WMT vs COST
Walmart Inc. vs Costco Wholesale Corporation · Updated May 14, 2026
WMT — 11 winsCOST — 12 wins
Price Performance
WMT +36.35%COST +4.42%
Performance
| WMT | COST | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Month | +4.93% | +5.91% |
| 3 Months | +1.95% | +5.65% |
| 6 Months | +28.18% | +11.99% |
| YTD | +17.84% | +19.83% |
| 1 Year | +35.69% | +2.51% |
| 3 Year | +173.96% | +109.99% |
| 5 Year | +180.69% | +191.09% |
Yearly Returns
| YTD | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMT | +17.1% | +23.8% | +70.2% | +9.8% | -2.0% | -2.6% | +21.2% | +27.3% | -5.5% | +43.8% | +12.4% | -28.6% |
| COST | +21.2% | -5.2% | +40.8% | +45.6% | -19.4% | +49.3% | +29.3% | +43.5% | +8.2% | +16.5% | +0.4% | +14.1% |
Valuation
| WMT | COST | |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio | 47.91 | 53.74 |
| Forward P/E | 24.58 | 49.18 |
| PEG Ratio | 3.86 | 5.18 |
| P/S Ratio | 1.45 | 1.54 |
| P/B Ratio | 9.77 | 13.77 |
| EV/EBITDA | 23.53 | 30.75 |
Financials
| WMT | COST | |
|---|---|---|
| EPS (TTM) | $2.74 | $19.23 |
| Gross Margin | +24.67% | +12.76% |
| Operating Margin | +4.57% | +3.74% |
| Net Margin | +2.22% | +2.92% |
| ROE | +20.62% | +26.64% |
| ROA | +7.69% | +10.22% |
| Debt/Equity | 0.63 | 0.26 |
Growth
| WMT | COST | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth YoY | +5.59% | +9.22% |
| Revenue Growth QoQ | +6.22% | +3.40% |
| EPS Growth YoY | -18.46% | +13.93% |
| EPS Growth QoQ | -31.17% | +1.78% |
Technical
| WMT | COST | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 57.98 | 60.13 |
| % From 20-Day SMA | +1.39% | +2.64% |
| % From 50-Day SMA | +3.89% | +3.40% |
| % From 200-Day SMA | +15.43% | +8.43% |
| % From 52-Week High | -2.53% | -3.16% |
| % From 52-Week Low | +42.87% | +22.43% |
Analyst Ratings
WMT
Buy(56 analysts)
Strong SellHoldStrong Buy
Price Target
$137.22
+5.09% upside
COST
Buy(32 analysts)
Strong SellHoldStrong Buy
Price Target
$1070.13
+6.33% upside
Overview
| WMT | COST | |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Consumer Defensive | Consumer Defensive |
| Industry | Discount Stores | Discount Stores |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | NASDAQ |
| Market Cap | $1.04T | $441.77B |
| Shares Outstanding | 7.97B | 443.7M |
| Avg Volume (10D) | 14.78M | 1.88M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.73% | 0.54% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WMT or COST a better buy right now?
Based on 23 comparable metrics, COST leads in 12 categories while WMT leads in 11. COST has a consensus analyst rating with 32 analysts covering the stock. Neither stock should be purchased based on a single comparison — consider your investment goals and risk tolerance.
Which stock has better performance, WMT or COST?
Over the past year, WMT returned +35.69% compared to COST's +2.51%. In the short term (1 month), WMT returned +4.93% vs COST's +5.91%.
Is WMT or COST more expensive?
WMT trades at a P/E of 47.91 compared to COST's 53.74. On a price-to-sales basis, WMT trades at 1.45x vs COST's 1.54x. Forward P/E: WMT at 24.58 vs COST at 49.18.
Which stock has higher growth, WMT or COST?
WMT's revenue grew +5.59% year-over-year compared to COST's +9.22%. EPS growth: WMT at -18.46% vs COST at +13.93%.
Do WMT and COST pay dividends?
WMT pays a dividend with a yield of 0.73%. COST pays a dividend with a yield of 0.54%.
Which stock do analysts prefer, WMT or COST?
WMT has 56 analysts with a target price of $137.22 (+5.09% upside). COST has 32 analysts with a target of $1070.13 (+6.33% upside).
Data updated daily. All comparisons based on latest available market data. Not investment advice.