Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB) 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 KMB's -14.2% |
| Value | KMB | Lower P/E (14.7x vs 43.8x) |
| Quality / Margins | KMB | 11.7% net margin vs WMT's 3.3% |
| Stability / Safety | KMB | Beta 0.04 vs WMT's 0.53 |
| Dividends | KMB | 4.5% yield, 27-year raise streak, vs WMT's 0.7% |
| Momentum (1Y) | WMT | +30.7% vs KMB's -18.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | KMB | 11.7% ROA vs WMT's 7.9%, ROIC 23.2% vs 14.7% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Kimberly-Clark is a global manufacturer of personal care and consumer tissue products sold under well-known brands like Huggies, Kleenex, and Scott. It generates revenue primarily through three segments: Personal Care (~50% of sales), Consumer Tissue (~35%), and K-C Professional (~15%), selling to retailers, distributors, and commercial customers. The company's competitive advantage lies in its powerful portfolio of essential household brands with strong consumer loyalty and extensive global distribution networks.
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
KMB 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 — 40.8x KMB's $17.2B. KMB is the more profitable business, keeping 11.7% 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 | KMBKimberly-Clark Co… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $17.2B | $703.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $3.3B | $42.8B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2.0B | $22.9B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $2.4B | $15.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +35.6% | +24.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +14.5% | +4.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +11.7% | +3.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +13.8% | +2.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -17.2% | +5.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +11.9% | +35.1% |
Valuation Metrics
At 18.4x trailing earnings, KMB trades at a 61% valuation discount to WMT's 46.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, KMB's 14.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than WMT's 24.4x.
| Metric | KMBKimberly-Clark Co… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $37.0B | $1.02T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $43.5B | $1.08T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 18.36x | 46.87x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 14.71x | 43.76x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 4.26x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 14.00x | 24.44x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.15x | 1.43x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 21.12x | 10.27x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 22.57x | 24.53x |
Profitability & Efficiency
KMB delivers a 115.0% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $115 in annual profit, vs $22 for WMT. WMT carries lower financial leverage with a 0.67x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to KMB's 4.08x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), WMT scores 6/9 vs KMB's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | KMBKimberly-Clark Co… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +115.0% | +22.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +11.7% | +7.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +23.2% | +14.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +25.3% | +17.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 4.08x | 0.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $6.5B | $56.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $688M | $10.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $7.2B | $67.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 9.73x | 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 $10,537 for KMB. Over the past 12 months, WMT leads with a +30.7% total return vs KMB's -18.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WMT at 40.2% vs KMB's 0.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | KMBKimberly-Clark Co… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +9.9% | +13.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -18.0% | +30.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +0.8% | +175.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +5.4% | +201.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +19.1% | +512.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +0.3% | +40.2% |
Risk & Volatility
KMB is the less volatile stock with a 0.04 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 KMB's 74.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | KMBKimberly-Clark Co… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.04x | 0.53x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $150.45 | $134.69 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $96.26 | $79.81 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +74.1% | +95.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 66.5 | 49.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 5.0M | 29.5M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates KMB as "Hold" and WMT as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 10.4% upside for KMB (target: $123) vs 6.5% for WMT (target: $136). For income investors, KMB offers the higher dividend yield at 4.47% vs WMT's 0.73%.
| Metric | KMBKimberly-Clark Co… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $123.00 | $136.31 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 31 | 64 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +4.5% | +0.7% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 27 | 37 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $4.98 | $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 | Feb 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kimberly-Clark Corp… (KMB) | 100 | 75.84 | -24.2% |
| Walmart Inc. (WMT) | 100 | 345.67 | +245.7% |
Walmart Inc. (WMT) returned +201% over 5 years vs Kimberly-Clark Corp… (KMB)'s +5%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kimberly-Clark Corp… (KMB) | $18.3B | $17.2B | -5.7% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kimberly-Clark Corp… (KMB) | 12.5% | 11.7% | -5.9% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kimberly-Clark Corp… (KMB) | 18.9 | 16.6 | -12.2% |
| Walmart Inc. (WMT) | 22.5 | 46.9 | +108.4% |
Kimberly-Clark Corporation has traded in a 17x–28x 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kimberly-Clark Corp… (KMB) | 6.4 | 6.07 | -5.2% |
| 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
Kimberly-Clark Corporation generated $2B FCF in 2025 (-5% vs 2021). Walmart Inc. generated $42B FCF in 2026 (+61% vs 2021).
KMB vs WMT: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is KMB or WMT a better buy right now?
Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB) offers the better valuation at 18.4x trailing P/E (14.7x 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.
02Which has the better valuation — KMB or WMT?
On trailing P/E, Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB) is the cheapest at 18.4x versus Walmart Inc. at 46.9x. On forward P/E, Kimberly-Clark Corporation is actually cheaper at 14.7x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — KMB or WMT?
Over the past 5 years, Walmart Inc. (WMT) delivered a total return of +201.3%, compared to +5.4% for Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB). 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 KMB's +19.1%. 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 — KMB or WMT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB) is the lower-risk stock at 0.04β versus Walmart Inc.'s 0.53β — meaning WMT is approximately 1403% more volatile than KMB relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Walmart Inc. (WMT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 67% versus 4% for Kimberly-Clark Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — KMB or WMT?
Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB) is the more profitable company, earning 11.7% net margin versus 3.1% for Walmart Inc. — meaning it keeps 11.7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: KMB leads at 14.5% versus 4.2% for WMT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — KMB leads at 35.6%, 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 KMB or WMT more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB) trades at 14.7x forward P/E versus 43.8x for Walmart Inc. — 29.0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KMB: 10.4% to $123.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — KMB or WMT?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB) offers the highest yield at 4.5%, versus 0.7% for Walmart Inc. (WMT).
08Is KMB or WMT better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.04), 4.5% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (KMB: +19.1%, 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 KMB 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: KMB is a mid-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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