REG vs WMT

For growth investors, Walmart Inc.

(WMT) is the stronger pick with 4. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 4% for Regency Centers Corporation (REG). Regency Centers Corporation (REG) offers the better valuation at 28. 0x trailing P/E (32. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Regency Centers Corporation (REG) a "Buy" — based on 32 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, Regency Centers Corporation (REG) is the cheapest at 28.

0x versus Walmart Inc. at 47. 9x. On forward P/E, Regency Centers Corporation is actually cheaper at 32. 5x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Regency Centers Corporation wins at 0. 53x versus Walmart Inc. 's 4. 08x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Walmart Inc.

(WMT) delivered a total return of +187. 7%, compared to +47. 4% for Regency Centers Corporation (REG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WMT returned +517. 6% versus REG's +33. 0%. 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 Regency Centers Corporation's 0. 36β — meaning REG is approximately 212% 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 83% for Regency Centers Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(WMT) is pulling ahead at 4. 7% versus 3. 4% for Regency Centers Corporation (REG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Regency Centers Corporation grew EPS 33. 6% year-over-year, compared to 13. 3% for Walmart Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, REG leads at 6. 9% 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.

Regency Centers Corporation (REG) is the more profitable company, earning 33.

9% net margin versus 3. 1% for Walmart Inc. — meaning it keeps 33. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: REG leads at 37. 0% versus 4. 2% for WMT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — REG leads at 44. 7%, 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, Regency Centers Corporation (REG) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 53x versus Walmart Inc. 's 4. 08x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Regency Centers Corporation (REG) trades at 32. 5x forward P/E versus 44. 9x for Walmart Inc. — 12. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WMT: 4. 8% to $137. 04.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Regency Centers Corporation (REG) offers the highest yield at 3. 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%, REG: +33. 0%), 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 (REG (Real Estate) and WMT (Consumer Defensive)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: REG 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.