Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Walmart Inc. (WMT) vs Apple Inc. (AAPL) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | AAPL | 6.4% revenue growth vs WMT's 4.7% |
| Value | AAPL | Lower P/E (31.1x vs 43.8x), PEG 1.74 vs 3.98 |
| Quality / Margins | AAPL | 27.0% net margin vs WMT's 3.3% |
| Stability / Safety | WMT | Beta 0.53 vs AAPL's 1.28, lower leverage |
| Dividends | WMT | 0.7% yield, 37-year raise streak, vs AAPL's 0.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | WMT | +30.7% vs AAPL's +9.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AAPL | 31.1% ROA vs WMT's 7.9%, ROIC 64.5% vs 14.7% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Valuation efficiency (growth/$)
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Walmart is the world's largest retailer operating a vast network of physical stores and e-commerce platforms. It generates revenue primarily through retail sales — with Walmart U.S. contributing about 65% of total revenue, Walmart International around 20%, and Sam's Club membership warehouse clubs roughly 15%. Its key competitive advantage is massive scale and supply chain efficiency, enabling everyday low prices that competitors struggle to match.
Apple is a technology giant that designs and sells premium consumer electronics — most famously the iPhone — along with related software and services. It generates revenue primarily from hardware sales (roughly 80% of total) and a fast-growing services segment (around 20%) that includes the App Store, subscriptions, and licensing. Its key competitive advantage is a powerful ecosystem that locks users into its hardware, software, and services through seamless integration and high switching costs.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
WMT leads in 4 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). AAPL leads in 2 (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
WMT is the larger business by revenue, generating $703.1B annually — 1.6x AAPL's $435.6B. AAPL is the more profitable business, keeping 27.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to WMT's 3.3%. On growth, AAPL holds the edge at +15.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | WMTWalmart Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $703.1B | $435.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $42.8B | $152.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $22.9B | $117.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $15.3B | $123.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +24.9% | +47.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +4.1% | +32.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +3.3% | +27.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +2.2% | +28.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +5.8% | +15.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +35.1% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 35.4x trailing earnings, AAPL trades at a 24% valuation discount to WMT's 46.9x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), AAPL offers better value at 1.98x vs WMT's 4.26x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | WMTWalmart Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.02T | $3.88T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.08T | $3.97T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 46.87x | 35.41x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 43.76x | 31.15x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 4.26x | 1.98x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 24.44x | 27.45x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.43x | 9.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 10.27x | 53.76x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 24.53x | 39.33x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AAPL delivers a 133.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $134 in annual profit, vs $22 for WMT. WMT carries lower financial leverage with a 0.67x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AAPL's 1.67x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), AAPL scores 7/9 vs WMT's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | WMTWalmart Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +22.3% | +133.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +7.9% | +31.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +14.7% | +64.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +17.5% | +69.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.67x | 1.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $56.4B | $89.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $10.7B | $33.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $67.1B | $123.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 11.85x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in WMT five years ago would be worth $30,135 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $21,049 for AAPL. Over the past 12 months, WMT leads with a +30.7% total return vs AAPL's +9.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WMT at 40.2% vs AAPL's 21.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | WMTWalmart Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +13.5% | -2.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +30.7% | +9.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +175.4% | +81.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +201.3% | +110.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +512.5% | +1027.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +40.2% | +21.9% |
Risk & Volatility
WMT is the less volatile stock with a 0.53 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AAPL's 1.28 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. WMT currently trades 95.0% from its 52-week high vs AAPL's 91.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | WMTWalmart Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.53x | 1.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $134.69 | $288.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $79.81 | $169.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +95.0% | +91.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 49.9 | 57.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 29.5M | 40.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates WMT as "Buy" and AAPL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 14.7% upside for AAPL (target: $303) vs 6.5% for WMT (target: $136). For income investors, WMT offers the higher dividend yield at 0.73% vs AAPL's 0.39%.
| Metric | WMTWalmart Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $136.31 | $303.11 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 64 | 109 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.7% | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 37 | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.94 | $1.03 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.8% | +2.3% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walmart Inc. (WMT) | 100 | 321.15 | +221.1% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 100 | 361.46 | +261.5% |
Walmart Inc. (WMT) returned +201% over 5 years vs Apple Inc. (AAPL)'s +110%. A $10,000 investment in WMT 5 years ago would be worth $30,135 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walmart Inc. (WMT) | $485.9B | $713.2B | +46.8% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | $229.2B | $416.2B | +81.5% |
Walmart Inc.'s revenue grew from $485.9B (2017) to $713.2B (2026) — a 4.4% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walmart Inc. (WMT) | 2.8% | 3.1% | +9.3% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 21.1% | 26.9% | +27.6% |
Walmart Inc.'s net margin went from 3% (2017) to 3% (2026).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walmart Inc. (WMT) | 22.5 | 46.9 | +108.4% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 18.4 | 36.4 | +97.8% |
Walmart Inc. has traded in a 23x–53x P/E range over 10 years; current trailing P/E is ~47x. Apple Inc. has traded in a 13x–41x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~35x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walmart Inc. (WMT) | 1.46 | 2.73 | +87.0% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 2.3 | 7.46 | +224.3% |
Walmart Inc.'s EPS grew from $1.46 (2017) to $2.73 (2026) — a 7% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Walmart Inc. generated $42B FCF in 2026 (+61% vs 2021). Apple Inc. generated $99B FCF in 2025 (+6% vs 2021).
WMT vs AAPL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is WMT or AAPL a better buy right now?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) offers the better valuation at 35.4x trailing P/E (31.1x 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.
02Which has the better valuation — WMT or AAPL?
On trailing P/E, Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the cheapest at 35.4x versus Walmart Inc. at 46.9x. On forward P/E, Apple Inc. is actually cheaper at 31.1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Apple Inc. wins at 1.74x versus Walmart Inc.'s 3.98x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.
03Which is the better long-term investment — WMT or AAPL?
Over the past 5 years, Walmart Inc. (WMT) delivered a total return of +201.3%, compared to +110.5% for Apple Inc. (AAPL). A $10,000 investment in WMT five years ago would be worth approximately $30K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AAPL returned +1027% versus WMT's +512.5%. 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 — WMT or AAPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Walmart Inc. (WMT) is the lower-risk stock at 0.53β versus Apple Inc.'s 1.28β — meaning AAPL is approximately 142% 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 167% for Apple Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — WMT or AAPL?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the more profitable company, earning 26.9% net margin versus 3.1% for Walmart Inc. — meaning it keeps 26.9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AAPL leads at 32.0% versus 4.2% for WMT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AAPL leads at 46.9%, 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.
06Is WMT or AAPL 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, Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1.74x versus Walmart Inc.'s 3.98x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Apple Inc. (AAPL) trades at 31.1x forward P/E versus 43.8x for Walmart Inc. — 12.6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AAPL: 14.7% to $303.11.
07Which pays a better dividend — WMT or AAPL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Walmart Inc. (WMT) offers the highest yield at 0.7%, versus 0.4% for Apple Inc. (AAPL).
08Is WMT or AAPL 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 0.53), 0.7% yield, +512.5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WMT: +512.5%, AAPL: +1027%), 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.
09What are the main differences between WMT and AAPL?
These companies operate in different sectors (WMT (Consumer Defensive) and AAPL (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced. WMT pays a dividend while AAPL 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.
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