Walmart vs Costco
The two retail titans compared on scale moat, capital efficiency, and valuation — warehouse-club loyalty versus supercenter scale.
| Metric | WALMART INC. WMT | COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW COST |
|---|---|---|
| ValueOS Score | 73 | 79 |
| Verdict | HOLD | HOLD |
| Moat | Narrow Moat | Narrow Moat |
| Margin of Safety | -259.8% | -143.6% |
| Intrinsic Value / share | $29.77 | $375.97 |
| Price | $107.14 | $915.74 |
Live scores from the latest SEC filings · refreshed daily. Open any card for the full workup.
The Takeaway
Costco's membership moat produces recurring, high-retention revenue and extraordinary customer loyalty; Walmart's supercenter scale and logistics are broader but thinner-margin. Both are wide-moat retailers — the better entry is decided by the margin of safety in the DCF cards above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why compare Walmart and Costco?
They are the two most durable US retailers, but with opposite models: scale-and-logistics versus membership-loyalty. Comparing them shows how moat type drives returns.
Which is the better value investment?
Both are high quality; price decides. The DCF and Score cards above show intrinsic value, margin of safety, and business quality for each.
Run the full workup yourself
Open either name across the three tools for the complete Buffett-style analysis.
Cite this page
Quoting or linking ValueOS? Copy this ready-made citation.
ValueOS Editorial Team. "Walmart vs Costco." ValueOS. Accessed 2026-09-06. https://getvalueos.com/compare/wmt-vs-cost