Both stocks run through our valuation models. Here is how Walmart (WMT) and Costco Wholesale (COST) compare, as of Aug 14, 2026.
As of Aug 14, 2026, Fair Value Calculator sees Walmart as the less overvalued of the two: Walmart trades at $116 versus a fair value of $47.80 (-59%), while Costco Wholesale trades at $962 versus $384 (-60%).
Walmart
WMT · USD · Consumer Staples
-59%
upside to fair value
overvalued
Price$116
Fair Value$47.80
Quality63/100
Costco Wholesale
COST · USD · Consumer Staples
-60%
upside to fair value
overvalued
Price$962
Fair Value$384
Quality67/100
Head-to-head numbers
Green value = the better side for that row (for valuation multiples: lower = cheaper).
WalmartCostco Wholesale
Valuation
39.5×P/E (TTM)46.1×
1.25×P/S (TTM)1.38×
9.10×P/B13.93×
20.8×EV/EBITDA28.9×
4.30×PEG4.47×
0.9%Dividend yield0.6%
$0.95Dividend per share$5.37
Profitability
3%Net margin3%
4%Operating margin4%
24%Return on equity29%
7%Return on assets9%
Growth
7%Revenue growth (YoY)22%
5.3%Avg. growth/yr (3Y)6.6%
5.0%Avg. growth/yr (5Y)10.5%
Balance & size
0.35×Debt / equity0.20×
$906BMarket cap$406B
healthyGrowth qualityhealthy
Walmart leads: 8 to 6 metric wins.
Dash = not meaningfully computable, for example with negative equity.
Quality in detail
The quality score, broken down into the same factor families as on the stock page, 0 to 100 per family.
Walmartof which business quality 61 · market factors 54Costco Wholesaleof which business quality 65 · market factors 49
ProfitabilityMargins and returns on capital today
71
73
Quality GrowthAre margins and returns improving?
38
42
CashflowEarnings quality: real cash, not paper profit
InvestmentDisciplined investing over empire-building
78
69
Low VolatilityCalm price path (market factor)
86
81
MomentumPrice trend over the last 3–12 months (market factor)
35
34
52W MomentumDistance to the 52-week high (market factor)
50
39
Net IssuanceBuybacks instead of dilution
89
82
What the models say
The median fair value (base case) per model family, each in the currency of its trading venue. Green = above the current price, red = below.
Walmart
DCF Models$45.47
Earnings-Based$23.95
Multiples$52.27
Asset-Based$8.39
Growth DCF$38.48
Economic Profit$30.59
Growth Earnings$50.80
24 of 24 models see the stock below the current price.
Costco Wholesale
DCF Models$424
Earnings-Based$202
Dividend Discount$94.03
Multiples$353
Asset-Based$44.06
Growth DCF$401
Economic Profit$224
Growth Earnings$315
26 of 26 models see the stock below the current price.
Scenario ranges
From our cautious bear case to the optimistic bull case. The white tick is the current price: left of fair value means room to run.
Walmart
Bear $27.51Fair Value $47.80Bull $72.21
$116 = current price (white tick)
Costco Wholesale
Bear $260Fair Value $384Bull $479
$962 = current price (white tick)
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Ranked within their sector
Where each stock sits within its sector peer group. Band = middle 50% of peers, tick = median, dot = this stock.
Walmart · Consumer Staples
Quality score63 · above median
Fair value upside-59% · bottom 25%
Costco Wholesale · Consumer Staples
Quality score67 · Top 25%
Fair value upside-60% · bottom 25%
Bottom line
As of Aug 14, 2026, Fair Value Calculator sees Walmart as the less overvalued of the two: Walmart trades at $116 versus a fair value of $47.80 (-59%), while Costco Wholesale trades at $962 versus $384 (-60%).
Costco Wholesale has the higher quality score (67/100).
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A model-based valuation snapshot from 21 models. Values change with price and fundamentals; the date shown above applies.
