Best Stock to Buy Right Now: Walmart vs. Kraft Heinz?

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the potential shift in investor sentiment towards defensive stocks in the Consumer Staples sector, highlighting Walmart and Kraft Heinz as two contrasting examples of investment opportunities within this space [1][6]. Company Summaries Walmart (WMT) - Walmart has a market capitalization exceeding $800 billion and annual sales nearing $700 billion, recently reaching an all-time high [1][3]. - The stock has increased by 14% this year, with a current price of $101.25 and a forward P/E ratio of 37x, which is significantly higher than the market average of 24x and the Staples sector average of 20x [3][8]. - Walmart's price-to-sales (P/S) ratio is 1.1x, placing it in the 99th percentile historically, and it has a gross profit margin of approximately 25% [10][11]. - The company has a low dividend yield of 0.01%, but it has consistently increased its dividend for 52 consecutive years [3][12]. - Analysts are largely positive on Walmart, with 41 out of 43 rating it a buy and an average 12-month price target of $113, indicating a potential upside of about 10% [14][15]. Kraft Heinz (KHC) - Kraft Heinz has a market capitalization of $29 billion, significantly smaller than Walmart, and is currently trading about 75% below its all-time high from 2017 [2][5]. - The stock has decreased by 17% this year, with a current price of $24.73 and a forward P/E ratio of 9.6x, which is less than half the market and sector averages [3][9]. - Kraft Heinz's P/S ratio is 1.2x, ranking in the 1st percentile historically, and it has a gross profit margin of around 34% [10][11]. - The company offers a higher dividend yield of 0.06%, but it has not increased its dividend since 2019, when it was reduced by 35% [5][12]. - Analysts are more cautious on Kraft Heinz, with 18 out of 20 rating it a hold and an average 12-month price target of $29, suggesting a potential gain of 19% excluding dividends [15]. Sector Overview - The Consumer Staples sector has been out of favor for most of the year, underperforming the S&P 500 and other major large-cap sectors [5]. - There is an expectation that as investor sentiment shifts back towards stable earnings and attractive valuations, companies like Kraft Heinz may become more appealing compared to market leaders like Walmart [6][15].