WMT vs. COST
WMT (Walmart Inc.) and COST (Costco Wholesale Corporation) are both stocks. Both operate in the Discount Stores industry within the Consumer Defensive sector. Over the past 10 years, WMT returned 19.36%/yr vs 21.83%/yr for COST. At a 0.49 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
WMT vs. COST - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, WMT achieves a 5.60% return, which is significantly lower than COST's 10.64% return. Over the past 10 years, WMT has underperformed COST with an annualized return of 19.36%, while COST has yielded a comparatively higher 21.83% annualized return.
WMT
- 1D
- -0.80%
- 1M
- -3.43%
- YTD
- 5.60%
- 6M
- 2.87%
- 1Y
- 22.93%
- 3Y*
- 32.67%
- 5Y*
- 22.62%
- 10Y*
- 19.36%
COST
- 1D
- -1.46%
- 1M
- -9.42%
- YTD
- 10.64%
- 6M
- 11.51%
- 1Y
- -2.40%
- 3Y*
- 23.66%
- 5Y*
- 21.40%
- 10Y*
- 21.83%
WMT vs. COST - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WMT Walmart Inc. | 5.60% | 24.49% | 73.99% | 12.88% | -0.46% | 1.97% | 23.32% | 30.16% | -3.43% | 46.56% |
COST Costco Wholesale Corporation | 10.64% | -5.39% | 39.62% | 49.00% | -19.05% | 51.82% | 32.67% | 45.70% | 10.60% | 22.37% |
Correlation
The correlation between WMT and COST is 0.62, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.62 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.58 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.59 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.57 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 22, 1993 | 0.49 |
The correlation between WMT and COST shifts across timeframes, from 0.49 (all time) to 0.62 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
WMT:
$2.88
COST:
$26.51
WMT:
40.70
COST:
35.90
WMT:
2.66
COST:
2.81
WMT:
1.29
COST:
1.08
WMT:
$725.31B
COST:
$293.59B
WMT:
$181.16B
COST:
$11.12B
WMT:
$44.32B
COST:
$12.48B
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Return for Risk
WMT vs. COST — Risk / Return Rank
WMT
COST
WMT vs. COST - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Walmart Inc. (WMT) and Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| WMT | COST | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.12 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.56 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.20 | 1.00 | +0.20 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.55 | -0.12 | +1.67 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.73 | -0.27 | +5.00 |
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Drawdowns
WMT vs. COST - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum WMT drawdown since its inception was -77.14%, which is greater than COST's maximum drawdown of -53.39%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for WMT and COST.
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Drawdown Indicators
| WMT | COST | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -77.14% | -53.39% | -23.75% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -15.75% | -15.14% | -0.61% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -21.93% | -20.74% | -1.19% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.74% | -31.40% | +5.66% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -25.74% | -31.40% | +5.66% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -12.68% | -13.06% | +0.38% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -14.63% | -13.36% | -1.27% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.14% | 6.81% | -1.67% |
Volatility
WMT vs. COST - Volatility Comparison
Walmart Inc. (WMT) has a higher volatility of 9.73% compared to Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) at 6.60%. This indicates that WMT's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than COST based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| WMT | COST | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 9.73% | 6.60% | +3.13% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 18.48% | 14.49% | +3.99% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 23.79% | 18.93% | +4.86% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.68% | 22.74% | -1.06% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.74% | 21.96% | -0.22% |
Dividends
WMT vs. COST - Dividend Comparison
WMT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.82%, more than COST's 0.56% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
COST Costco Wholesale Corporation | 0.56% | 0.59% | 0.49% | 2.87% | 0.76% | 0.54% | 3.38% | 0.86% | 1.08% | 4.81% | 1.09% | 4.06% |
WMT Walmart Inc. | 0.82% | 0.84% | 0.92% | 1.45% | 1.58% | 1.52% | 1.50% | 1.78% | 2.23% | 2.07% | 2.89% | 3.20% |
Financials
WMT vs. COST - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Walmart Inc. and Costco Wholesale Corporation. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
WMT vs. COST - Profitability Comparison
WMT - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Walmart Inc. reported a gross profit of 44.69B and revenue of 177.75B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 25.1%.
COST - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Costco Wholesale Corporation reported a gross profit of -17.68B and revenue of 70.53B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was -25.1%.
WMT - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Walmart Inc. reported an operating income of 7.49B and revenue of 177.75B, resulting in an operating margin of 4.2%.
COST - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Costco Wholesale Corporation reported an operating income of 2.82B and revenue of 70.53B, resulting in an operating margin of 4.0%.
WMT - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Walmart Inc. reported a net income of 5.65B and revenue of 177.75B, resulting in a net margin of 3.2%.
COST - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Costco Wholesale Corporation reported a net income of 2.19B and revenue of 70.53B, resulting in a net margin of 3.1%.
Frequently Asked Questions
WMT and COST have a correlation of 0.62, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
WMT has higher volatility (9.73%) compared to COST (6.60%). In terms of maximum drawdown, WMT dropped -77.14% vs COST's -53.39%.
WMT currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.02 vs -0.10), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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