GO vs WMT

For growth investors, Grocery Outlet Holding Corp.

(GO) 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. 6x trailing P/E (44. 7x 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.

On forward P/E, Grocery Outlet Holding Corp.

is actually cheaper at 16. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Walmart Inc.

(WMT) delivered a total return of +185. 3%, compared to -81. 1% for Grocery Outlet Holding Corp. (GO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WMT returned +505. 0% versus GO's -72. 1%. 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 Grocery Outlet Holding Corp. 's 0. 62β — meaning GO is approximately 433% 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 184% for Grocery Outlet Holding Corp. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Grocery Outlet Holding Corp.

(GO) 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 -675. 0% for Grocery Outlet Holding Corp.. Over a 3-year CAGR, GO leads at 9. 4% 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.

Walmart Inc.

(WMT) is the more profitable company, earning 3. 1% net margin versus -4. 8% for Grocery Outlet Holding Corp. — meaning it keeps 3. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: WMT leads at 4. 2% versus -4. 7% for GO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GO leads at 30. 3%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, Grocery Outlet Holding Corp.

(GO) trades at 16. 0x forward P/E versus 44. 7x for Walmart Inc. — 28. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for GO: 51. 8% to $12. 08.

In this comparison, WMT (0.

7% yield) pays a dividend. GO does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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%, GO: -72. 1%), 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.

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 GO 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.