Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare National Beverage Corp. (FIZZ) 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 | WMT | 4.7% revenue growth vs FIZZ's 0.8% |
| Value | FIZZ | Lower P/E (17.9x vs 43.8x), PEG 2.41 vs 3.98 |
| Quality / Margins | FIZZ | 15.5% net margin vs WMT's 3.3% |
| Stability / Safety | FIZZ | Beta 0.11 vs WMT's 0.53, lower leverage |
| Dividends | FIZZ | 8.9% yield, 4-year raise streak, vs WMT's 0.7% |
| Momentum (1Y) | WMT | +30.7% vs FIZZ's -8.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | FIZZ | 25.2% ROA vs WMT's 7.9%, ROIC 57.9% vs 14.7% |
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
National Beverage Corp. is a beverage company that develops, produces, and markets a portfolio of sparkling waters, juices, energy drinks, and carbonated soft drinks primarily in North America. It generates revenue through wholesale distribution to retailers—with its LaCroix sparkling water brand driving significant sales—alongside its Shasta and Faygo soda brands and other beverage lines. The company's key advantage lies in its strong LaCroix brand recognition in the sparkling water category and its efficient, vertically integrated production and distribution model.
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
FIZZ leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). WMT leads in 1 (Total Returns). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
WMT is the larger business by revenue, generating $703.1B annually — 584.7x FIZZ's $1.2B. FIZZ is the more profitable business, keeping 15.5% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to WMT's 3.3%. On growth, WMT holds the edge at +5.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | FIZZNational Beverage… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.2B | $703.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $252M | $42.8B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $186M | $22.9B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $173M | $15.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +37.2% | +24.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +19.7% | +4.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +15.5% | +3.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +14.4% | +2.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +0.3% | +5.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -1.6% | +35.1% |
Valuation Metrics
At 18.3x trailing earnings, FIZZ trades at a 61% valuation discount to WMT's 46.9x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), FIZZ offers better value at 2.46x vs WMT's 4.26x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | FIZZNational Beverage… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3.4B | $1.02T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $3.3B | $1.08T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 18.27x | 46.87x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 17.95x | 43.76x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 2.46x | 4.26x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 12.81x | 24.44x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.83x | 1.43x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 7.67x | 10.27x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 19.97x | 24.53x |
Profitability & Efficiency
FIZZ delivers a 36.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $37 in annual profit, vs $22 for WMT. FIZZ carries lower financial leverage with a 0.16x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to WMT's 0.67x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), WMT scores 6/9 vs FIZZ's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | FIZZNational Beverage… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +36.9% | +22.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +25.2% | +7.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +57.9% | +14.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +40.4% | +17.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.16x | 0.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$122M | $56.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $194M | $10.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $72M | $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 $8,696 for FIZZ. Over the past 12 months, WMT leads with a +30.7% total return vs FIZZ's -8.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WMT at 40.2% vs FIZZ's -5.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | FIZZNational Beverage… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +14.8% | +13.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -8.7% | +30.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -15.1% | +175.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -13.0% | +201.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +155.4% | +512.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -5.3% | +40.2% |
Risk & Volatility
FIZZ is the less volatile stock with a 0.11 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than WMT's 0.53 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 FIZZ's 75.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | FIZZNational Beverage… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.11x | 0.53x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $47.89 | $134.69 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $31.21 | $79.81 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +75.9% | +95.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 68.3 | 49.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 233K | 29.5M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates FIZZ as "Sell" and WMT as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 6.5% upside for WMT (target: $136) vs -3.7% for FIZZ (target: $35). For income investors, FIZZ offers the higher dividend yield at 8.93% vs WMT's 0.73%.
| Metric | FIZZNational Beverage… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Sell | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $35.00 | $136.31 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 8 | 64 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +8.9% | +0.7% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 4 | 37 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $3.25 | $0.94 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.8% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Feb 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Beverage C… (FIZZ) | 100 | 163.26 | +63.3% |
| Walmart Inc. (WMT) | 100 | 345.67 | +245.7% |
Walmart Inc. (WMT) returned +201% over 5 years vs National Beverage C… (FIZZ)'s -13%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Beverage C… (FIZZ) | $827M | $1.2B | +45.3% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Beverage C… (FIZZ) | 12.9% | 15.6% | +20.1% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Beverage C… (FIZZ) | 42.4 | 16 | -62.3% |
| Walmart Inc. (WMT) | 22.5 | 46.9 | +108.4% |
National Beverage Corp. has traded in a 16x–42x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~18x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Beverage C… (FIZZ) | 1.15 | 1.99 | +73.0% |
| 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
National Beverage Corp. generated $170M FCF in 2025 (+1% vs 2021). Walmart Inc. generated $42B FCF in 2026 (+61% vs 2021).
FIZZ vs WMT: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is FIZZ or WMT a better buy right now?
National Beverage Corp. (FIZZ) offers the better valuation at 18.3x trailing P/E (17.9x 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 — FIZZ or WMT?
On trailing P/E, National Beverage Corp. (FIZZ) is the cheapest at 18.3x versus Walmart Inc. at 46.9x. On forward P/E, National Beverage Corp. is actually cheaper at 17.9x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: National Beverage Corp. wins at 2.41x versus Walmart Inc.'s 3.98x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — FIZZ or WMT?
Over the past 5 years, Walmart Inc. (WMT) delivered a total return of +201.3%, compared to -13.0% for National Beverage Corp. (FIZZ). 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 FIZZ's +155.4%. 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 — FIZZ or WMT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), National Beverage Corp. (FIZZ) is the lower-risk stock at 0.11β versus Walmart Inc.'s 0.53β — meaning WMT is approximately 369% more volatile than FIZZ relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, National Beverage Corp. (FIZZ) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 16% versus 67% for Walmart Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — FIZZ or WMT?
National Beverage Corp. (FIZZ) is the more profitable company, earning 15.6% net margin versus 3.1% for Walmart Inc. — meaning it keeps 15.6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FIZZ leads at 19.6% versus 4.2% for WMT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FIZZ leads at 37.0%, 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 FIZZ 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, National Beverage Corp. (FIZZ) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2.41x versus Walmart Inc.'s 3.98x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, National Beverage Corp. (FIZZ) trades at 17.9x forward P/E versus 43.8x for Walmart Inc. — 25.8x 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 — FIZZ or WMT?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. National Beverage Corp. (FIZZ) offers the highest yield at 8.9%, versus 0.7% for Walmart Inc. (WMT).
08Is FIZZ or WMT better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, National Beverage Corp. (FIZZ) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.11), 8.9% yield, +155.4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (FIZZ: +155.4%, WMT: +512.5%), 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 FIZZ 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. In terms of investment character: FIZZ is a small-cap income-oriented stock; WMT is a mega-cap quality compounder stock. 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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