Walmart (WMT) vs Costco (COST): Stock Comparison
Data as of November 7, 2026. Refreshed weekly from SEC filings and market data.
Walmart is cheaper on earnings, at 45.9 times against 51.2; net margin is about the same (3.0% and 3.0%); Costco grew revenue faster over the last year (10.1% against 6.2%); dividend yield is about the same (0.8% and 0.5%). Walmart clears 2 of this site's 8 value filters and Costco 3. Figures are as of November 7, 2026; each is on the page below with its source.
How do Walmart and Costco compare on the numbers?
| Measure | Walmart (WMT) | Costco (COST) | Clearer lead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share price | $125.52 | $1,053.56 | |
| Market value | $1.01 trillion | $472 billion | |
| P/E ratio (trailing) | 45.9 | 51.2 | WMT |
| PEG ratio | 4.50 | 4.26 | About the same |
| Free-cash-flow yield | 1.5% | 2.0% | About the same |
| Net profit margin | 3.0% | 3.0% | About the same |
| Revenue growth, last year | 6.2% | 10.1% | COST |
| Return on equity | 22.7% | 28.0% | COST |
| Debt to equity | 0.58 | 0.17 | COST |
| Dividend yield | 0.8% | 0.5% | About the same |
| Margin of safety (DCF) | -284.1% | -194.7% | COST |
| Value filters passed (of 8) | 2 | 3 | COST |
| Distance from 52-week high | -6.5% | -3.7% |
How have Walmart and Costco shares done against each other?
Walmart 252Costco 209
Each share price set to 100 on Nov 2021, to Nov 2026. Price only: dividends are not included.
From Nov 2021 to Nov 2026, Walmart shares are up 152% and Costco shares up 109%, so Walmart has pulled ahead of Costco by 43 points of the starting price. The deepest fall from a prior high in that window was 23% for Walmart and 22% for Costco.
| Period | Walmart (WMT) | Costco (COST) |
|---|---|---|
| Last 1 year | +23.4% | +14.1% |
| Last 3 years | +128.4% | +84.9% |
| Last 5 years | +150.6% | +105.3% |
Which has grown faster, Walmart or Costco?
Over 5 years, Walmart grew revenue 5.0% a year and earnings per share 11.6% a year; Costco grew revenue 9.1% and earnings per share 13.0%. Its net margin averaged 2.5% at Walmart and 2.8% at Costco.
| Measure | Walmart (WMT) | Costco (COST) |
|---|---|---|
| Latest fiscal year ended | Jan 2026 | Aug 2026 |
| Revenue, first year to latest | $559 billion to $713 billion | $196 billion to $303 billion |
| Revenue growth per year | 5.0% | 9.1% |
| Earnings per share, first year to latest | $1.58 to $2.73 | $11.27 to $20.76 |
| Earnings per share growth per year | 11.6% | 13.0% |
| Net margin, latest year | 3.1% | 3.0% |
| Net margin, average of the years | 2.5% | 2.8% |
| Free cash flow margin, latest year | 2.1% | 3.1% |
From each company's 10-K filings (SEC EDGAR), over its latest 5 years. Fiscal years end in different months, so each is shown for its own latest 5 years.
What growth does each share price assume?
| Measure | Walmart (WMT) | Costco (COST) |
|---|---|---|
| Free cash flow growth the price implies | n/a | 36.4% a year |
| Free cash flow per share | $1.91 | $20.93 |
| Margin of safety on this site's DCF | -284.1% | -194.7% |
Walmart's price is above what this site's DCF gives even at 40% a year of free cash flow growth, so the price assumes more than any growth rate tested.
At $1,053.56, Costco's price implies free cash flow growth of 36.4% a year, fading to 2.5% over 10 years. That is more growth than the 8% baseline.
The same model and baseline as every stock page. A price that asks for less growth is not a better company, only a lower bar to clear.
Where is each stronger?
Where Walmart leads
- Lower P/E: 45.9 against 51.2
Where Costco leads
- Faster revenue growth last year: 10.1% against 6.2%
- Higher return on equity: 28.0% against 22.7%
- Less debt for its equity: 0.17 against 0.58
- Higher margin of safety on this site's DCF: -194.7% against -284.1%
- More of the 8 value filters: 3 against 2
- Faster revenue growth over its filed record: 9.1% against 5.0%
- Faster earnings-per-share growth over its filed record: 13.0% against 11.6%
- A higher free-cash-flow margin in its latest filed year: 3.1% against 2.1%
About the same on: peg ratio, free-cash-flow yield, net profit margin, dividend yield, net margin, latest year, net margin, average of the years. A lead needs a clear gap (10% apart on a ratio, 1 point on a percentage), so a rounding difference never names a winner. A lead on one measure is not a verdict on the company.
How do the businesses differ?
Walmart. Walmart is the largest US retailer, selling groceries and general merchandise through supercenters, Sam's Club warehouse stores and e-commerce, and it also operates in Mexico, Canada, China and India.
Costco. Costco runs membership-only warehouse stores that sell groceries and general merchandise in bulk at low prices. Annual membership fees make up a large share of its profit.
Both are in the Retail industry on this site. Both sell groceries and household goods at low prices, but Costco charges a membership fee and earns much of its profit from it, while Walmart earns its profit from a far larger range of goods sold in more stores in more countries.
What stands out about Walmart
- Misses 4 of the 8 value filters. It fails Trailing P/E < 25 (45.92), PEG Ratio < 1.5 (4.50) and Price/Book < 8 (10.32) and 1 more; the other 2 pass and 2 were not evaluated.
- The margin of safety is falling. It went from -229% on Oct 7 to -284% on Nov 7 across 8 weekly readings.
- Weakest against peers: P/E ratio. At 45.9× (peer median 24.2×) it ranks 19th of 21 among retail stocks this site tracks.
What stands out about Costco
- Misses 3 of the 8 value filters. It fails Trailing P/E < 25 (51.18), PEG Ratio < 1.5 (4.26) and Price/Book < 8 (13.19); the other 3 pass and 2 were not evaluated.
- The margin of safety is falling. It went from -155% on Oct 7 to -195% on Nov 7 across 8 weekly readings.
- Strongest against peers: debt / equity. At 0.17 (peer median 0.86) it ranks 4th of 21 among retail stocks this site tracks.
Frequently asked questions about Walmart and Costco
Which is cheaper, Walmart or Costco?
On trailing earnings, Walmart is cheaper: Walmart trades at 45.9 times and Costco at 51.2 times. On free cash flow, the yields are 1.5% and 2.0%. Cheaper is not the same as better value: read the growth each price assumes below.
Which pays the higher dividend, Walmart or Costco?
Their yields are about the same: Walmart 0.8% and Costco 0.5% over the last year.
Which has grown faster, Walmart or Costco?
Over their latest filed five years, Walmart grew revenue 5.0% a year and Costco 9.1%; earnings per share grew 11.6% and 13.0% a year.
Which has more debt, Walmart or Costco?
Walmart has more debt for its equity: debt to equity is 0.58 for Walmart and 0.17 for Costco. A very high figure can also come from buybacks that shrank equity.
Which is more profitable, Walmart or Costco?
Their net margins are about the same: 3.0% for Walmart and 3.0% for Costco, with a return on equity of 22.7% and 28.0%.
Which passes more of the 8 value filters?
Costco clears more: Walmart 2 of 8 and Costco 3 of 8. The filters are this site's own value rules, not a prediction.
Where do these numbers come from?
Prices, ratios and yield are from this site's weekly data as of November 7, 2026; growth and margins by year are from each company's 10-K filings (sources on Walmart and Costco). The DCF is the same model on every stock page. See Editorial Standards. Educational, not investment advice.