Walmart (WMT) Stock Analysis
This is a peer-relative look at Walmart (WMT): its performance, risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividend, and valuation are each measured against its Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail peers, so every number reads in context rather than in isolation.
Company Profile
| Profile Item | WMT |
|---|---|
| Name | Walmart Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States |
| GICS Sector | Consumer Staples |
| GICS Industry Group | Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail |
| GICS Industry | Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Consumer Staples Merchandise Retail |
| Market Capitalization | 954.09 billion USD |
| Currency | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | August 25, 1972 |
| Security Type | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | Current stock: WMT | Industry group median |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 13.14% | 17.64% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 32.10% | 17.38% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 20.88% | 13.09% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | Current stock: WMT | Industry group median |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 26.30% | 36.21% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.55 | 0.64 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -25.74% | -37.11% |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | Current stock: WMT | Industry group median |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.33 | 0.48 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.46 | 0.71 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Walmart (WMT) posts ROE of 22.31%, roughly around the peer group’s normal range. Shareholders’ equity is producing a return that looks broadly typical for the industry.
WMT
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group
22.31%
Group distribution
- Max
- 35.20%
- WMT
- 22.31%
- Q3
- 22.31%
- Median
- 15.25%
- Q1
- 7.33%
- Min
- -2.27%
Largest peers
- SYY
- 77.69%
- COST
- 28.40%
- TGT
- 26.41%
- WMT
- 22.31%
- CASY
- 19.98%
- DG
- 19.69%
- KR
- 14.44%
Net Margin (TTM)
Walmart (WMT) keeps 3.00% of revenue as net profit, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal net margin range. Its full cost stack is taking a typical share of sales for the industry.
WMT
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group
3.00%
Group distribution
- Max
- 5.59%
- Q3
- 3.42%
- WMT
- 3.00%
- Median
- 2.39%
- Q1
- 1.67%
- Min
- -0.06%
Largest peers
- CASY
- 4.14%
- TGT
- 4.08%
- DG
- 3.90%
- COST
- 3.04%
- WMT
- 3.00%
- SYY
- 2.08%
- KR
- 0.73%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Walmart (WMT) turns 3.45% of revenue into operating profit, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal operating margin range. Its core cost structure looks typical for the industry.
WMT
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group
3.45%
Group distribution
- Max
- 7.49%
- Q3
- 5.61%
- Median
- 3.84%
- WMT
- 3.45%
- Q1
- 2.10%
- Min
- 0.97%
Largest peers
- DG
- 6.81%
- CASY
- 6.50%
- TGT
- 6.04%
- SYY
- 4.85%
- COST
- 3.79%
- WMT
- 3.45%
- KR
- 2.98%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | Current stock: WMT | Industry group median |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 22.31% | 15.25% |
| ROA (TTM) | 6.41% | 5.69% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 3.00% | 2.39% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 3.45% | 3.84% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 24.84% | 24.38% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Walmart (WMT) grew revenue 4.73%, roughly around the peer group's normal range. Top-line momentum looks broadly typical for the industry.
EPS Growth
Walmart (WMT) grew earnings per share 13.28%, roughly around the peer group's normal range. Bottom-line momentum looks broadly typical for the industry.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | Current stock: WMT | Industry group median |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 4.73% | 5.61% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 5.27% | 5.00% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 13.28% | -0.31% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 24.25% | 8.00% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Walmart (WMT) has current ratio of 0.77, in the tighter-liquidity quartile for its industry. The short-term cushion is thinner than most peers carry, even if the absolute comfort level still depends on the business model.
WMT
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group
0.77
Group distribution
- Max
- 2.03
- Q3
- 1.44
- Median
- 1.17
- Q1
- 1.00
- WMT
- 0.77
- Min
- 0.68
Largest peers
- SYY
- 1.28
- DG
- 1.21
- COST
- 1.06
- CASY
- 1.02
- TGT
- 0.99
- WMT
- 0.77
- KR
- 0.70
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Walmart (WMT) has debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal leverage range. Its mix of debt and equity looks typical for the industry.
WMT
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group
0.72
Group distribution
- Max
- 2.65
- Q3
- 1.83
- Median
- 1.26
- WMT
- 0.72
- Q1
- 0.62
- Min
- 0.01
Largest peers
- SYY
- 5.65
- KR
- 4.13
- DG
- 1.70
- TGT
- 1.08
- WMT
- 0.72
- CASY
- 0.71
- COST
- 0.28
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | Current stock: WMT | Industry group median |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.77 | 1.17 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.72 | 1.26 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.44 | 2.64 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Walmart (WMT) has dividend yield of 0.80%, in the industry’s normal income range. It provides a meaningful dividend without the red flag of an unusually high headline yield.
WMT
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group
0.80%
Group distribution
- Max
- 2.88%
- Q3
- 1.70%
- WMT
- 0.80%
- Median
- 0.44%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Largest peers
- TGT
- 2.88%
- SYY
- 2.58%
- KR
- 2.12%
- DG
- 1.70%
- WMT
- 0.80%
- COST
- 0.54%
- CASY
- 0.33%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Walmart (WMT) has payout ratio of 34.96%, above the industry’s usual payout band. A larger share of earnings is going to dividends, so the cushion narrows if profit weakens.
WMT
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group
34.96%
Group distribution
- Max
- 59.29%
- WMT
- 34.96%
- Q3
- 30.05%
- Median
- 11.72%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Largest peers
- KR
- 77.78%
- SYY
- 59.29%
- TGT
- 47.35%
- WMT
- 34.96%
- DG
- 30.65%
- COST
- 26.69%
- CASY
- 11.37%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | Current stock: WMT | Industry group median |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.80% | 0.44% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 34.96% | 11.72% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Walmart (WMT) trades at P/E ratio of 43.44, in the richer earnings-multiple quartile for its industry. That premium needs support from growth, durable earnings, or stronger business quality.
WMT
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group
43.44
Group distribution
- Max
- 50.42
- WMT
- 43.44
- Q3
- 34.66
- Median
- 22.23
- Q1
- 15.91
- Min
- 12.53
Largest peers
- COST
- 48.33
- WMT
- 43.44
- KR
- 37.09
- CASY
- 33.68
- SYY
- 22.23
- DG
- 17.23
- TGT
- 15.86
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Walmart (WMT) trades at 1.30 on P/S ratio, in the higher sales-valuation quartile. Investors are paying up for each dollar of revenue, so stronger margins, growth, or revenue quality need to carry that price.
WMT
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group
1.30
Group distribution
- Max
- 1.47
- WMT
- 1.30
- Q3
- 0.87
- Median
- 0.51
- Q1
- 0.26
- Min
- 0.02
Largest peers
- COST
- 1.47
- CASY
- 1.38
- WMT
- 1.30
- DG
- 0.67
- TGT
- 0.64
- SYY
- 0.47
- KR
- 0.26
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Walmart (WMT) trades at 9.69 on P/B ratio, in the higher book-value quartile. The market is paying a premium to book, so stronger ROE, cleaner assets, or a better growth profile need to justify it.
WMT
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group
9.69
Group distribution
- Max
- 12.42
- WMT
- 9.69
- Q3
- 6.58
- Median
- 4.06
- Q1
- 1.96
- Min
- 0.99
Largest peers
- SYY
- 14.61
- COST
- 12.42
- WMT
- 9.69
- KR
- 6.81
- CASY
- 6.32
- TGT
- 3.89
- DG
- 3.15
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | Current stock: WMT | Industry group median |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 43.44 | 22.23 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.30 | 0.51 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 9.69 | 4.06 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 0.75% | 4.46% |