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TGT vs. WMT: Target vs. Walmart Stock Comparison

How do Target (TGT) and Walmart (WMT) 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

Target (TGT) and Walmart (WMT) are both classified in the Consumer Staples Merchandise Retail sub-industry within the broader Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Target (TGT) and Walmart (WMT)
Profile ItemTGTWMT
NameTarget CorporationWalmart Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer StaplesConsumer Staples
GICS Industry GroupConsumer Staples Distribution & RetailConsumer Staples Distribution & Retail
GICS IndustryConsumer Staples Distribution & RetailConsumer Staples Distribution & Retail
GICS Sub-IndustryConsumer Staples Merchandise RetailConsumer Staples Merchandise Retail
Market Capitalization60.08 billion USD892.98 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973August 25, 1972
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

TGT
WMT
GSPC
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Target (TGT) vs. Walmart (WMT), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Target (TGT) and Walmart (WMT). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Target (TGT) and Walmart (WMT). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Target (TGT) and Walmart (WMT)
MetricTGTWMT
Total Return (1Y)34.78%16.88%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)4.35%31.35%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-9.14%20.66%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

TGT
WMT
GSPC
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Target (TGT) vs. Walmart (WMT), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Target (TGT) and Walmart (WMT). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Target (TGT) and Walmart (WMT)
MetricTGTWMT
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)30.96%24.36%
Beta (5Y)0.990.61
Max Drawdown (5Y)-64.40%-25.74%
Avg. Volume (3M)5.18M21.82M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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TGT and WMT are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Target (TGT) and Walmart (WMT)
MetricTGTWMT
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.990.53
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.480.78

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Walmart (WMT) at 24.13% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Target (TGT) at 22.02% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for WMT.

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

22.02%

Max
37.28%
Q3
22.55%
TGT
22.02%
Median
14.81%
Q1
8.71%
Min
-2.30%

WMT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

24.13%

Max
37.28%
WMT
24.13%
Q3
22.55%
Median
14.81%
Q1
8.71%
Min
-2.30%
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Target (TGT) vs. Walmart (WMT): A comparison of their ROE against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Target (TGT) at 3.24% and Walmart (WMT) at 3.14% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.24%

Max
6.51%
Q3
3.43%
TGT
3.24%
Median
2.27%
Q1
1.36%
Min
-0.12%

WMT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.14%

Max
6.51%
Q3
3.43%
WMT
3.14%
Median
2.27%
Q1
1.36%
Min
-0.12%
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Target (TGT) vs. Walmart (WMT): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Target (TGT) at 4.52% and Walmart (WMT) at 4.22% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

4.52%

Max
9.24%
Q3
5.36%
TGT
4.52%
Median
3.67%
Q1
1.28%
Min
-0.11%

WMT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

4.22%

Max
9.24%
Q3
5.36%
WMT
4.22%
Median
3.67%
Q1
1.28%
Min
-0.11%
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Target (TGT) vs. Walmart (WMT): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Target (TGT) and Walmart (WMT)
MetricTGTWMT
ROE (TTM)22.02%24.13%
ROA (TTM)5.68%6.84%
Net Margin (TTM)3.24%3.14%
Operating Margin (TTM)4.52%4.22%
Gross Margin (TTM)28.14%24.98%

Growth

Revenue Growth

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Target (TGT) vs. Walmart (WMT): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

Revenue Growth Metrics

Revenue growth metrics for Target (TGT) and Walmart (WMT)
MetricTGTWMT
Revenue Growth (YoY)-1.68%4.73%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.34%5.27%

EPS Growth

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Target (TGT) vs. Walmart (WMT): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth Metrics

EPS growth metrics for Target (TGT) and Walmart (WMT)
MetricTGTWMT
EPS Growth (YoY)-8.24%13.28%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)10.78%24.25%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Target (TGT) at 0.93 and Walmart (WMT) at 0.77 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.93

Max
1.52
Q3
1.35
Median
1.17
Q1
0.97
TGT
0.93
Min
0.60

WMT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.77

Max
1.52
Q3
1.35
Median
1.17
Q1
0.97
WMT
0.77
Min
0.60
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Target (TGT) vs. Walmart (WMT): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Target (TGT) at 1.18 and Walmart (WMT) at 0.75 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.18

Max
3.40
Q3
1.88
Median
1.35
TGT
1.18
Q1
0.68
Min
0.00

WMT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.75

Max
3.40
Q3
1.88
Median
1.35
WMT
0.75
Q1
0.68
Min
0.00
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Target (TGT) vs. Walmart (WMT): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Target (TGT) and Walmart (WMT)
MetricTGTWMT
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.930.77
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.180.75
Net Debt / EBITDA1.891.45

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Target (TGT) at 3.43% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Walmart (WMT) at 0.84% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, TGT the richer one.

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.43%

TGT
3.43%
Max
3.43%
Q3
1.66%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

WMT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.84%

Max
3.43%
Q3
1.66%
WMT
0.84%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Target (TGT) vs. Walmart (WMT): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Target (TGT) at 59.97% and Walmart (WMT) at 33.54% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

59.97%

Max
60.00%
TGT
59.97%
Q3
30.32%
Median
12.02%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

WMT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

33.54%

Max
60.00%
WMT
33.54%
Q3
30.32%
Median
12.02%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Target (TGT) vs. Walmart (WMT): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Target (TGT) and Walmart (WMT)
MetricTGTWMT
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.43%0.84%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)59.97%33.54%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Target (TGT) at 17.47 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Walmart (WMT) at 39.79 sits in the richer quartile — WMT needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

17.47

Max
53.10
Q3
36.05
Median
19.91
TGT
17.47
Q1
17.03
Min
11.62

WMT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

39.79

Max
53.10
WMT
39.79
Q3
36.05
Median
19.91
Q1
17.03
Min
11.62
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Target (TGT) vs. Walmart (WMT): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Target (TGT) at 0.56 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Walmart (WMT) at 1.23 sits in the pricier quartile — WMT costs more per dollar of sales.

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.56

Max
1.73
Q3
0.91
TGT
0.56
Median
0.48
Q1
0.25
Min
0.02

WMT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.23

Max
1.73
WMT
1.23
Q3
0.91
Median
0.48
Q1
0.25
Min
0.02
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Target (TGT) vs. Walmart (WMT): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Target (TGT) at 3.66 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Walmart (WMT) at 9.47 carries an above-peer premium to book — WMT is pricier on assets.

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.66

Max
9.47
Q3
6.49
Median
4.08
TGT
3.66
Q1
2.07
Min
0.70

WMT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

9.47

WMT
9.47
Max
9.47
Q3
6.49
Median
4.08
Q1
2.07
Min
0.70
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Target (TGT) vs. Walmart (WMT): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Target (TGT) and Walmart (WMT)
MetricTGTWMT
P/E Ratio (TTM)17.4739.79
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.561.23
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.669.47
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)5.23%0.77%