BBY vs. WSM: Best Buy vs. Williams-Sonoma Stock Comparison
How do Best Buy (BBY) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Best Buy (BBY) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) both belong to the Specialty Retail industry, though BBY is classified under Computer & Electronics Retail while WSM falls under Homefurnishing Retail.
| Profile Item | BBY | WSM |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Best Buy Co., Inc. | Williams-Sonoma, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| GICS Industry Group | Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail | Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail |
| GICS Industry | Specialty Retail | Specialty Retail |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Computer & Electronics Retail | Homefurnishing Retail |
| Market Capitalization | 20.90 billion USD | 29.92 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | April 18, 1985 | July 7, 1983 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | BBY | WSM |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 41.84% | 34.84% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 25.12% | 54.88% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 0.22% | 22.98% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | BBY | WSM |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 39.78% | 34.01% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.14 | 1.48 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -52.60% | -51.92% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.37M | 1.10M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | BBY | WSM |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.94 | 0.90 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.61 | 1.45 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Best Buy (BBY) at 43.13% and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 54.96% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.
BBY
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
43.13%
- Max
- 62.17%
- BBY
- 43.13%
- Q3
- 29.44%
- Median
- 15.69%
- Q1
- 6.73%
- Min
- -12.16%
WSM
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
54.96%
- Max
- 62.17%
- WSM
- 54.96%
- Q3
- 29.44%
- Median
- 15.69%
- Q1
- 6.73%
- Min
- -12.16%
Net Margin (TTM)
Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 14.73% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Best Buy (BBY) at 3.01%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
BBY
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
3.01%
- Max
- 16.94%
- Q3
- 8.69%
- Median
- 3.55%
- BBY
- 3.01%
- Q1
- 1.14%
- Min
- -9.41%
WSM
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
14.73%
- Max
- 16.94%
- WSM
- 14.73%
- Q3
- 8.69%
- Median
- 3.55%
- Q1
- 1.14%
- Min
- -9.41%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 17.27% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Best Buy (BBY) at 3.90%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
BBY
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
3.90%
- Max
- 21.45%
- Q3
- 10.89%
- Median
- 5.57%
- BBY
- 3.90%
- Q1
- 2.28%
- Min
- -7.12%
WSM
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
17.27%
- Max
- 21.45%
- WSM
- 17.27%
- Q3
- 10.89%
- Median
- 5.57%
- Q1
- 2.28%
- Min
- -7.12%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | BBY | WSM |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 43.13% | 54.96% |
| ROA (TTM) | 7.25% | 16.64% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 3.01% | 14.73% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 3.90% | 17.27% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 22.60% | 45.69% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 1.24% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Best Buy (BBY) at 0.39% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Best Buy (BBY) at 17.76% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 0.57% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for BBY.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | BBY | WSM |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 0.39% | 1.24% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -3.43% | -3.45% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 17.76% | 0.57% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -7.12% | 2.70% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Best Buy (BBY) at 1.12 and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 1.45 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.
BBY
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
1.12
- Max
- 2.62
- Q3
- 1.75
- Median
- 1.35
- BBY
- 1.12
- Q1
- 1.00
- Min
- 0.48
WSM
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
1.45
- Max
- 2.62
- Q3
- 1.75
- WSM
- 1.45
- Median
- 1.35
- Q1
- 1.00
- Min
- 0.48
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 0.71 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Best Buy (BBY) at 1.30 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.
BBY
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
1.30
- Max
- 3.93
- Q3
- 2.14
- BBY
- 1.30
- Median
- 1.25
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.01
WSM
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
0.71
- Max
- 3.93
- Q3
- 2.14
- Median
- 1.25
- Q1
- 0.73
- WSM
- 0.71
- Min
- 0.01
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | BBY | WSM |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.12 | 1.45 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.30 | 0.71 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.66 | 0.30 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Best Buy (BBY) at 3.84% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 1.10% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, BBY the richer one.
BBY
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
3.84%
- Max
- 5.84%
- BBY
- 3.84%
- Q3
- 2.50%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
WSM
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
1.10%
- Max
- 5.84%
- Q3
- 2.50%
- WSM
- 1.10%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 29.13% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Best Buy (BBY) at 63.56% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
BBY
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
63.56%
- Max
- 72.73%
- BBY
- 63.56%
- Q3
- 32.44%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
WSM
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
29.13%
- Max
- 72.73%
- Q3
- 32.44%
- WSM
- 29.13%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | BBY | WSM |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 3.84% | 1.10% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 63.56% | 29.13% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Best Buy (BBY) at 16.58 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 26.06 sits in the richer quartile — WSM needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
BBY
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
16.58
- Max
- 40.50
- Q3
- 24.26
- Median
- 19.23
- BBY
- 16.58
- Q1
- 12.64
- Min
- 4.67
WSM
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
26.06
- Max
- 40.50
- WSM
- 26.06
- Q3
- 24.26
- Median
- 19.23
- Q1
- 12.64
- Min
- 4.67
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Best Buy (BBY) at 0.50 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 3.74 sits in the pricier quartile — WSM costs more per dollar of sales.
BBY
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
0.50
- Max
- 4.32
- Q3
- 1.99
- Median
- 0.70
- BBY
- 0.50
- Q1
- 0.26
- Min
- 0.03
WSM
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
3.74
- Max
- 4.32
- WSM
- 3.74
- Q3
- 1.99
- Median
- 0.70
- Q1
- 0.26
- Min
- 0.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: Best Buy (BBY) at 6.59 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 13.98 prices even higher, above its industry range.
BBY
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
6.59
- Max
- 10.96
- BBY
- 6.59
- Q3
- 5.26
- Median
- 2.16
- Q1
- 1.08
- Min
- -4.45
WSM
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
13.98
- WSM
- 13.98
- Max
- 10.96
- Q3
- 5.26
- Median
- 2.16
- Q1
- 1.08
- Min
- -4.45
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | BBY | WSM |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 16.58 | 26.06 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 0.50 | 3.74 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 6.59 | 13.98 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 6.72% | 3.57% |