WMT vs COST
Walmart Inc. vs Costco Wholesale Corporation · Updated Mar 28, 2026
WMT — 14 winsCOST — 9 wins
Price Performance
WMT +44.32%COST +5.83%
Performance
| WMT | COST | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Month | -1.38% | -0.47% |
| 3 Months | +9.94% | +14.89% |
| 6 Months | +19.07% | +3.90% |
| YTD | +10.14% | +13.89% |
| 1 Year | +44.00% | +5.57% |
| 3 Year | +157.80% | +84.03% |
| 5 Year | +178.88% | +192.05% |
Yearly Returns
| YTD | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMT | +9.0% | +23.8% | +70.2% | +9.8% | -2.0% | -2.6% | +21.2% | +27.3% | -5.5% | +43.8% | +12.4% | -28.6% |
| COST | +15.1% | -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 | 44.78 | 51.07 |
| Forward P/E | 41.54 | 47.83 |
| PEG Ratio | 3.57 | 5.02 |
| P/S Ratio | 1.33 | 1.51 |
| P/B Ratio | 9.53 | 13.45 |
| EV/EBITDA | 21.63 | 30.01 |
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 | +22.20% | +26.64% |
| ROA | +7.77% | +10.22% |
| Debt/Equity | 0.67 | 0.26 |
Growth
| WMT | COST | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth YoY | +5.59% | +9.22% |
| Revenue Growth QoQ | +6.22% | +3.40% |
| EPS Growth YoY | -19.70% | +13.93% |
| EPS Growth QoQ | -31.17% | +1.78% |
Technical
| WMT | COST | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 41.29 | 44.09 |
| % From 20-Day SMA | -1.00% | -0.84% |
| % From 50-Day SMA | -1.09% | -0.25% |
| % From 200-Day SMA | +12.92% | +3.56% |
| % From 52-Week High | -8.90% | -7.96% |
| % From 52-Week Low | +53.75% | +16.35% |
Analyst Ratings
WMT
Buy(56 analysts)
Strong SellHoldStrong Buy
Price Target
$137.04
+14.32% upside
COST
Buy(35 analysts)
Strong SellHoldStrong Buy
Price Target
$1061.76
+9.08% upside
Overview
| WMT | COST | |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Consumer Defensive | Consumer Defensive |
| Industry | Discount Stores | Discount Stores |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | NASDAQ |
| Market Cap | $948.88B | $431.42B |
| Shares Outstanding | 7.97B | 443.9M |
| Avg Volume (10D) | 21.95M | 1.46M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.79% | 0.53% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WMT or COST a better buy right now?
Based on 23 comparable metrics, WMT leads in 14 categories while COST leads in 9. WMT has a consensus analyst rating with 56 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 +44.00% compared to COST's +5.57%. In the short term (1 month), WMT returned -1.38% vs COST's -0.47%.
Is WMT or COST more expensive?
WMT trades at a P/E of 44.78 compared to COST's 51.07. On a price-to-sales basis, WMT trades at 1.33x vs COST's 1.51x. Forward P/E: WMT at 41.54 vs COST at 47.83.
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 -19.70% vs COST at +13.93%.
Do WMT and COST pay dividends?
WMT pays a dividend with a yield of 0.79%. COST pays a dividend with a yield of 0.53%.
Which stock do analysts prefer, WMT or COST?
WMT has 56 analysts with a target price of $137.04 (+14.32% upside). COST has 35 analysts with a target of $1061.76 (+9.08% upside).
Data updated daily. All comparisons based on latest available market data. Not investment advice.