVE is approximately 236% 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 110% for Five Below, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — FIVE or WMT?
Five Below, Inc. (FIVE) is the more profitable company, earning 6.5% net margin versus 3.1% for Walmart Inc. — meaning it keeps 6.5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FIVE leads at 8.4% versus 4.2% for WMT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FIVE leads at 34.9%, 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.
06Is FIVE 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, Walmart Inc. (WMT) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 3.98x versus Five Below, Inc.'s 4.38x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Five Below, Inc. (FIVE) trades at 35.3x forward P/E versus 43.8x for Walmart Inc. — 8.4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WMT: 6.5% to $136.31.
07Which pays a better dividend — FIVE or WMT?
In this comparison, WMT (0.7% yield) pays a dividend. FIVE does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is FIVE 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). Five Below, Inc. (FIVE) carries a higher beta of 1.78 — 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%, FIVE: +482.9%), 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 FIVE and WMT?
These companies operate in different sectors (FIVE (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 FIVE 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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