Walmart vs Altria

This page compares Walmart Inc. and Altria Group Inc., examining their business models, financial performance, and market context to illustrate how these two companies operate in distinct sectors. The analysis remains neutral, clear, and accessible for readers seeking objective information. Educational content, not financial advice.

This page compares Walmart Inc. and Altria Group Inc., examining their business models, financial performance, and market context to illustrate how these two companies operate in distinct sectors. The...

About The Companies

Walmart (WMT)

Walmart Inc (WMT) is a global retail leader operating thousands of stores and a growing e‑commerce platform, with a market cap of about $846.88B. The company generates revenue from grocery, general merchandise, membership services (Walmart+), and increasingly from online sales and services. Investors often watch Walmart for its scale advantages — low-cost sourcing, broad distribution and pricing power — which support steady cash flow and a reliable dividend history. Growth drivers include expansion of e‑commerce, marketplace third‑party sales, healthcare initiatives and international operations, though performance varies by region. Key risks are thin retail margins, intense competition (notably from Amazon), labour and logistics costs, and regulatory or currency pressures overseas. Valuation, margin trends and same‑store sales are useful monitoring metrics. This summary is for general educational purposes only and is not personalised investment advice; consider your objectives, risk tolerance and suitability before investing.

Altria (MO)

Altria Group Inc. (MO) is one of the largest US tobacco companies, best known for its ownership of Philip Morris USA, a portfolio of smokeless and cigar businesses, a wine subsidiary and strategic investments in reduced‑risk product makers. With a market capitalisation of about $107.1 billion, Altria is notable for its long history of dividend payments and cash generation from cigarette sales, which remain a major profit driver despite declining smoking prevalence. Key considerations for investors include regulatory and litigation risk, excise taxes, shifting consumer preferences toward nicotine alternatives, and ESG-related pressures. The company has invested in vaping and cannabis ventures historically, reflecting a strategic interest in product diversification, though outcomes have varied. Dividends and yield often attract income-focused investors, but dividend levels are not guaranteed and can change. This summary is educational only—not personalised financial advice—and investors should weigh risks, long‑term trends and suitability before considering exposure.

Comparison Snapshot

Key Financial Metrics

WMT

Metric

MO

$930.12B

Market Cap

$98.62B

0.77%

Potential Profit

6.97%

Buy

Analyst Rating

Hold

Why It's Moving

Walmart Hits All-Time High on Black Friday Boom and Nasdaq Switch

Black Friday online sales jumped 9.1% to $11.8 billion, powered by the new AI shopping assistant Sparky that boosted customer conversions.
Opened a $350 million dairy plant in Georgia to tighten grocery cost controls and bolster supply chain efficiency for high-margin essentials.
Shifted to Nasdaq Global Select Market on Dec. 9, underscoring its pivot to a tech-driven omnichannel powerhouse.

Sentiment:

🐃Bullish

Altria CEO Billy Gifford to retire, paving way for CFO Sal Mancuso to lead tobacco giant.

CEO succession signals continuity, with Mancuso's financial expertise poised to navigate shifting regulatory and market dynamics in smokeless and oral tobacco segments.
Ex-dividend date set for December 26 at $1.06 per share, reinforcing Altria's appeal as a high-yield Dividend King with 60 years of payout hikes.
Recent stock resilience shown in YTD gains of over 12%, bolstered by narrowed 2025 EPS guidance of $5.35-$5.45 and expanded $2B share repurchase through 2026.

Sentiment:

⚖️Neutral

Walmart Hits All-Time High on Black Friday Boom and Nasdaq Switch

Black Friday online sales jumped 9.1% to $11.8 billion, powered by the new AI shopping assistant Sparky that boosted customer conversions.
Opened a $350 million dairy plant in Georgia to tighten grocery cost controls and bolster supply chain efficiency for high-margin essentials.
Shifted to Nasdaq Global Select Market on Dec. 9, underscoring its pivot to a tech-driven omnichannel powerhouse.

Sentiment:

🐃Bullish

Altria CEO Billy Gifford to retire, paving way for CFO Sal Mancuso to lead tobacco giant.

CEO succession signals continuity, with Mancuso's financial expertise poised to navigate shifting regulatory and market dynamics in smokeless and oral tobacco segments.
Ex-dividend date set for December 26 at $1.06 per share, reinforcing Altria's appeal as a high-yield Dividend King with 60 years of payout hikes.
Recent stock resilience shown in YTD gains of over 12%, bolstered by narrowed 2025 EPS guidance of $5.35-$5.45 and expanded $2B share repurchase through 2026.

Sentiment:

⚖️Neutral

Which Baskets Do They Appear In?

Consumer Caution: Investing In Value And Staples

A recent drop in consumer sentiment, fueled by persistent inflation, suggests a potential slowdown in consumer spending. This environment could benefit companies that offer essential goods and value, such as consumer staples and discount retailers.

Published: August 20, 2025

Explore Basket

Which Baskets Do They Appear In?

Consumer Caution: Investing In Value And Staples

A recent drop in consumer sentiment, fueled by persistent inflation, suggests a potential slowdown in consumer spending. This environment could benefit companies that offer essential goods and value, such as consumer staples and discount retailers.

Published: August 20, 2025

Explore Basket

Investment Analysis

Walmart

WMT

Pros

Walmart has strong multi-year price appreciation forecasts, with expectations of nearly 89% increase from 2027 to 2031.
The company enjoys widespread analyst support, with consensus price targets averaging around $113 for 2025.
Walmart benefits from a large, diversified retail footprint providing stability in earnings and cash flow.

Considerations

Some forecasts predict an 8-9% stock price decline by the end of 2025, indicating potential near-term volatility.
Retail sector faces headwinds from inflationary pressures and supply chain disruptions impacting costs and margins.
Growth is constrained by intense competition in both brick-and-mortar and e-commerce markets.

Altria

MO

Pros

Altria offers a high dividend yield around 6.5%, supporting stable income for shareholders.
The company is progressing in evolving its business beyond traditional smoking, focusing on reduced-risk products.
Strong cash flow supports a history of dividend increases and substantial share repurchase programs.

Considerations

Regulatory risks remain significant given the tobacco industry’s exposure to government restrictions and litigation.
Revenue growth is slow due to declining cigarette volumes, making future growth dependent on alternative products.
Altria’s valuation and stock momentum may be limited by ongoing health and ESG investor concerns.

Discover More Comparisons

Walmart vs Philip Morris International

Walmart vs Unilever

Walmart vs Unilever: A comparison of business models

Walmart vs General Electric

Walmart vs General Electric: stock comparison

Walmart vs Altria

About The Companies

Comparison Snapshot

Why It's Moving

Walmart Hits All-Time High on Black Friday Boom and Nasdaq Switch

Altria CEO Billy Gifford to retire, paving way for CFO Sal Mancuso to lead tobacco giant.

Walmart Hits All-Time High on Black Friday Boom and Nasdaq Switch

Altria CEO Billy Gifford to retire, paving way for CFO Sal Mancuso to lead tobacco giant.

Which Baskets Do They Appear In?

Consumer Caution: Investing In Value And Staples

Which Baskets Do They Appear In?

Consumer Caution: Investing In Value And Staples