Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) vs Walmart Inc. (WMT)
A side-by-side comparison of Costco Wholesale Corporation and Walmart Inc. across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of September 11, 2026. Differences are shown without an overall score or investment verdict.
COST
Costco Wholesale Corporation
$904.77Consumer DefensiveDelayed quote: Sep 11, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT
WMT
Walmart Inc.
$107.15Consumer DefensiveDelayed quote: Sep 11, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT
Total return — COST vs WMT
growth of $100 · dividends reinvested · last 10yCOST +553.8% (+20.7%/yr)WMT +420.4% (+17.9%/yr)COST compounded faster over this window
COST WMT
COST vs WMT: by the numbers
- •WMT is the larger company ($852.71B vs $401.25B market cap).
- •WMT trades at the lower trailing earnings multiple (38.68 vs 45.51 P/E), one valuation lens rather than an overall verdict.
- •COST grew revenue faster over the past five years (9.48% vs 5.38% CAGR).
- •WMT pays the higher dividend yield (0.92% vs 0.61%).
Metrics side by side
Valuation
| Metric | COST | WMT |
|---|---|---|
| P/E ratio | 45.51 | 38.68 |
| Forward P/E | 39.92 | 37.07 |
| P/S ratio | 1.37 | 1.16 |
| P/B ratio | 11.97 | 8.68 |
| EV / EBITDA | 28.32 | 19.31 |
| FCF yield | 2.19% | 1.58% |
Profitability
| Metric | COST | WMT |
|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | 12.88% | 25.23% |
| Operating margin | 3.82% | 4.39% |
| Net margin | 3.01% | 3.00% |
| ROE | 26.38% | 22.47% |
| ROIC | 19.01% | 12.89% |
Dividends
| Metric | COST | WMT |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield | 0.61% | 0.92% |
| Payout ratio | 27.87% | 35.29% |
Growth (annualized)
| Metric | COST | WMT |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue CAGR (5Y) | 9.48% | 5.38% |
| EPS CAGR (5Y) | 15.04% | 10.95% |
| FCF CAGR (5Y) | 4.95% | -5.40% |
| Total return CAGR (5Y) | 14.89% | 18.21% |
Frequently asked
- Which has the lower trailing P/E, COST or WMT?
- WMT has the lower trailing P/E: COST trades at 45.51 and WMT at 38.68. P/E is one valuation measure and does not by itself establish which business is cheaper.
- Which has grown faster, COST or WMT?
- Over the past five years, COST grew revenue faster — COST at a 9.48% CAGR versus WMT at 5.38%.
- Does COST or WMT pay a bigger dividend?
- COST yields 0.61% and WMT yields 0.92% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
- How have COST and WMT total returns compared?
- Over the past 10 years, COST delivered 20.56% and WMT delivered 18.23% annualized total return. Past performance doesn't predict future results.
Go deeper
Dig into the metrics
Costco Wholesale P/E ratioWalmart P/E ratioCostco Wholesale dividend yieldWalmart dividend yieldCostco Wholesale ROEWalmart ROECostco Wholesale operating marginWalmart operating marginCostco Wholesale revenue growthWalmart revenue growthCostco Wholesale free cash flowWalmart free cash flow
Costco Wholesale & Walmart appear in these rankings
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Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified September 11, 2026.