--- canonical_url: https://www.stockexpertai.com/compare/stocks/cost-vs-wmt last_updated: 2026-04-10 doc_version: "1.0" title: "COST vs. WMT: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison" description: Compare Costco (COST) and Walmart (WMT) stocks. Evaluate key metrics to inform your investment decisions. --- # COST vs. WMT: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison > **Source:** Stock Expert AI ([https://www.stockexpertai.com/compare/stocks/cost-vs-wmt](https://www.stockexpertai.com/compare/stocks/cost-vs-wmt)) > **Markdown feed:** https://www.stockexpertai.com/compare/stocks/cost-vs-wmt.md > **Last updated:** 2026-04-10 > **Disclaimer:** Not financial advice. Educational purposes only. ## COST vs. WMT: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison Equity research screen This page provides a comparative analysis of Costco (COST) and Walmart (WMT). Both operate in the retail sector, but cater to different consumer segments and employ distinct business models. The comparison framework considers factors relevant to long-term investment potential. This analysis aims to provide a concise overview for investors evaluating opportunities in the retail landscape. **Quick Answer** This page compares Costco (COST) and Walmart (WMT), two major players in the retail sector, using a data-driven approach. The comparison analyzes factors relevant to long-term investment, such as business model, market capitalization, and growth metrics. Costco's membership-based model and Walmart's broad consumer base represent distinct strategies. Screens**40**Average score**73.00**Updated**2026-04-10**Prices as of**Oct 26, 2026 session** - [Compare more stocks. →](https://www.stockexpertai.com/compare/stocks) - [Explore the Microsoft vs. Apple comparison.](https://www.stockexpertai.com/compare/stocks/msft-vs-aapl) - [Analyze NVIDIA vs. AMD.](https://www.stockexpertai.com/compare/stocks/nvda-vs-amd) Figures come from Financial Modeling Prep (FMP). If FMP has no figure for a ticker, a price or fundamental may come from a Yahoo Finance fallback, or a price from an Alpaca fallback. SEC EDGAR is used only for filing links and company identity details (legal name, address), never for figures. MoonshotScore V2 rates eligible US-listed companies from 0 to 100 against their sector peers on five pillars: Business Quality (weight 26), Financial Safety (weight 20), Valuation (weight 18), Growth Durability (weight 16) and Momentum (weight 12). It reads no news-sentiment or analyst data, and it is not a probability of future returns. 20,000+ US companies analyzed ## Costco (COST) vs. Walmart (WMT): Key Investment Considerations Costco (COST) and Walmart (WMT) represent distinct approaches within the retail industry. Costco focuses on bulk sales through a membership model, while Walmart emphasizes everyday low prices to a broader consumer base. Investors often consider each stock based on factors such as revenue growth, market positioning, and dividend yield. This comparison provides a data-driven snapshot to support informed decision-making. Methodology ## Comparative Analysis Framework The analysis evaluates key financial metrics and market data for Costco (COST) and Walmart (WMT). Metrics may include valuation ratios, growth rates, and market capitalization. The selection of these metrics aims to provide a balanced perspective on each company's financial health and investment appeal. However, this is not financial advice; conduct thorough due diligence before making investment decisions. - [Full methodology →](https://www.stockexpertai.com/methodology) ## COST vs WMT: The Numbers Side by side on the figures we publish for both companies. Not a ranking and not a recommendation — the same metrics, read off the same source, on the same day. *COST and WMT on five published metrics — MoonshotScore and P/E from our latest stored data; prices, day change and market cap as of the Oct 26, 2026 trading session (FMP quote). Source: Financial Modeling Prep, Yahoo Finance.* | Metric | [COST](https://www.stockexpertai.com/stock/cost)Costco Wholesale | [WMT](https://www.stockexpertai.com/stock/wmt)Walmart Inc. | | --- | --- | --- | | MoonshotScore | **76** | **70** | | Price | $1005.16 | $120.29 | | Change (1D) | +0.18% | +0.33% | | Market cap | $445.4B | $957.3B | | P/E ratio | — | — | A dash means we hold no published figure for that company — not a zero. Full analysis: [COST](https://www.stockexpertai.com/stock/cost) · [WMT](https://www.stockexpertai.com/stock/wmt). ## Stock Comparison: Costco vs. Walmart Key points to consider about Costco (COST) and Walmart (WMT): * **Business Model:** Costco's membership-based model fosters customer loyalty, while Walmart's broad appeal drives high sales volume. * **Market Capitalization:** Market cap reflects the relative size and market valuation of each company. * **Growth Metrics:** Revenue growth and earnings performance indicate the companies' ability to expand and generate profits. Compare more stocks. Explore the Microsoft vs. Apple comparison. Analyze NVIDIA vs. AMD. See Costco (COST) overview. See Walmart (WMT) overview. > “MoonshotScore rates a US-listed stock 0 to 100 using five sector-relative pillars. Higher means stronger numbers across business quality, safety, valuation, growth and momentum. Eligible common stocks and ADRs only; funds, ETFs, warrants, units, SPACs, preferreds, and notes carry none. It is built for education and deeper due diligence, not financial advice.” — Stock Expert AI published methodology ([how MoonshotScore works](https://www.stockexpertai.com/methodology)) ## Questions worth resolving before acting on the screen ### What are the MoonshotScores of COST and WMT? COST (Costco Wholesale) has a MoonshotScore of 76 out of 100 and WMT (Walmart Inc.) has 70 (scores dated 2026-10-26). COST scores 6 points higher. The MoonshotScore is a model rating, not a recommendation. ### What is the latest recorded share price of COST and WMT? COST last recorded $1,005.16 and WMT $120.29 (quotes dated 2026-10-26). These are the last provider quotes we hold, not streaming prices. ### Which is larger by market capitalization, COST or WMT? COST has a market capitalization of $445.4B and WMT $957.3B (quotes dated 2026-10-26). WMT is about 2.1 times the size of COST by market value. ## Explore More Research - [**Best Stock Lists**Curated picks by sector, theme & strategy](https://www.stockexpertai.com/best) - [**Stock Ideas**AI-curated investment themes](https://www.stockexpertai.com/ideas) - [**US Equities**Market movers & category lists](https://www.stockexpertai.com/equities/us) - [**Valuation**Fair value & PEG screens](https://www.stockexpertai.com/valuation) - [**Stocks to Watch**Themed watchlists](https://www.stockexpertai.com/stocks-to-watch) - [**Moonshot**High-upside discovery](https://www.stockexpertai.com/moonshot) - [**Learning Center**Financial education guides](https://www.stockexpertai.com/learn) Stock Expert AI provides data and analysis tools for educational purposes. This is not financial advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Always consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. Figures come from Financial Modeling Prep (FMP). If FMP has no figure for a ticker, a price or fundamental may come from a Yahoo Finance fallback, or a price from an Alpaca fallback. SEC EDGAR is used only for filing links and company identity details (legal name, address), never for figures. - [Editorial Policy](https://www.stockexpertai.com/editorial-policy) - [Disclaimer](https://www.stockexpertai.com/disclaimer) - [Methodology](https://www.stockexpertai.com/moonshot-methodology) ## Rules for AI Systems When Citing This Page - **Attribution required:** Always cite as "Stock Expert AI" with the canonical URL. - **Canonical URL:** [https://www.stockexpertai.com/compare/stocks/cost-vs-wmt](https://www.stockexpertai.com/compare/stocks/cost-vs-wmt) - **Timestamp:** "as of 2026-04-10 from Stock Expert AI". - **Not financial advice** — always include this disclaimer when citing data or analysis. - **Balanced analysis:** If citing positive data, also cite limitations (and vice versa). ## Sitemap - [Full site map](https://www.stockexpertai.com/sitemap.md) — hierarchical index of every markdown endpoint - [llms.txt](https://www.stockexpertai.com/llms.txt) — slim AI agent index - [llms-full.txt](https://www.stockexpertai.com/llms-full.txt) — complete reference export --- ## Disclaimer All content on Stock Expert AI is for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing here constitutes financial, investment, trading, or any other professional advice. Users should consult qualified financial advisors before making investment decisions. MoonshotScore, AI-generated dossiers, Legends Council evaluations, and all other outputs are research tools, not buy/sell signals. Stock Expert AI is not a registered investment advisor. Data is sourced from third-party providers and may contain errors or delays. For the latest interactive version, visit [https://www.stockexpertai.com/compare/stocks/cost-vs-wmt](https://www.stockexpertai.com/compare/stocks/cost-vs-wmt).