Walmart (WMT) vs Target (TGT): Stock Comparison
Data as of November 7, 2026. Refreshed weekly from SEC filings and market data.
Target is cheaper on earnings, at 16.3 times against 45.9; Target keeps the higher net margin (4.1% against 3.0%); Walmart grew revenue faster over the last year (6.2% against 1.9%); Target pays the higher dividend yield (2.9% against 0.8%). Walmart clears 2 of this site's 8 value filters and Target 5. Figures are as of November 7, 2026; each is on the page below with its source.
How do Walmart and Target compare on the numbers?
| Measure | Walmart (WMT) | Target (TGT) | Clearer lead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share price | $125.52 | $158.41 | |
| Market value | $1.01 trillion | $71.8 billion | |
| P/E ratio (trailing) | 45.9 | 16.3 | TGT |
| PEG ratio | 4.50 | 1.74 | TGT |
| Free-cash-flow yield | 1.5% | 6.7% | TGT |
| Net profit margin | 3.0% | 4.1% | TGT |
| Revenue growth, last year | 6.2% | 1.9% | WMT |
| Return on equity | 22.7% | 26.7% | TGT |
| Debt to equity | 0.58 | 0.86 | WMT |
| Dividend yield | 0.8% | 2.9% | TGT |
| Margin of safety (DCF) | -284.1% | +12.0% | TGT |
| Value filters passed (of 8) | 2 | 5 | TGT |
| Distance from 52-week high | -6.5% | -6.8% |
How have Walmart and Target shares done against each other?
Walmart 252Target 63
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 Target shares down 37%, so Walmart has pulled ahead of Target by 190 points of the starting price. The deepest fall from a prior high in that window was 23% for Walmart and 66% for Target.
| Period | Walmart (WMT) | Target (TGT) |
|---|---|---|
| Last 1 year | +23.4% | +77.7% |
| Last 3 years | +128.4% | +42.6% |
| Last 5 years | +150.6% | -37.7% |
Which has grown faster, Walmart or Target?
Over 5 years, Walmart grew revenue 5.0% a year and earnings per share 11.6% a year; Target grew revenue 2.3% and earnings per share -1.2%. Its net margin averaged 2.5% at Walmart and 4.1% at Target.
| Measure | Walmart (WMT) | Target (TGT) |
|---|---|---|
| Latest fiscal year ended | Jan 2026 | Jan 2026 |
| Revenue, first year to latest | $559 billion to $713 billion | $93.6 billion to $105 billion |
| Revenue growth per year | 5.0% | 2.3% |
| Earnings per share, first year to latest | $1.58 to $2.73 | $8.64 to $8.13 |
| Earnings per share growth per year | 11.6% | -1.2% |
| Net margin, latest year | 3.1% | 3.5% |
| Net margin, average of the years | 2.5% | 4.1% |
| Free cash flow margin, latest year | 2.1% | 2.7% |
From each company's 10-K filings (SEC EDGAR), over its latest 5 years.
What growth does each share price assume?
| Measure | Walmart (WMT) | Target (TGT) |
|---|---|---|
| Free cash flow growth the price implies | n/a | 4.8% a year |
| Free cash flow per share | $1.91 | $10.54 |
| Margin of safety on this site's DCF | -284.1% | +12.0% |
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 $158.41, Target's price implies free cash flow growth of 4.8% a year, fading to 2.5% over 10 years. That is less 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
- Faster revenue growth last year: 6.2% against 1.9%
- Less debt for its equity: 0.58 against 0.86
- Faster revenue growth over its filed record: 5.0% against 2.3%
- Faster earnings-per-share growth over its filed record: 11.6% against -1.2%
Where Target leads
- Lower P/E: 16.3 against 45.9
- Lower PEG: 1.74 against 4.50
- Higher free-cash-flow yield: 6.7% against 1.5%
- Higher net margin: 4.1% against 3.0%
- Higher return on equity: 26.7% against 22.7%
- Higher dividend yield: 2.9% against 0.8%
- Higher margin of safety on this site's DCF: +12.0% against -284.1%
- More of the 8 value filters: 5 against 2
- A higher average net margin: 4.1% against 2.5%
About the same on: net margin, latest year, free cash flow margin, latest year. 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.
Target. Target is a general-merchandise retailer with nearly 2,000 US stores and a large online business, selling groceries, home goods, clothing and electronics, with many of its own brands.
Both are in the Retail industry on this site.
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 Target
- Misses 1 of the 8 value filters. It fails PEG Ratio < 1.5 (1.74); the other 5 pass and 2 were not evaluated.
- Strongest against peers: P/E ratio. At 16.3× (peer median 24.2×) it ranks 2nd of 21 among retail stocks this site tracks.
- Weakest against peers: revenue growth. At 1.9% (peer median 7.7%) it ranks 19th of 21 among retail stocks this site tracks.
Frequently asked questions about Walmart and Target
Which is cheaper, Walmart or Target?
On trailing earnings, Target is cheaper: Walmart trades at 45.9 times and Target at 16.3 times. On free cash flow, the yields are 1.5% and 6.7%. Cheaper is not the same as better value: read the growth each price assumes below.
Which pays the higher dividend, Walmart or Target?
Target pays the higher yield: Walmart 0.8% and Target 2.9% over the last year.
Which has grown faster, Walmart or Target?
Over their latest filed five years, Walmart grew revenue 5.0% a year and Target 2.3%; earnings per share grew 11.6% and -1.2% a year.
Which has more debt, Walmart or Target?
Target has more debt for its equity: debt to equity is 0.58 for Walmart and 0.86 for Target. A very high figure can also come from buybacks that shrank equity.
Which is more profitable, Walmart or Target?
Target keeps more of each sales dollar as profit: 3.0% for Walmart and 4.1% for Target, with a return on equity of 22.7% and 26.7%.
Which passes more of the 8 value filters?
Target clears more: Walmart 2 of 8 and Target 5 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 Target). The DCF is the same model on every stock page. See Editorial Standards. Educational, not investment advice.