Dollar General (DG) vs Walmart (WMT)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Dollar General (DG) has outperformed Walmart (WMT) over the past year, gaining 26.7% versus a gain of 4.8%. Over five years, WMT leads with a +130.9% price change compared with -41.7% for DG. Walmart is the larger company by market cap ($860.75 billion vs $26.95 billion), about 31.9 times the size, while Dollar General is growing revenue faster (+5.2% vs +4.7%).
On valuation, Dollar General trades at a lower forward P/E (14.7x vs 33.5x for Walmart). Dollar General offers the higher dividend yield (1.93% vs 0.89%). Dollar General converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 3.5% versus 3.1%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | DG | WMT |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $122.14 | $108.16 |
| Market cap | $26.95B | $860.75B |
| 1-day change | -0.92% | +0.90% |
| YTD return | -8.01% | -2.92% |
| 1-year return | +26.74% | +4.77% |
| 5-year return | -41.74% | +130.86% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 15.86 | 38.35 |
| Forward P/E | 14.70 | 33.54 |
| EPS (TTM) | $7.70 | $2.82 |
| Dividend yield | 1.93% | 0.89% |
| Annual dividend | $2.36 | $0.965 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $42.72B | $713.16B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +5.20% | +4.73% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.51B | $21.89B |
| Gross margin | 30.66% | 24.93% |
| Operating margin | 5.16% | 4.18% |
| Net margin | 3.54% | 3.07% |
| 52-week high | $158.23 | $135.16 |
| 52-week low | $95.11 | $98.88 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -22.81% | -19.98% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +15.81% | +17.22% |
| Average volume | 2.40M | 23.68M |
| Shares outstanding | 220.62M | 7.96B |
| Employees | 194,000 | 2,100,000 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Department/Specialty Retail Stores | Department/Specialty Retail Stores |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Walmart is about 31.9 times larger than Dollar General by market value ($860.75B vs $26.95B).
- DG has outperformed WMT by 22.0 percentage points over the past year.
- Walmart trades at a higher earnings multiple (38.4x vs 15.9x trailing P/E).
- Dollar General offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.93% vs 0.89%).
About Dollar General
DG stock →Dollar General Corporation, a discount retailer, provides various merchandise products in the southern, southwestern, midwestern, and eastern United States. It offers consumable products, including paper towels, bath tissues, paper dinnerware, trash and storage bags, disinfectants, and laundry products; packaged food, such as cereals, pasta, canned soups, canned meats, fruits and vegetables, condiments, spices, sugar, and flour; and perishables, including milk, eggs, bread, refrigerated and frozen food, beer, wine, and produce; candy, cookies, crackers, salty snacks, and carbonated beverages; over-the-counter medicines and personal care products including soap, body wash, shampoo, cosmetics, dental hygiene and foot care products; pet supplies and pet food; and tobacco products.
Consumer Discretionary · Department/Specialty Retail Stores · 194,000 employees
About Walmart
WMT stock →Walmart Inc. engages in the operation of retail and wholesale stores and clubs, ecommerce websites, and mobile applications worldwide.
Consumer Discretionary · Department/Specialty Retail Stores · 2,100,000 employees
DG vs WMT FAQ
Which is bigger, Dollar General or Walmart?
Walmart (WMT) is larger, with a market capitalization of $860.75B compared with $26.95B for Dollar General (DG).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, DG or WMT?
DG returned +26.74% over the past 12 months, compared with +4.77% for WMT (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, DG or WMT?
DG has the lower trailing P/E at 15.9, versus 38.4 for WMT. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Dollar General or Walmart?
Dollar General has the higher yield at 1.93%, compared with 0.89% for Walmart.
Are Dollar General and Walmart in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Department/Specialty Retail Stores industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.