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COST vs WMT

Costco Wholesale Corporation and Walmart Inc., side by side.

A close call — Costco Wholesale edges ahead, two core metrics to two.

Costco Wholesale is growing far faster (revenue 21.5% vs 7.3%) and carries a lighter balance sheet (debt-to-equity 0.60x vs 0.75x). The one place Walmart pulls ahead is the analyst view: it sits about 29% below its average target on a Buy rating, versus Costco Wholesale trading close to its own. Walmart's case rests on a cheaper earnings multiple (P/E 37.7x vs 46.3x) and steadier price action (beta 0.60x vs 0.87x).

Costco Wholesale leads on

GrowthBalance sheetReturn on equity

Walmart leads on

ValuationAnalyst upsideLower volatility
Costco Wholesale Corporation
COST Discount Stores

Costco Wholesale Corporation

Data as of July 23, 2026
View full COST profile →
Walmart Inc.
WMT Discount Stores

Walmart Inc.

Data as of July 23, 2026
View full WMT profile →

Figures reflect each company's latest snapshot — no metric is a verdict on its own. New to these numbers? Learn how to read them →

Company Size

How large is this company relative to the overall market?

Metric COST WMT

Company Size

$407.06B · Mega-cap

$853.03B · Mega-cap

Valuation

Is this stock priced cheaply or expensively relative to its earnings and revenue?

Metric COST WMT

P/E Ratio

46.3x

37.7x

Forward P/E

40.5x

32.6x

Price-to-Sales

1.4x

1.2x

Profitability

How efficiently does the company turn revenue into profit?

Metric COST WMT

Profit Margin

3.0%

3.1%

Gross Margin

12.9%

25.0%

Return on Equity

29.2%

24.1%

Growth

Is the business expanding — or contracting?

Metric COST WMT

Revenue Growth

21.5%

7.3%

Earnings Growth

45.5%

19.4%

Financial Health

Can the company handle its debts and short-term obligations?

Metric COST WMT

Debt-to-Equity

0.60x

0.75x

Current Ratio

1.07x

0.77x

Dividends

Does the company pay shareholders regular cash income?

Metric COST WMT

Dividend Yield

0.6%

0.9%

Risk & Volatility

How much does this stock move relative to the overall market?

Metric COST WMT

Volatility (Beta)

0.87x

0.60x

Analyst View

What do professional Wall Street analysts say about this stock?

Metric COST WMT

Analyst Consensus

Buy (35 analysts)

Buy (41 analysts)

Analyst Target Price

$1076.91

+17.3% vs price

$138.27

+29.0% vs price

This comparison is a factual summary of reported metrics, not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold either stock. One company leading on a metric doesn't make it the better investment for you.

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