Stock Comparison
TGT vs WMT: Two Retailers, Two Payout Records
A head-to-head of Target and Walmart covering dividends, payout history, and size.
Data updated August 28, 2026
Best for
- TGTInvestors who want higher current income (2.75% vs 0.97% for WMT).
- WMTInvestors who want direct ownership of the underlying business, with no fund wrapper or management fee.
Visual comparison
Key metrics
Projected income on $10K
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
TGT has outpaced WMT over the trailing twelve months, posting a 73.34% total return against 8.20%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — WMT has compounded at 17.75% a year, ahead of TGT at 11.99%. WMT has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 23.0% against 35.6% for TGT. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
| Symbol | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Since Feb 1973 | Volatility | Sharpe | Sortino | Max drawdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TGT | 66.82% | 73.34% | 13.85% | -5.21% | 11.99% | 13.60% | 35.6% | 0.24 | 0.33 | -49.8% |
| WMT | -7.99% | 8.20% | 26.21% | 17.57% | 17.75% | 18.56% | 23.0% | 0.82 | 1.16 | -23.3% |
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of August 28, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Feb 1973” measures every fund from February 21, 1973 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.
Side-by-side snapshot
| Metric |  TGT |  WMT |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Target Corp. | Walmart Inc. |
| Issuer | — | — |
| Last Close | $163.18 as of August 28, 2026 | $103.09 as of August 28, 2026 |
| Distribution yield | 2.75% | 0.97% |
| Distribution Safety Score™ | 100 | 100 |
| Safety-Adjusted Yield | 2.75% | 0.97% |
| Expense ratio | — | — |
| AUM | — | — |
| Distribution frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Underlying index | — | — |
| Objective | — | Operates retail stores and e-commerce platforms worldwide. Segments include Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sam's Club, offering groceries, general merchandise, and financial services. |
| Asset class | Equity | Equity |
| Inception date | N/A | N/A |
| Beta | 0.973 | 0.605 |
| Last dividend | $1.1600 | $0.2475 |
| Ex-dividend date | 08/12/2026 | 12/11/2026 |
Bottom lineChoose TGT if you want higher current income (2.75% vs 0.97% for WMT). Choose WMT if you want direct ownership of the underlying business, with no fund wrapper or management fee.
TGT vs WMT: two retailers, two payout records
Both are US general-merchandise retailers that pay quarterly. Scale and payout history, not a one-date yield.
| TGT | WMT | |
|---|---|---|
| Business | US general merchandise | US general merchandise |
| Payout | Quarterly dividend | Quarterly dividend |
| Distribution yield | 2.75% | 0.97% |
Income calculator
See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each stock at current yields.
Want to go deeper?
Add these stocks to a sample portfolio and forecast your dividend income over 5+ years — free to start, no credit card.
Quick verdict
TGT (Target Corp.) and WMT (Walmart Inc.) are both quarterly-pay dividend-paying stocks, but they take different approaches.
TGT offers the higher yield at 2.75% vs 0.97% for WMT. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
Who should choose each?
Choose TGT
Target Corp.
- Want higher current income — TGT yields 2.75% vs 0.97% for WMT.
- Want direct stock ownership — full upside and dividend growth potential, no fund wrapper or expense ratio.
Choose WMT
Walmart Inc.
- Want direct stock ownership — full upside and dividend growth potential, no fund wrapper or expense ratio.
- Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 0.6 vs 1.0 for TGT.
Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.
Still deciding? Track TGT & WMT for free
Create a free Dividend Vision account to keep them on a watchlist, get notified when they declare dividends, and see how much income they would add to your portfolio.
Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment, TGT would generate roughly $22.92/month, while WMT would produce $8.08/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.
Strategy & risk
TGT is a stock built around consumer staples exposure, while WMT is a stock built around retail exposure. Beta is 0.973 for TGT and 0.605 for WMT, making WMT the less volatile of the two by this measure.
Security details
TGT (Target Corp.) is a stock. WMT (Walmart Inc.) is a stock.
Enjoyed this page?
Do us a favor — if you found this comparison useful, please share it with a friend researching dividend investments.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between TGT and WMT for dividends?
Both are US general-merchandise retailers that pay a quarterly dividend. TGT (Target Corp.) distributes 2.75% and WMT (Walmart Inc.) distributes 0.97% as of August 2026. Compare payout history and scale, not a one-date yield race.
What is the current distribution yield for TGT and WMT?
TGT currently distributes 2.75% and WMT 0.97%, based on fund data updated August 2026. Distribution yield moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.
Is TGT or WMT better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. TGT currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.
What is the difference between TGT and WMT?
TGT (Target Corp.) is a stock built around consumer staples exposure, while WMT (Walmart Inc.) is a stock built around retail exposure. They are issued by — and — respectively.
Can I hold both TGT and WMT?
Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.
Is TGT or WMT safer?
By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — they are effectively tied: TGT scores 100, WMT scores 100. Neither has a clear safety edge on that measure. WMT has also shown lower price volatility (beta 0.60 vs 0.97 for TGT). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.
How much income does $10,000 in TGT vs WMT generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in TGT would generate roughly $22.92 per month ($275.00 annually). The same in WMT would produce about $8.08 per month ($97.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, TGT or WMT?
TGT has outpaced WMT over the trailing twelve months, posting a 73.34% total return against 8.20%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — WMT has compounded at 17.75% a year, ahead of TGT at 11.99%. WMT has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 23.0% against 35.6% for TGT. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
More comparisons to explore
Popular comparisons
Learn the method
The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.
Still deciding? Compare them against your own portfolio
See how each stock fits alongside your real holdings — forecast future income, analyze overlap, and gauge risk. Start a free 7-day Dividend Vision trial and make the call with your full portfolio in view.