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COST or SYY or WMT
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Sysco Corporation (SYY) vs. Walmart Inc. (WMT) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- COST leads YTD performance at around 17%, driven by robust Q2 earnings with 9.2% revenue growth and 7.4% comparable sales increase.
- SYY shows steady YTD gains near 17%, supported by 3-5% fiscal 2026 sales guidance amid leadership transitions and volume growth.
- WMT delivers strong 1-year returns over 48%, bolstered by international sales momentum, e-commerce expansion, and dividend hikes.
- All three exhibit resilience in consumer staples, with COST and WMT excelling in membership and digital sales, while SYY benefits from foodservice stability.
- Recent market activity highlights defensive positioning, with relative outperformance versus broader retail amid volatility.
Introduction
This stock comparison examines COST, SYY, and WMT, key players in retail and food distribution. COST operates membership warehouses, SYY leads in foodservice distribution, and WMT dominates mass merchandising. Investors seeking defensive exposure to consumer staples amid economic uncertainty, or traders eyeing relative performance in value-oriented sectors, will find value here. Recent earnings and market positioning reveal contrasts in growth drivers, sentiment, and momentum, aiding informed decisions on stock comparison and market positioning.
COST Overview and Recent Performance
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) runs membership-based warehouse clubs offering bulk goods, groceries, and essentials globally. In recent market activity, shares have shown resilience, with YTD returns around 17% and 3-month gains over 17%. Fiscal Q2 2026 results highlighted 9.2% revenue growth to $69.6 billion, 7.4% comparable sales rise (excluding gas/FX), and 22.6% e-commerce surge, fueled by 3.1% traffic and 4.2% average ticket growth. Net income climbed 11.3%, though muted stock reaction reflected high valuations. Sentiment remains positive on membership loyalty (over 80 million paid members) and operational efficiency, despite potential cost pressures from geopolitical tensions.
SYY Overview and Recent Performance
Sysco Corporation (SYY) is the largest U.S. foodservice distributor, supplying restaurants, healthcare, and institutions with products and logistics. Recent weeks saw YTD performance near 17%, with 1-month dips offset by 6.7% post-earnings gains. The company reaffirmed fiscal 2026 guidance for 3-5% sales growth, driven by local volume and margin improvements in Q2 results. Leadership changes, including an interim CFO, coincide with analyst target adjustments and efficiency partnerships. Performance reflects steady foodservice demand, though valuation concerns persist in a competitive landscape. Relative stability supports sentiment for defensive positioning.
WMT Overview and Recent Performance
Walmart Inc. (WMT) operates hypermarkets, discount stores, and e-commerce, emphasizing everyday low prices worldwide. Shares have delivered YTD gains around 13% and 1-year returns exceeding 48%, with recent 3-month surges over 19%. Q4 fiscal 2026 showed 5.6% revenue growth, 4.6% U.S. comp sales, and 24% global e-commerce rise, alongside international strength and partnerships like Build-A-Bear. Dividend increases to $0.99/share and $30 billion buybacks enhance shareholder value. Momentum stems from market share gains in groceries and higher-income segments, though macro caution tempers outlook.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
COST, SYY, and WMT operate in consumer defensive spaces but differ in models: COST's high-margin memberships contrast SYY's volume-driven distribution and WMT's scale in everyday retail. Growth drivers include COST and WMT's e-commerce (20-24% growth) versus SYY's steady 3-5% sales outlook. Recent momentum favors COST YTD, but WMT excels longer-term. Risks involve COST's premium valuation (P/E ~46), SYY's leadership flux, and WMT's consumer spending sensitivity. Sector exposure tilts grocery/defensive for all, with WMT broader. Sentiment leans positive on stability, though trade-offs balance growth versus consistency.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently favors COST for its trend consistency in comparable sales and membership growth, alongside relative YTD strength and e-commerce catalysts. WMT shows robust positioning via international momentum, while SYY offers stability. Observable factors like earnings beats and defensive traits suggest higher probability of outperformance for COST in the near term, though rotation risks apply.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
COST’s FA Score shows that 2 FA rating(s) are green whileSYY’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s), and WMT’s FA Score reflects 2 green FA rating(s).
- COST’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- SYY’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- WMT’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
COST’s TA Score shows that 5 TA indicator(s) are bullish while SYY’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s), and WMT’s TA Score reflects 6 bullish TA indicator(s).
- COST’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 5 bearish.
- SYY’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 5 bearish.
- WMT’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 3 bearish.
Price Growth
COST (@Discount Stores) experienced а +1.73% price change this week, while SYY (@Food Distributors) price change was +3.95% , and WMT (@Discount Stores) price fluctuated +2.69% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Discount Stores industry was +3.14%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +4.71%, and the average quarterly price growth was +9.77%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Food Distributors industry was -1.49%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +2.06%, and the average quarterly price growth was -0.11%.
Reported Earning Dates
COST is expected to report earnings on Jul 29, 2026.
SYY is expected to report earnings on Apr 28, 2026.
WMT is expected to report earnings on May 14, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Discount Stores (+3.14% weekly)Companies in the discount stores industry specialize in offering substantial discounts on a vast array of retail products. Some companies in this industry also operate general merchandise warehouse clubs. Products sold at discount stores are typically similar to those of any department store, but the pricing of the goods is generally much lower (and hence the name “discount”). Think Dollar General Corporation, Dollar Tree, Inc. and Five Below, Inc. Many discount stores target low-income households and/or price-sensitive consumers as their potential market. Discount stores’ profitability could hinge on factors like competitive pricing, sufficient locations, healthy revenue per square foot, and effective advertisement. These store operators could have an edge over other retailers during financial crises or recessions, when many consumers could be looking for less expensive alternatives.
@Food Distributors (-1.49% weekly)Food distributors function as intermediaries between food manufacturers and food service operators (such as chefs, restaurants, beverage managers, cafeterias, industrial caterers, hospitals and nursing homes). Food distribution companies buy, store and then supply food items to the food service operators, thereby allowing the latter to have access to a wide range of food items from various manufacturers. Sysco Corporation, US Foods Holding Corp. and Herbalife Nutrition Ltd. are some of the biggest (by market cap) U.S. companies in this segment. Most food service operators buy from local, specialty, and/or broad line food service distributors on a daily or weekly basis. With the rise in e-commerce, consumers are increasingly expecting lower prices, faster service, and higher quality – something that potentially creates the impetus on distribution networks to raise their game.
| COST | SYY | WMT | |
| Capitalization | 443B | 36.5B | 1.02T |
| EBITDA | 14.1B | 4.1B | 46.5B |
| Gain YTD | 15.871 | 5.037 | 15.054 |
| P/E Ratio | 51.89 | 20.56 | 46.86 |
| Revenue | 286B | 82.6B | 713B |
| Total Cash | 18.2B | 169M | 10.7B |
| Total Debt | 8.17B | 15B | 67.1B |
COST | SYY | WMT | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 17 | 15 | 25 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 94 Overvalued | 50 Fair valued | 92 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 11 | 75 | 7 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 32 | 14 | 40 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 35 | 60 | 24 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 71 | 51 | 42 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 65 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
SYY's Valuation (50) in the Food Distributors industry is somewhat better than the same rating for WMT (92) in the Specialty Stores industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for COST (94) in the Specialty Stores industry. This means that SYY's stock grew somewhat faster than WMT’s and somewhat faster than COST’s over the last 12 months.
WMT's Profit vs Risk Rating (7) in the Specialty Stores industry is in the same range as COST (11) in the Specialty Stores industry, and is significantly better than the same rating for SYY (75) in the Food Distributors industry. This means that WMT's stock grew similarly to COST’s and significantly faster than SYY’s over the last 12 months.
SYY's SMR Rating (14) in the Food Distributors industry is in the same range as COST (32) in the Specialty Stores industry, and is in the same range as WMT (40) in the Specialty Stores industry. This means that SYY's stock grew similarly to COST’s and similarly to WMT’s over the last 12 months.
WMT's Price Growth Rating (24) in the Specialty Stores industry is in the same range as COST (35) in the Specialty Stores industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for SYY (60) in the Food Distributors industry. This means that WMT's stock grew similarly to COST’s and somewhat faster than SYY’s over the last 12 months.
WMT's P/E Growth Rating (42) in the Specialty Stores industry is in the same range as SYY (51) in the Food Distributors industry, and is in the same range as COST (71) in the Specialty Stores industry. This means that WMT's stock grew similarly to SYY’s and similarly to COST’s over the last 12 months.
| COST | SYY | WMT | |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 43% | 1 day ago 50% | N/A |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 64% | 1 day ago 64% | 1 day ago 33% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 52% | 1 day ago 51% | 1 day ago 60% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 58% | 1 day ago 45% | 1 day ago 64% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 65% | 1 day ago 48% | 1 day ago 55% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 62% | 1 day ago 53% | 1 day ago 54% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 5 days ago 63% | 7 days ago 49% | 1 day ago 55% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 8 days ago 38% | 12 days ago 53% | 9 days ago 34% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 47% | 1 day ago 51% | 1 day ago 41% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 50% | 1 day ago 63% | 1 day ago 52% |
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COST and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, COST has been loosely correlated with WMT. These tickers have moved in lockstep 57% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if COST jumps, then WMT could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To COST | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COST | 100% | -0.21% | ||
| WMT - COST | 57% Loosely correlated | +0.33% | ||
| BJ - COST | 46% Loosely correlated | +1.56% | ||
| PSMT - COST | 30% Poorly correlated | -1.59% | ||
| OLLI - COST | 26% Poorly correlated | -1.20% | ||
| TGT - COST | 23% Poorly correlated | +1.83% | ||
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SYY and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, SYY has been loosely correlated with USFD. These tickers have moved in lockstep 41% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if SYY jumps, then USFD could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To SYY | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SYY | 100% | -0.01% | ||
| USFD - SYY | 41% Loosely correlated | -0.45% | ||
| PFGC - SYY | 41% Loosely correlated | -2.00% | ||
| UNFI - SYY | 30% Poorly correlated | -0.70% | ||
| ANDE - SYY | 26% Poorly correlated | +1.33% | ||
| CHEF - SYY | 25% Poorly correlated | -0.44% | ||
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