PriceSmart (PSMT) 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
PriceSmart (PSMT) has outperformed Walmart (WMT) over the past year, gaining 39.7% versus a gain of 4.8%. Over five years, WMT leads with a +130.9% price change compared with +117.2% for PSMT. Walmart is the larger company by market cap ($860.75 billion vs $5.24 billion), about 164.3 times the size, while PriceSmart is growing revenue faster (+7.2% vs +4.7%).
On valuation, PriceSmart trades at a lower forward P/E (26.5x vs 33.5x for Walmart). Walmart offers the higher dividend yield (0.89% vs 0.78%). Walmart converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 3.1% versus 2.8%.
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 | PSMT | WMT |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $169.72 | $108.16 |
| Market cap | $5.24B | $860.75B |
| 1-day change | -1.33% | +0.90% |
| YTD return | +38.07% | -2.92% |
| 1-year return | +39.69% | +4.77% |
| 5-year return | +117.22% | +130.86% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 32.64 | 38.35 |
| Forward P/E | 26.46 | 33.54 |
| EPS (TTM) | $5.20 | $2.82 |
| Dividend yield | 0.78% | 0.89% |
| Annual dividend | $1.33 | $0.965 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $5.27B | $713.16B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +7.25% | +4.73% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $147.89M | $21.89B |
| Gross margin | 17.35% | 24.93% |
| Operating margin | 4.41% | 4.18% |
| Net margin | 2.81% | 3.07% |
| 52-week high | $199.84 | $135.16 |
| 52-week low | $111.68 | $98.88 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -15.07% | -19.98% |
| Analyst consensus | none | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | -2.19% | +17.22% |
| Average volume | 248.73K | 23.68M |
| Shares outstanding | 30.86M | 7.96B |
| Employees | 13,000 | 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 164.3 times larger than PriceSmart by market value ($860.75B vs $5.24B).
- PSMT has outperformed WMT by 34.9 percentage points over the past year.
About PriceSmart
PSMT stock →PriceSmart, Inc. owns and operates U.S.-style membership shopping warehouse clubs in the United States, Central America, the Caribbean, and Colombia.
Consumer Discretionary · Department/Specialty Retail Stores · 13,000 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
PSMT vs WMT FAQ
Which is bigger, PriceSmart or Walmart?
Walmart (WMT) is larger, with a market capitalization of $860.75B compared with $5.24B for PriceSmart (PSMT).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, PSMT or WMT?
PSMT returned +39.69% 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, PSMT or WMT?
PSMT has the lower trailing P/E at 32.6, 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, PriceSmart or Walmart?
Walmart has the higher yield at 0.89%, compared with 0.78% for PriceSmart.
Are PriceSmart and Walmart in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Department/Specialty Retail Stores industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.