Is Dollar General a Better Buy Than Walmart?
Walmart fell -11% during the past Week. You may be tempted to buy more, or may want to reduce your exposure. But there is an entirely different perspective you might be missing. Is there a better alternative? Turns out, its peer Dollar General gives you more. Dollar General (DG) stock offers superior revenue growth across key periods, better profitability, and relatively lower valuation vs Walmart (WMT) stock, suggesting you may be better off investing in DG
- DG’s quarterly revenue growth was 5.9%, vs. WMT’s 5.6%.
- In addition, its Last 12 Months revenue growth came in at 5.2%, ahead of WMT’s 4.7%.
- DG leads on profitability over both periods – LTM margin of 5.2% and 3-year average of 5.2%.
These differences become even clearer when you look at the financials side by side. The table highlights how WMT’s fundamentals stack up against those of DG on growth, margins, momentum, and valuation multiples.
Valuation & Performance Overview
| WMT | DG | Preferred | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valuation | |||
| P/EBIT Ratio | 31.7 | 10.4 | DG |
| Revenue Growth | |||
| Last Quarter | 5.6% | 5.9% | DG |
| Last 12 Months | 4.7% | 5.2% | DG |
| Last 3 Year Average | 5.3% | 4.1% | WMT |
| Operating Margins | |||
| Last 12 Months | 4.2% | 5.2% | DG |
| Last 3 Year Average | 4.2% | 5.2% | DG |
| Momentum | |||
| Last 3 Year Return | 151.0% | -46.2% | WMT |
Note: For “Last 3 Year Return” metric, preferred stock is one with higher returns unless the returns are too high (>300%) which creates risk of sell off.
- Why Walmart’s Post-Earnings Dip Is A Diversification Play
- The Bear Case: How WMT Behaves During Market Shocks
- Stress Testing WMT: Historical Drawdowns and Macro Risks
- The Path to $160: The Upside Case for Walmart
- WMT Stock: 4 Impending Events That Could Invalidate the Thesis
- Walmart Stock Hands $76 Bil Back – Worth a Look?
See detailed fundamentals on Buy or Sell DG Stock and Buy or Sell WMT Stock. Below we compare market return and related metrics across years.
Historical Market Performance
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Total [1] | Avg | Best | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Returns | |||||||||
| WMT Return | 2% | -0% | 13% | 74% | 24% | 8% | 169% | <=== | |
| DG Return | 13% | 6% | -44% | -43% | 80% | -20% | -45% | ||
| S&P 500 Return | 27% | -19% | 24% | 23% | 16% | 9% | 99% | ||
| Monthly Win Rates [3] | |||||||||
| WMT Win Rate | 58% | 50% | 67% | 83% | 67% | 60% | 64% | ||
| DG Win Rate | 50% | 58% | 33% | 25% | 67% | 40% | 46% | ||
| S&P 500 Win Rate | 75% | 42% | 67% | 75% | 67% | 60% | 64% | <=== | |
| Max Drawdowns [4] | |||||||||
| WMT Max Drawdown | -14% | -26% | -11% | -6% | -22% | -11% | -15% | ||
| DG Max Drawdown | -18% | -28% | -59% | -54% | -17% | -35% | -35% | ||
| S&P 500 Max Drawdown | -5% | -25% | -10% | -8% | -19% | -9% | -13% | <=== | |
[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2021
[2] 2026 data is for the year up to 5/26/2026 (YTD)
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
No matter how good the numbers, stock investment is never a smooth ride. There is a risk you must factor in. Read DG Dip Buyer Analyses to see how the stock has fallen and recovered in the past.
Still not sure about WMT or DG? Consider portfolio approach.
The Right Way To Invest Is Through Portfolios
Stocks can jump or crash, but long-term success comes from staying invested. The right portfolio helps you ride gains and cushion single stock drops.
The Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio, with a collection of 30 stocks, has a track record of comfortably outperforming its benchmark that includes all 3 – the S&P 500, S&P mid-cap, and Russell 2000 indices. Why is that? HQ Portfolio has posted more than 105% in cumulative return since inception, with less risk versus the benchmark index, as evident in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.