Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Walmart Inc. (WMT) vs PriceSmart, Inc. (PSMT) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
Selected Stocks
Add up to 10 tickers. Use presets or search to get started.
Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | PSMT | 7.2% revenue growth vs WMT's 4.7% |
| Value | PSMT | Lower P/E (28.7x vs 43.8x), PEG 2.12 vs 3.98 |
| Quality / Margins | WMT | 3.3% net margin vs PSMT's 2.7% |
| Stability / Safety | PSMT | Beta 0.39 vs WMT's 0.53, lower leverage |
| Dividends | PSMT | 0.8% yield, vs WMT's 0.7% |
| Momentum (1Y) | PSMT | +74.5% vs WMT's +30.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | WMT | 7.9% ROA vs PSMT's 6.2%, ROIC 14.7% vs 13.8% |
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.
PriceSmart operates membership-based warehouse clubs in Latin America and the Caribbean, offering U.S.-style bulk shopping for groceries, household goods, and services like optical and tire centers. It generates revenue primarily from membership fees — which provide recurring income — and merchandise sales across its physical clubs and Click & Go e-commerce platform. The company's moat lies in its first-mover advantage and established brand recognition as the dominant membership warehouse operator in underserved emerging markets where Costco and Sam's Club have limited presence.
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
PSMT leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility). WMT leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
WMT is the larger business by revenue, generating $703.1B annually — 130.3x PSMT's $5.4B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 3.3% (WMT) to 2.7% (PSMT). On growth, PSMT holds the edge at +9.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | WMTWalmart Inc. | PSMTPriceSmart, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $703.1B | $5.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $42.8B | $332M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $22.9B | $147M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $15.3B | $125M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +24.9% | +17.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +4.1% | +4.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +3.3% | +2.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +2.2% | +2.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +5.8% | +9.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +35.1% | +6.6% |
Valuation Metrics
At 32.1x trailing earnings, PSMT trades at a 32% valuation discount to WMT's 46.9x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), PSMT offers better value at 2.36x vs WMT's 4.26x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | WMTWalmart Inc. | PSMTPriceSmart, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.02T | $5.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.08T | $5.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 46.87x | 32.08x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 43.76x | 28.74x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 4.26x | 2.36x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 24.44x | 15.88x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.43x | 0.96x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 10.27x | 3.73x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 24.53x | 49.16x |
Profitability & Efficiency
WMT delivers a 22.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $22 in annual profit, vs $11 for PSMT. PSMT carries lower financial leverage with a 0.26x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to WMT's 0.67x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), WMT scores 6/9 vs PSMT's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | WMTWalmart Inc. | PSMTPriceSmart, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +22.3% | +11.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +7.9% | +6.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +14.7% | +13.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +17.5% | +16.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.67x | 0.26x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $56.4B | $77M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $10.7B | $252M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $67.1B | $329M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 11.85x | 16.96x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in WMT five years ago would be worth $30,135 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $16,275 for PSMT. Over the past 12 months, PSMT leads with a +74.5% total return vs WMT's +30.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WMT at 40.2% vs PSMT's 31.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | WMTWalmart Inc. | PSMTPriceSmart, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +13.5% | +25.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +30.7% | +74.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +175.4% | +126.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +201.3% | +62.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +512.5% | +108.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +40.2% | +31.2% |
Risk & Volatility
PSMT is the less volatile stock with a 0.39 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than WMT's 0.53 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | WMTWalmart Inc. | PSMTPriceSmart, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.53x | 0.39x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $134.69 | $158.44 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $79.81 | $81.25 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +95.0% | +97.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 49.9 | 61.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 29.5M | 178K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates WMT as "Buy" and PSMT as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 6.5% upside for WMT (target: $136) vs -46.0% for PSMT (target: $84). For income investors, PSMT offers the higher dividend yield at 0.83% vs WMT's 0.73%.
| Metric | WMTWalmart Inc. | PSMTPriceSmart, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $136.31 | $83.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 64 | 8 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.7% | +0.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 37 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.94 | $1.29 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.8% | +0.1% |
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% |
| PriceSmart, Inc. (PSMT) | 100 | 248.85 | +148.8% |
Walmart Inc. (WMT) returned +201% over 5 years vs PriceSmart, Inc. (PSMT)'s +63%. 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% |
| PriceSmart, Inc. (PSMT) | $3.0B | $5.3B | +75.9% |
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% |
| PriceSmart, Inc. (PSMT) | 3.0% | 2.7% | -7.8% |
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% |
| PriceSmart, Inc. (PSMT) | 28.9 | 25.5 | -11.8% |
Walmart Inc. has traded in a 23x–53x P/E range over 10 years; current trailing P/E is ~47x. PriceSmart, Inc. has traded in a 18x–36x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~32x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walmart Inc. (WMT) | 1.46 | 2.73 | +87.0% |
| PriceSmart, Inc. (PSMT) | 2.98 | 4.82 | +61.7% |
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). PriceSmart, Inc. generated $103M FCF in 2025 (+637% vs 2021).
WMT vs PSMT: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is WMT or PSMT a better buy right now?
PriceSmart, Inc. (PSMT) offers the better valuation at 32.1x trailing P/E (28.7x 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 PSMT?
On trailing P/E, PriceSmart, Inc. (PSMT) is the cheapest at 32.1x versus Walmart Inc. at 46.9x. On forward P/E, PriceSmart, Inc. is actually cheaper at 28.7x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: PriceSmart, Inc. wins at 2.12x versus Walmart Inc.'s 3.98x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — WMT or PSMT?
Over the past 5 years, Walmart Inc. (WMT) delivered a total return of +201.3%, compared to +62.7% for PriceSmart, Inc. (PSMT). 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: WMT returned +512.5% versus PSMT's +108.0%. 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 PSMT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), PriceSmart, Inc. (PSMT) is the lower-risk stock at 0.39β versus Walmart Inc.'s 0.53β — meaning WMT is approximately 34% more volatile than PSMT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, PriceSmart, Inc. (PSMT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 26% versus 67% for Walmart Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — WMT or PSMT?
Walmart Inc. (WMT) is the more profitable company, earning 3.1% net margin versus 2.7% for PriceSmart, Inc. — meaning it keeps 3.1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PSMT leads at 4.5% versus 4.2% for WMT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — WMT leads at 24.9%, 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 PSMT 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, PriceSmart, Inc. (PSMT) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2.12x versus Walmart Inc.'s 3.98x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, PriceSmart, Inc. (PSMT) trades at 28.7x forward P/E versus 43.8x for Walmart Inc. — 15.0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WMT: 6.5% to $136.31.
07Which pays a better dividend — WMT or PSMT?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. PriceSmart, Inc. (PSMT) offers the highest yield at 0.8%, versus 0.7% for Walmart Inc. (WMT).
08Is WMT or PSMT 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%, PSMT: +108.0%), 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.
09What are the main differences between WMT and PSMT?
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. 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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that beat both.
- Sector: Consumer Defensive
- Market Cap > $100B
- Revenue Growth > 5%
- Dividend Yield > 0.5%