WMT vs COST
Walmart Inc. vs Costco Wholesale Corporation · Updated Sep 25, 2026
WMT — 14 winsCOST — 9 wins
Price Performance
WMT +4.78%COST -2.18%
Performance
| WMT | COST | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Month | +2.34% | -6.35% |
| 3 Months | -6.85% | -4.58% |
| 6 Months | -12.40% | -7.83% |
| YTD | -3.20% | +4.26% |
| 1 Year | +5.20% | -4.69% |
| 3 Year | +108.30% | +71.23% |
| 5 Year | +119.65% | +155.27% |
Yearly Returns
| YTD | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMT | -4.2% | +23.8% | +70.2% | +9.8% | -2.0% | -2.6% | +21.2% | +27.3% | -5.5% | +43.8% | +12.4% | -28.6% |
| COST | +8.0% | -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 | 37.84 | 45.22 |
| Forward P/E | 24.58 | 39.58 |
| PEG Ratio | 3.86 | 4.50 |
| P/S Ratio | 1.17 | 1.35 |
| P/B Ratio | 9.01 | 11.83 |
| EV/EBITDA | 18.97 | 26.66 |
Financials
| WMT | COST | |
|---|---|---|
| EPS (TTM) | $2.85 | $19.88 |
| Gross Margin | +25.14% | +12.77% |
| Operating Margin | +4.22% | +3.99% |
| Net Margin | +3.18% | +3.11% |
| ROE | +24.44% | +26.38% |
| ROA | +7.96% | +10.23% |
| Debt/Equity | 0.79 | 0.25 |
Growth
| WMT | COST | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth YoY | +7.33% | +11.58% |
| Revenue Growth QoQ | -6.77% | +1.34% |
| EPS Growth YoY | +19.64% | +15.19% |
| EPS Growth QoQ | +26.42% | +7.64% |
Technical
| WMT | COST | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 42.70 | 36.79 |
| % From 20-Day SMA | +0.95% | -1.50% |
| % From 50-Day SMA | -1.53% | -3.83% |
| % From 200-Day SMA | -9.06% | -6.32% |
| % From 52-Week High | -20.20% | -18.01% |
| % From 52-Week Low | +9.07% | +6.52% |
Analyst Ratings
WMT
Buy(36 analysts)
Strong SellHoldStrong Buy
Price Target
$128.84
+19.78% upside
COST
Buy(20 analysts)
Strong SellHoldStrong Buy
Price Target
$1101.78
+22.86% upside
Overview
| WMT | COST | |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Consumer Defensive | Consumer Defensive |
| Industry | Discount Stores | Discount Stores |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | NASDAQ |
| Market Cap | $849.84B | $396.44B |
| Shares Outstanding | 7.96B | 443.5M |
| Avg Volume (10D) | 23.26M | 2.39M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.92% | 0.62% |
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 36 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 +5.20% compared to COST's -4.69%. In the short term (1 month), WMT returned +2.34% vs COST's -6.35%.
Is WMT or COST more expensive?
WMT trades at a P/E of 37.84 compared to COST's 45.22. On a price-to-sales basis, WMT trades at 1.17x vs COST's 1.35x. Forward P/E: WMT at 24.58 vs COST at 39.58.
Which stock has higher growth, WMT or COST?
WMT's revenue grew +7.33% year-over-year compared to COST's +11.58%. EPS growth: WMT at +19.64% vs COST at +15.19%.
Do WMT and COST pay dividends?
WMT pays a dividend with a yield of 0.92%. COST pays a dividend with a yield of 0.62%.
Which stock do analysts prefer, WMT or COST?
WMT has 36 analysts with a target price of $128.84 (+19.78% upside). COST has 20 analysts with a target of $1101.78 (+22.86% upside).
Data updated daily. All comparisons based on latest available market data. Not investment advice.