KO vs WMT

For growth investors, Walmart Inc.

(WMT) is the stronger pick with 4. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 9% for The Coca-Cola Company (KO). The Coca-Cola Company (KO) offers the better valuation at 25. 8x trailing P/E (24. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate The Coca-Cola Company (KO) a "Buy" — based on 48 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 trailing P/E, The Coca-Cola Company (KO) is the cheapest at 25.

8x versus Walmart Inc. at 47. 9x. On forward P/E, The Coca-Cola Company is actually cheaper at 24. 1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: The Coca-Cola Company wins at 2. 16x versus Walmart Inc. 's 4. 08x.

Over the past 5 years, Walmart Inc.

(WMT) delivered a total return of +187. 7%, compared to +62. 7% for The Coca-Cola Company (KO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WMT returned +517. 6% versus KO's +112. 2%. 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), The Coca-Cola Company (KO) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

09β versus Walmart Inc. 's 0. 12β — meaning WMT is approximately -233% more volatile than KO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Walmart Inc. (WMT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 67% versus 133% for The Coca-Cola Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Walmart Inc.

(WMT) is pulling ahead at 4. 7% versus 1. 9% for The Coca-Cola Company (KO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: The Coca-Cola Company grew EPS 23. 6% year-over-year, compared to 13. 3% for Walmart Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, WMT leads at 5. 3% 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.

The Coca-Cola Company (KO) is the more profitable company, earning 27.

3% net margin versus 3. 1% for Walmart Inc. — meaning it keeps 27. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: KO leads at 28. 7% versus 4. 2% for WMT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — KO leads at 61. 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.

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, The Coca-Cola Company (KO) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 16x versus Walmart Inc. 's 4. 08x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, The Coca-Cola Company (KO) trades at 24. 1x forward P/E versus 44. 9x for Walmart Inc. — 20. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KO: 9. 2% to $85. 71.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

The Coca-Cola Company (KO) offers the highest yield at 2. 6%, versus 0. 7% for Walmart Inc. (WMT).

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, +517. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WMT: +517. 6%, KO: +112. 2%), 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.

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.