WMT vs TGT: Walmart Inc. vs Target Corporation Stock Comparison [2026]

📊 Data as of June 24, 2026 · Refreshed weekly

A head-to-head, data-driven comparison of WMT (Walmart Inc.) and TGT (Target Corporation) — covering valuation, growth, dividends, risk, and which one fits your portfolio. All metrics pulled from live market data.

If you're choosing between WMT and TGT, the answer depends on what kind of investor you are. Both are watched closely in the Consumer Defensive sector, but they look different on almost every metric that matters: P/E, growth rate, dividend, balance-sheet quality, and volatility.

Below we break down the head-to-head numbers, name a winner on each dimension, and give a clear recommendation by investor type. Want to run this comparison live with charts and 50+ metrics? Use the free interactive WMT vs TGT comparison tool.

Walmart Inc. (WMT)

Consumer Defensive · Discount Stores · NASDAQ

Walmart Inc. engages in the operation of retail, wholesale, other units, and eCommerce worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sam's Club. It operates supercenters, supermarkets, hypermarkets, warehouse clubs, cash and carry stores, and discount stores under Walmart and Walmart Neighborhood Market brands; membership-only warehouse clubs; ecommerce websites, such as walmart.com.mx, walmart.ca, flipkart.com, PhonePe and other sites; and mobile commerce applications. The company offers grocery and consumables, including dairy, meat, bakery,…

Target Corporation (TGT)

Consumer Defensive · Discount Stores · NYSE

Target Corporation operates as a general merchandise retailer in the United States. The company offers food assortments, including perishables, dry grocery, dairy, and frozen items; apparel, accessories, home décor products, electronics, toys, seasonal offerings, food, and other merchandise; and beauty and household essentials. It also provides in-store amenities, such as Target Café, Target Optical, Starbucks, and other food service offerings. The company sells its products through its stores; and digital channels, including Target.com. As of March 09, 2022, the company operated approximately…

Quick Verdict

Better for Growth

WMT

revenue 4.73% and EPS 13.22% YoY outpace the other name

Better for Value

Tie

both trade at similar earnings multiples

Better for Income

TGT

4.29% yield vs the other name's lower payout

Better for Safety

WMT

beta 0.66 and D/E 0.00 make it the more defensive name

Editor's Take

By StockSignal24 Research · Reviewed May 17, 2026

Editor's Take: One is recession-proof. The other is recession-exposed. Both call themselves 'retailers.'

Walmart's customer base skews lower-income and value-driven. When the economy weakens, more shoppers trade down to Walmart from other grocers and general merchandisers. Target's customer base skews middle-income with discretionary spending — when consumers tighten budgets, Target's discretionary categories (home goods, apparel, electronics) get hit first.

This shows up in earnings cyclicality. Walmart's revenue growth is remarkably stable through cycles. Target's earnings are more volatile — strong in expansion years, ugly in contraction years. The 2022-2023 inventory glitch (massive write-downs on overstocked discretionary items) was a textbook example of Target's exposure that Walmart simply doesn't have.

Valuation: Walmart now trades at premium multiples (~30× earnings) reflecting both its e-commerce growth (Walmart+) and its recession resilience. Target trades cheaper (~15-17× earnings) reflecting the cyclical risk. For a recession-defensive consumer position, WMT. For a 'buy the dip on discretionary recovery' bet, TGT. The two are not interchangeable just because both sell things in big-box stores.

How to Read This WMT vs TGT Comparison

Stock comparisons can be misleading if you focus on a single metric. A "cheaper" P/E doesn't automatically make a stock a better buy — slower-growing companies should trade at lower multiples. The right framework is to score each name on four independent dimensions and weight them according to your investing goal.

The Four-Dimension Framework

Growth — How fast is the business expanding? We look at year-over-year revenue and EPS growth. Faster growers earn premium multiples but carry execution risk.
Value — Are you paying a fair price? P/E, P/B, EV/EBITDA, and free cash flow yield tell you what the market is charging per dollar of business performance.
Income — Does the stock pay you to wait? Dividend yield, payout ratio, and dividend history matter for retirees, FIRE investors, and anyone funding ongoing expenses.
Safety — How much can you lose if things go wrong? Low beta, manageable debt-to-equity, and high ROE indicate a more durable business.

No single stock wins on all four. WMT and TGT likely each lead on at least one dimension. The "right" answer is the one that matches your portfolio gap — if you already own a basket of high-growth tech, the cheaper, lower-volatility name probably adds more diversification value than another momentum bet.

Side-by-Side Metrics: WMT vs TGT

Metric	WMT	TGT
Price	$118.47	$87.62
Market Cap	$944.54B	$39.81B
P/E Ratio (lower is cheaper)	0.00	0.00
EPS	$0.00	$0.00
Dividend Yield	0.79%	4.29%
Beta (volatility vs market)	0.66	1.13
ROE (higher is better)	0.00%	0.00%
Debt/Equity (lower is safer)	0.00	0.00
Revenue Growth (YoY)	4.73%	-1.68%
EPS Growth (YoY)	13.22%	-8.21%
52-Week High	$121.62	$145.08
52-Week Low	$79.81	$83.44
Sector	Consumer Defensive	Consumer Defensive

Which Stock Has Better Growth?

WMT grew revenue 4.73% and EPS 13.22% year-over-year. TGT grew revenue -1.68% and EPS -8.21%.

WMT wins — revenue 4.73% and EPS 13.22% YoY outpace the other name.

Which Stock Is Cheaper on Valuation?

WMT trades at a P/E of 0.00, while TGT trades at 0.00. ROE for WMT is 0.00% versus 0.00% for TGT.

Roughly tied — both trade at similar earnings multiples.

Which Stock Pays More Income?

WMT yields 0.79%; TGT yields 4.29%.

TGT wins — 4.29% yield vs the other name's lower payout.

Which Stock Is the Safer Bet?

WMT has a beta of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.00. TGT sits at beta 1.13 and D/E 0.00.

WMT wins — beta 0.66 and D/E 0.00 make it the more defensive name.

Where WMT and TGT Sit in Their 52-Week Range

Price action over the last 12 months gives important context. A stock near its 52-week high has momentum on its side but limited room before profit-taking; one near its low may be a value opportunity or a structural problem.

WMT currently trades at $118.47, near the upper end of its 52-week range — momentum is strong but the easy gains may be behind it (52-week range: $79.81–$121.62).
TGT currently trades at $87.62, near its 52-week low — either a value opportunity or a falling-knife scenario; check whether fundamentals are deteriorating (52-week range: $83.44–$145.08).

Key Risks for WMT and TGT

Every stock has tail risks that the headline numbers don't capture. Here's what stands out from the available metrics:

WMT: no obvious red flags in the headline metrics, but always read the most recent 10-K and earnings call before sizing a position.
TGT: revenue declined 1.68% year-over-year — confirm whether this is cyclical or structural.

This is a quick heuristic risk scan, not a full risk assessment. Always read the "Risk Factors" section of each company's most recent 10-K filing before investing.

WMT vs TGT — Best Pick by Investor Type

Long-term holder (10+ years): Lean toward WMT; durability and balance-sheet strength matter more than the next-quarter print.
Income / dividend-focused: TGT — higher yield, but always check payout sustainability before chasing.
Aggressive growth: WMT — faster top-line and EPS expansion at the cost of richer multiples.
Value-oriented: either name works — paying less per dollar of earnings, with the trade-off of slower growth.

The Bottom Line: WMT vs TGT

On balance, WMT wins on 2 of 4 dimensions, making it the slightly better all-around pick for a generalist investor.

If you're the kind of investor who hates picking, the easiest answer is to own both names in equal weight inside a sector basket and rebalance once a year. That way, you capture the winner without having to predict it, and you pay the lowest possible behavioral cost (no second-guessing, no FOMO).

If you must pick one, anchor on the dimension that fixes your biggest portfolio gap — not the one with the most exciting headline. Tilting toward defensive names when you already own three growth winners adds more risk-adjusted return than another momentum bet.

Metrics Glossary — What Each Number Means

If you're new to fundamental analysis, here's a plain-English reference for every metric in the table above:

P/E Ratio (Price-to-Earnings): Share price divided by earnings per share. Tells you how many years of current earnings the stock costs. Lower = cheaper, but slow growers should have lower P/Es.
EPS (Earnings Per Share): Net income divided by shares outstanding. The per-share slice of company profits.
Market Cap: Share price × shares outstanding. The market's total valuation of the company's equity.
Dividend Yield: Annual dividend per share ÷ current price, expressed as a percent. A 3% yield means you receive $3 per year for every $100 invested at today's price.
Beta: Volatility relative to the broader market (S&P 500 = 1.0). Beta of 1.5 means the stock historically moves 1.5× the market, both up and down.
ROE (Return on Equity): Net income ÷ shareholder equity. How efficiently the company turns equity capital into profit. Above 15% is generally considered high quality.
Debt-to-Equity: Total debt ÷ shareholder equity. Lower ratios mean less leverage and lower interest-rate risk.
Revenue Growth (YoY): Percentage change in revenue versus the year-ago period. The single best top-line health check.
EPS Growth (YoY): Same comparison but for earnings per share — captures both revenue growth and operating leverage.
52-Week High / Low: The trailing 12-month price range. Useful for context on current price (e.g. a stock near its 52-week high is in an uptrend; near the low is in a downtrend or value zone).

Run a Live WMT vs TGT Comparison

The numbers above reflect the latest available data, but markets move every minute. For a real-time, interactive head-to-head with price charts (1D to YTD), all 50+ metrics, and AI-powered insights, use our free tool — it's free, no signup required, and shareable:

Compare WMT vs TGT live →

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Frequently Asked Questions: Is WMT

Is WMT a better buy than TGT in 2026?

It depends on your investment goal. For growth investors, WMT has the edge — WMT grew revenue 4.73% versus -1.68% for TGT. For value investors, Both WMT and TGT are roughly comparable on this dimension looks more attractive on earnings multiples (P/E 0.00 vs 0.00). For income, TGT pays a higher yield (0.79% vs 4.29%). For safety, WMT has the more defensive profile (beta 0.66 vs 1.13).

What is the P/E ratio of WMT vs TGT?

WMT trades at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 0.00, while TGT trades at 0.00. A lower P/E means you pay less per dollar of current earnings — TGT is the cheaper name on this metric. However, a higher P/E often reflects faster expected growth, so don't pick on P/E alone.

Does WMT or TGT pay a higher dividend?

WMT currently yields 0.79% and TGT yields 4.29%. TGT pays the higher current yield. Always verify payout ratio and dividend history before treating yield as guaranteed income — a high yield can also be a warning sign of a falling share price.

Which stock is more volatile, WMT or TGT?

WMT has a beta of 0.66 and TGT has a beta of 1.13. A beta above 1.0 means the stock historically moves more than the broader market; below 1.0 means it moves less. TGT has been the more volatile name based on historical price action.

What is the market cap of WMT vs TGT?

WMT has a market capitalization of $944.54B and TGT is at $39.81B. Market cap is share price multiplied by shares outstanding and reflects the total equity value the market assigns to the company.

Should I buy WMT or TGT for long-term investing?

For a long-term holder (10+ years), the safer-quality name usually wins because compounding requires durability. WMT screens better on safety metrics here: lower beta, more conservative debt levels, and stronger return on equity. That said, WMT is growing faster, so a long-term investor may want both — or split allocation 60/40 toward the safer name.

Which has higher growth, WMT or TGT?

WMT is the faster grower right now. WMT grew revenue 4.73% year-over-year and EPS 13.22%; TGT grew revenue -1.68% and EPS -8.21%. TGT's slower growth often comes with a lower valuation — it's the classic growth-vs-value trade-off.

Is WMT overvalued compared to TGT?

WMT trades at a higher P/E than TGT, which can mean the market is pricing in faster expected growth. Whether that premium is justified depends on whether WMT can actually deliver the implied earnings expansion. Cross-check P/E with PEG ratio (P/E ÷ growth rate) — a PEG under 1.5 is generally considered reasonable, over 2.0 starts to look stretched.

What sector are WMT and TGT in?

WMT (Walmart Inc.) operates in the Consumer Defensive sector, specifically the Discount Stores industry. TGT (Target Corporation) is in the Consumer Defensive sector, specifically the Discount Stores industry. Because both are in the same sector, this is a true head-to-head comparison.

How do I decide between WMT and TGT?

Start with your goal. (1) If you need income, weight the higher-yield name. (2) If you want growth, weight the faster top-line and EPS grower. (3) If you want capital preservation, weight the lower-beta, lower-debt, higher-ROE name. (4) If you're unsure, the most common professional approach is to own both in a sector basket so you don't have to predict the winner — and rebalance annually.

Disclaimer: This comparison is generated from live market data for informational purposes only. It is not investment advice, a recommendation to buy or sell any security, or a substitute for the analysis of a licensed financial advisor. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Always read the most recent 10-K and consult a qualified professional before making investment decisions. StockSignal24 is not responsible for losses incurred from trading decisions made based on this content.