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PM vs WMT
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Specialty Retail
PM vs WMT — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Tobacco | Specialty Retail |
| Market Cap | $265.78B | $1.04T |
| Revenue (TTM) | $41.49B | $703.06B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $11.10B | $22.91B |
| Gross Margin | 67.3% | 24.9% |
| Operating Margin | 36.8% | 4.1% |
| Forward P/E | 20.3x | 44.7x |
| Total Debt | $48.84B | $67.09B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $4.87B | $10.73B |
PM vs WMT — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philip Morris Inter… (PM) | 100 | 232.5 | +132.5% |
| Walmart Inc. (WMT) | 100 | 314.6 | +214.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: PM vs WMT
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
PM carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 16 yrs, beta -0.07, yield 3.2%
- Rev growth 7.3%, EPS growth 60.6%, 3Y rev CAGR 8.6%
- Lower volatility, beta -0.07, current ratio 0.96x
WMT is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- 5.0% 10Y total return vs PM's 118.5%
- +33.0% vs PM's +1.3%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 7.3% revenue growth vs WMT's 4.7% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (20.3x vs 44.7x), PEG 2.87 vs 4.06 | |
| Quality / Margins | 26.7% margin vs WMT's 3.3% | |
| Dividends | 3.2% yield, 16-year raise streak, vs WMT's 0.7% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +33.0% vs PM's +1.3% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 16.2% ROA vs WMT's 7.9%, ROIC 33.2% vs 14.7% |
PM vs WMT — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
PM vs WMT — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PM leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
WMT is the larger business by revenue, generating $703.1B annually — 16.9x PM's $41.5B. PM is the more profitable business, keeping 26.7% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to WMT's 3.3%. On growth, PM holds the edge at +9.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $41.5B | $703.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $17.2B | $42.8B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $11.1B | $22.9B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $10.7B | $15.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +67.3% | +24.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +36.8% | +4.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +26.7% | +3.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +25.7% | +2.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +9.1% | +5.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -9.3% | +35.1% |
Valuation Metrics
PM leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 23.5x trailing earnings, PM trades at a 51% valuation discount to WMT's 47.6x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), PM offers better value at 3.32x vs WMT's 4.33x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $265.8B | $1.04T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $309.7B | $1.09T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 23.49x | 47.65x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 20.31x | 44.67x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 3.32x | 4.33x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 18.30x | 24.83x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 6.54x | 1.45x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | — | 10.44x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 24.92x | 24.94x |
Profitability & Efficiency
PM leads this category, winning 6 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), PM scores 7/9 vs WMT's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | — | +22.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +16.2% | +7.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +33.2% | +14.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +36.1% | +17.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 0.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $44.0B | $56.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $4.9B | $10.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $48.8B | $67.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 10.25x | 11.85x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
WMT leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in WMT five years ago would be worth $28,531 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $20,328 for PM. Over the past 12 months, WMT leads with a +33.0% total return vs PM's +1.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WMT at 37.5% vs PM's 25.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +7.3% | +15.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +1.3% | +33.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +95.5% | +160.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +103.3% | +185.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +118.5% | +505.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +25.0% | +37.5% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — PM and WMT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
PM is the less volatile stock with a -0.07 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than WMT's 0.12 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. WMT currently trades 96.6% from its 52-week high vs PM's 89.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | -0.07x | 0.12x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $191.30 | $134.69 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $142.11 | $91.89 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +89.1% | +96.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 57.0 | 58.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 4.6M | 17.2M |
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — PM and WMT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates PM as "Buy" and WMT as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 10.0% upside for PM (target: $188) vs 5.4% for WMT (target: $137). For income investors, PM offers the higher dividend yield at 3.25% vs WMT's 0.72%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $187.60 | $137.04 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 25 | 64 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.2% | +0.7% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 16 | 37 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $5.54 | $0.94 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.8% |
PM leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). WMT leads in 1 (Total Returns). 2 tied.
PM vs WMT: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is PM or WMT a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Philip Morris International Inc.
(PM) is the stronger pick with 7. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 7% for Walmart Inc. (WMT). Philip Morris International Inc. (PM) offers the better valuation at 23. 5x trailing P/E (20. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Philip Morris International Inc. (PM) a "Buy" — based on 25 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 — PM or WMT?
On trailing P/E, Philip Morris International Inc.
(PM) is the cheapest at 23. 5x versus Walmart Inc. at 47. 6x. On forward P/E, Philip Morris International Inc. is actually cheaper at 20. 3x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Philip Morris International Inc. wins at 2. 87x versus Walmart Inc. 's 4. 06x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — PM or WMT?
Over the past 5 years, Walmart Inc.
(WMT) delivered a total return of +185. 3%, compared to +103. 3% for Philip Morris International Inc. (PM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WMT returned +505. 0% versus PM's +118. 5%. 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 — PM or WMT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Philip Morris International Inc.
(PM) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 07β versus Walmart Inc. 's 0. 12β — meaning WMT is approximately -272% more volatile than PM relative to the S&P 500.
05Which is growing faster — PM or WMT?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Philip Morris International Inc.
(PM) is pulling ahead at 7. 3% versus 4. 7% for Walmart Inc. (WMT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Philip Morris International Inc. grew EPS 60. 6% year-over-year, compared to 13. 3% for Walmart Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, PM leads at 8. 6% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — PM or WMT?
Philip Morris International Inc.
(PM) is the more profitable company, earning 27. 9% net margin versus 3. 1% for Walmart Inc. — meaning it keeps 27. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PM leads at 36. 7% versus 4. 2% for WMT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PM leads at 67. 1%, 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.
07Is PM 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, Philip Morris International Inc. (PM) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 87x versus Walmart Inc. 's 4. 06x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Philip Morris International Inc. (PM) trades at 20. 3x forward P/E versus 44. 7x for Walmart Inc. — 24. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PM: 10. 0% to $187. 60.
08Which pays a better dividend — PM or WMT?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Philip Morris International Inc. (PM) offers the highest yield at 3. 2%, versus 0. 7% for Walmart Inc. (WMT).
09Is PM or WMT better for a retirement portfolio?
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%, PM: +118. 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.
10What are the main differences between PM 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: PM is a large-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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