STG vs WMT

For growth investors, Walmart Inc.

(WMT) is the stronger pick with 4. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 8% for Sunlands Technology Group (STG). Sunlands Technology Group (STG) offers the better valuation at 0. 9x trailing P/E, 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, Sunlands Technology Group (STG) is the cheapest at 0.

9x versus Walmart Inc. at 47. 6x.

Over the past 5 years, Walmart Inc.

(WMT) delivered a total return of +185. 3%, compared to -69. 8% for Sunlands Technology Group (STG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WMT returned +505. 0% versus STG's -97. 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), Walmart Inc.

(WMT) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 12β versus Sunlands Technology Group's 0. 69β — meaning STG is approximately 493% more volatile than WMT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Sunlands Technology Group (STG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 31% versus 67% for Walmart Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(WMT) is pulling ahead at 4. 7% versus -7. 8% for Sunlands Technology Group (STG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Walmart Inc. grew EPS 13. 3% year-over-year, compared to -46. 0% for Sunlands Technology Group. 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.

Sunlands Technology Group (STG) is the more profitable company, earning 17.

2% net margin versus 3. 1% for Walmart Inc. — meaning it keeps 17. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: STG leads at 15. 0% versus 4. 2% for WMT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — STG leads at 84. 0%, 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.

In this comparison, WMT (0.

7% yield) pays a dividend. STG 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, +505. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WMT: +505. 0%, STG: -97. 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.

In terms of investment character: STG is a small-cap deep-value stock; WMT is a mega-cap quality compounder stock. WMT pays a dividend while STG 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.