O vs WMT

For growth investors, Realty Income Corporation (O) is the stronger pick with 9.

1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 7% for Walmart Inc. (WMT). Walmart Inc. (WMT) offers the better valuation at 47. 9x trailing P/E (44. 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.

On trailing P/E, Walmart Inc.

(WMT) is the cheapest at 47. 9x versus Realty Income Corporation at 54. 3x. On forward P/E, Realty Income Corporation is actually cheaper at 38. 2x — 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 4. 08x versus Realty Income Corporation's 73. 34x.

Over the past 5 years, Walmart Inc.

(WMT) delivered a total return of +187. 7%, compared to +21. 3% for Realty Income Corporation (O). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WMT returned +517. 6% versus O's +51. 8%. 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), Realty Income Corporation (O) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

09β versus Walmart Inc. 's 0. 12β — meaning WMT is approximately 29% more volatile than O relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Realty Income Corporation (O) is pulling ahead at 9.

1% versus 4. 7% for Walmart Inc. (WMT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Realty Income Corporation grew EPS 19. 4% year-over-year, compared to 13. 3% for Walmart Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, O leads at 19. 8% 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.

Realty Income Corporation (O) is the more profitable company, earning 18.

4% net margin versus 3. 1% for Walmart Inc. — meaning it keeps 18. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: O leads at 28. 3% versus 4. 2% for WMT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — O leads at 89. 8%, 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, Walmart Inc. (WMT) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 4. 08x versus Realty Income Corporation's 73. 34x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Realty Income Corporation (O) trades at 38. 2x forward P/E versus 44. 9x for Walmart Inc. — 6. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WMT: 4. 8% to $137. 04.

In this comparison, WMT (0.

7% yield) pays a dividend. O 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, +517. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WMT: +517. 6%, O: +51. 8%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (O (Real Estate) 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 O 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.