Compare Stocks › COST vs WMT
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) vs Walmart Inc. (WMT)
COST
Costco Wholesale Corporation
$974.78
VS
WMT
Walmart Inc.
$121.09
Rewards
COST
- ★Costco Wholesale Corporation has maintained ROIC above 15% for 4 consecutive years, indicating a durable competitive advantage.
- ★Costco Wholesale Corporation scores 96/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with roic consistency as the strongest competitive dimension.
- ★Free cash flow has grown at a 30.8% CAGR over the past 4 years, demonstrating strong earnings power growth.
WMT
- ★Walmart Inc. has maintained ROIC above 10% for 4 consecutive years, suggesting solid business economics.
- ★Walmart Inc. scores 88/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with revenue predictability as the strongest competitive dimension.
- ★Each dollar of retained earnings has created $14.77 of market value — management is an exceptional capital allocator.
Risks
COST
- ⚠Gross margin of 12.9% is low, suggesting a competitive or commodity-like market with limited pricing power.
- ⚠Despite buyback spending, shares outstanding increased in 3 out of 4 years — stock-based compensation is offsetting repurchases.
- ⚠FCF yield of 1.5% is below 3%, meaning the market is pricing in substantial future growth to justify the current price.
WMT
- ⚠Gross margin of 24.9% is low, suggesting a competitive or commodity-like market with limited pricing power.
- ⚠FCF yield of 1.5% is below 3%, meaning the market is pricing in substantial future growth to justify the current price.
- ⚠19 insider sales totaling $893.3M with no purchases in the past 3 months — insiders are reducing their exposure.
Key Valuation Metrics
Learn more →COST
WMT
Valuation
$6.69B
Free Cash Flow
$14.92B
1.55%
FCF Yield
1.55%
50.74
Trailing P/E
44.36
43.44
Forward P/E
36.87
Quality & Moat
20.95%
ROIC
14.74%
25.24%
ROE
20.62%
12.93%
Gross Margin
24.93%
3.65
PEG Ratio
N/A
Balance Sheet Safety
0.26
Debt / Equity
0.64
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
-0.74
Net Debt / EBITDA
1.31
0.53%
Dividend Yield
0.81%
COST: 4Ties: 2WMT: 5
COSTWMT
Historical Fundamentals
Learn more →COST
Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.
WMT
Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.
Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.
$1 Retained Earnings Test
Learn more →COST
$19.41
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$9.28B
Δ Market Cap
+$180.14B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
WMT
$14.77
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$36.51B
Δ Market Cap
+$539.31B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis
Learn more →COST
111.3% Overvalued
Price is 111.3% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $974.78
Strongly undervalued
Fairly valued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $461.37
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
WMT
71.7% Overvalued
Price is 71.7% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $121.09
Strongly undervalued
Fairly valued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $70.54
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth
Learn more →COST
What growth rate is the market pricing in at $975?
+20.8%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +23.4%
The market implies +20.8% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.
Standard FCF implies a demanding +23.4%, reflecting heavy growth investment.
WMT
What growth rate is the market pricing in at $121?
+19.3%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +24.6%
The market implies +19.3% Owner Earnings growth, below historical trends — potential opportunity.
Standard FCF implies a more demanding +24.6%, reflecting heavy growth investment expected to generate future returns.
Economic Moat Score
Learn more →COST
96/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. ROIC Consistency is the standout factor.
Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.
WMT
88/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. Revenue Predictability is the standout factor.
Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 5 years of fundamental data.
Forensic Accounting
Learn more →COST
-2.65
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone
M-Score Trend
Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
WMT
-2.55
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone
M-Score Trend
Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
Ownership Breakdown
Learn more →COST
Insiders 0.2%Institutions 72.7%Retail & Other 27.2%
No. of Institutional Holders4,997
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
WMT
Insiders 45.0%Institutions 38.9%Retail & Other 16.1%
No. of Institutional Holders5,261
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
Insider Buying Activity
Learn more →COST
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
WMT
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.
Insider Selling Activity
Learn more →COST
5
Sells (3M)
17
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $28.85M
ADAMO CLAUDINE
Officer
$732,205
@ $1003.02 · 2026-03-09
JONES TERESA A
Officer
$838,318
@ $986.26 · 2026-01-21
DECKER SUSAN LYNNE
Director
$437,390
@ $955.00 · 2026-01-16
KLAUER JAMES C
Officer
$1.41M
@ $939.00 · 2026-01-14
POLIT JAVIER
Officer
$2.26M
@ $866.38 · 2025-12-30
WILCOX WILLIAM RICHARD
Officer
$2.23M
@ $930.13 · 2025-11-07
ADAMO CLAUDINE
Officer
$2.53M
@ $935.68 · 2025-10-24
BARBRE TIFFANY MARIE
Divisional Officer
$1.16M
@ $934.91 · 2025-10-24
FRATES CATON
Officer
$1.40M
@ $910.02 · 2025-09-29
JONES TERESA A
Officer
$595,230
@ $992.05 · 2025-08-20
RUBANENKO YORAM B.
Officer
$3.90M
@ $974.96 · 2025-07-14
DECKER SUSAN LYNNE
Director
$536,058
@ $980.00 · 2025-06-18
CALLANS PATRICK J
Officer
$3.01M
@ $1002.77 · 2025-06-09
RIEL PIERRE
Officer
$2.03M
@ $1014.15 · 2025-06-06
KLAUER JAMES C
Officer
$3.92M
@ $981.07 · 2025-04-17
MILLERCHIP GARY
Officer
$1.03M
@ $940.01 · 2025-03-27
ADAMO CLAUDINE
Officer
$830,304
@ $922.56 · 2025-03-24
FRATES CATON
Officer
$765,213
@ $900.25 · 2025-03-18
VACHRIS ROLAND MICHAEL
Chief Executive Officer
$3.35M
@ $931.00 · 2025-03-11
GALANTI RICHARD ALAN
Officer and Director
$1.27M
@ $894.97 · 2024-10-24
JONES TERESA A
Officer
$717,236
@ $896.54 · 2024-10-23
RIEL PIERRE
Officer
$1.79M
@ $896.71 · 2024-10-15
CALLANS PATRICK J
Officer
$2.23M
@ $893.94 · 2024-09-30
ADAMO CLAUDINE
Officer
$2.84M
@ $888.99 · 2024-09-30
FRATES CATON
Officer
$1.50M
@ $883.35 · 2024-09-30
DECKER SUSAN LYNNE
Director
$543,430
@ $876.50 · 2024-08-15
GALANTI RICHARD ALAN
Officer and Director
$868,962
@ $868.96 · 2024-08-15
JONES TERESA A
Officer
$3,330
@ $832.50 · 2024-07-25
DENMAN KENNETH D
Director
$298,036
@ $851.53 · 2024-07-15
HINES DANIEL M
Officer
$2.54M
@ $846.37 · 2024-07-15
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
WMT
19
Sells (3M)
75
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $4.07B
BARTLETT DANIEL J
Officer
$167,328
@ $126.29 · 2026-03-16
WALTON FAMILY HOLDINGS TRUST
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$344.73M
@ $124.02 · 2026-03-11
WALTON FAMILY HOLDINGS TRUST
Trustee
$136.45M
@ $128.14 · 2026-03-04
RAINEY JOHN D
Officer
$2.56M
@ $127.79 · 2026-03-02
WALTON FAMILY HOLDINGS TRUST
Trustee
$220.13M
@ $127.74 · 2026-02-27
MCMILLON C DOUGLAS
Director
$2.46M
@ $126.71 · 2026-02-26
WALTON FAMILY HOLDINGS TRUST
Trustee
$159.84M
@ $125.93 · 2026-02-25
WATKINS LATRIECE
Officer
$1.21M
@ $121.46 · 2026-02-20
NICHOLAS CHRISTOPHER JAMES
Officer
$4.16M
@ $122.00 · 2026-02-20
FURNER JOHN R
Chief Executive Officer
$1.69M
@ $129.10 · 2026-02-19
BARTLETT DANIEL J
Officer
$167,179
@ $133.21 · 2026-02-17
MORRIS DONNA
Officer
$9.43M
@ $123.79 · 2026-02-03
RAINEY JOHN D
Officer
$2.45M
@ $122.27 · 2026-02-02
MCMILLON C DOUGLAS
Chief Executive Officer
$2.31M
@ $119.17 · 2026-01-22
FURNER JOHN R
Officer
$1.57M
@ $119.99 · 2026-01-15
BARTLETT DANIEL J
Officer
$166,560
@ $120.00 · 2026-01-15
DANKER DANIEL
Officer
$524,629
@ $120.19 · 2026-01-14
MORRIS DONNA
Officer
$1.13M
@ $120.19 · 2026-01-14
MCMILLON C DOUGLAS
Chief Executive Officer
$2.17M
@ $111.83 · 2025-12-26
MCLAY KATHRYN J
Officer
$460,840
@ $115.21 · 2025-12-19
WALTON FAMILY HOLDINGS TRUST
Trustee
$99.64M
@ $114.26 · 2025-12-19
FURNER JOHN R
Officer
$1.51M
@ $114.91 · 2025-12-18
WALTON FAMILY HOLDINGS TRUST
Trustee
$30.10M
@ $115.31 · 2025-12-16
BARTLETT DANIEL J
Officer
$166,725
@ $117.00 · 2025-12-15
RAINEY JOHN D
Officer
$244,706
@ $111.23 · 2025-12-01
MCMILLON C DOUGLAS
Chief Executive Officer
$2.13M
@ $109.57 · 2025-11-28
CHOJNOWSKI DAVID
Officer
$746,550
@ $106.65 · 2025-11-25
WALTON FAMILY HOLDINGS TRUST
Trustee
$439.27M
@ $105.96 · 2025-11-21
FURNER JOHN R
Officer
$1.37M
@ $104.75 · 2025-11-20
MCLAY KATHRYN J
Officer
$406,520
@ $101.63 · 2025-11-19
BARTLETT DANIEL J
Officer
$167,205
@ $102.58 · 2025-11-17
RAINEY JOHN D
Officer
$222,602
@ $101.18 · 2025-11-03
MCMILLON C DOUGLAS
Chief Executive Officer
$2.08M
@ $107.18 · 2025-10-23
MCLAY KATHRYN J
Officer
$431,000
@ $107.75 · 2025-10-20
FURNER JOHN R
Officer
$1.41M
@ $107.78 · 2025-10-16
BARTLETT DANIEL J
Officer
$166,563
@ $107.46 · 2025-10-15
RAINEY JOHN D
Officer
$222,933
@ $101.33 · 2025-10-01
MCMILLON C DOUGLAS
Chief Executive Officer
$2.00M
@ $103.21 · 2025-09-25
MCLAY KATHRYN J
Officer
$415,320
@ $103.83 · 2025-09-19
FURNER JOHN R
Officer
$1.36M
@ $103.74 · 2025-09-18
WALTON FAMILY HOLDINGS TRUST
Trustee
$247.15M
@ $103.45 · 2025-09-16
BARTLETT DANIEL J
Officer
$166,973
@ $103.71 · 2025-09-15
KUMAR SURESH
Chief Technology Officer
$3.10M
@ $103.47 · 2025-09-12
RAINEY JOHN D
Officer
$214,221
@ $97.37 · 2025-09-02
WALTON FAMILY HOLDINGS TRUST
Trustee
$244.67M
@ $96.42 · 2025-08-29
MCMILLON C DOUGLAS
Chief Executive Officer
$1.86M
@ $95.97 · 2025-08-28
WALTON FAMILY HOLDINGS TRUST
Trustee
$151.91M
@ $96.67 · 2025-08-26
FURNER JOHN R
Officer
$1.29M
@ $98.55 · 2025-08-21
MCLAY KATHRYN J
Officer
$403,840
@ $100.96 · 2025-08-19
BARTLETT DANIEL J
Officer
$166,124
@ $100.38 · 2025-08-15
RAINEY JOHN D
Officer
$216,258
@ $98.30 · 2025-08-01
MCMILLON C DOUGLAS
Chief Executive Officer
$1.86M
@ $95.58 · 2025-07-24
MCLAY KATHRYN J
Officer
$380,560
@ $95.14 · 2025-07-21
FURNER JOHN R
Officer
$1.25M
@ $95.14 · 2025-07-17
BARTLETT DANIEL J
Officer
$166,726
@ $95.60 · 2025-07-15
RAINEY JOHN D
Officer
$216,565
@ $98.44 · 2025-07-01
WALTON FAMILY HOLDINGS TRUST
Trustee
$36.92M
@ $97.52 · 2025-06-27
MCMILLON C DOUGLAS
Chief Executive Officer
$1.89M
@ $97.19 · 2025-06-26
WALTON FAMILY HOLDINGS TRUST
Trustee
$329.64M
@ $98.21 · 2025-06-25
MCLAY KATHRYN J
Officer
$380,960
@ $95.24 · 2025-06-20
FURNER JOHN R
Officer
$1.26M
@ $95.85 · 2025-06-20
BARTLETT DANIEL J
Officer
$166,795
@ $94.77 · 2025-06-16
WALTON FAMILY HOLDINGS TRUST
Trustee
$100.43M
@ $98.85 · 2025-06-02
RAINEY JOHN D
Officer
$217,800
@ $99.00 · 2025-06-02
WALTON FAMILY HOLDINGS TRUST
Trustee
$467.81M
@ $97.30 · 2025-05-29
WALTON FAMILY HOLDINGS TRUST
Trustee
$248.94M
@ $96.41 · 2025-05-23
MCMILLON C DOUGLAS
Chief Executive Officer
$2.82M
@ $96.58 · 2025-05-22
MCLAY KATHRYN J
Officer
$3.10M
@ $96.97 · 2025-05-21
WALTON FAMILY HOLDINGS TRUST
Trustee
$740.91M
@ $97.95 · 2025-05-20
BARTLETT DANIEL J
Officer
$166,721
@ $93.77 · 2025-05-15
RAINEY JOHN D
Officer
$214,223
@ $97.37 · 2025-05-01
MCMILLON C DOUGLAS
Chief Executive Officer
$2.74M
@ $94.19 · 2025-04-24
MCLAY KATHRYN J
Officer
$374,000
@ $93.50 · 2025-04-21
BARTLETT DANIEL J
Officer
$166,883
@ $94.82 · 2025-04-15
RAINEY JOHN D
Officer
$195,043
@ $88.66 · 2025-04-01
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives.
🎭 Mr. Market's Mood
Learn more →COST
😐Neutral(56/100)
"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"
Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
WMT
😐Neutral(56/100)
"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"
Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
Composite sentiment score based on market signals. Inspired by Buffett’s "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
⚖️ Buffett Signal
Learn more →COST
⚪Awaiting DCF Data
The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.
DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (56)
WMT
⚪Awaiting DCF Data
The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.
DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (56)