1 Consumer Goods Stock I'd Buy Before CTAS in 2026

Core Insights - Cintas (NASDAQ: CTAS) has a large customer base but has seen flat stock performance over the past year, prompting investors to consider alternatives like Walmart (NASDAQ: WMT) as it approaches a $1 trillion valuation [1] Group 1: Walmart's Competitive Advantage - Walmart operates over 10,000 locations globally, providing a distribution network that allows for lower prices and greater product availability compared to competitors [3] - The retailer has established itself as a primary destination for budget-conscious shoppers, especially as living costs rise [3] - Walmart's physical presence creates a significant competitive moat against e-commerce rivals like Amazon [4] Group 2: Financial Performance - Walmart's profit margins are expanding, currently around 3%, driven by growth in online ads and e-commerce, which have seen year-over-year growth rates of 53% and 27%, respectively [5][6] - In the third quarter of fiscal year 2026, Walmart's net income increased by 34.2% year over year, attracting investor interest [6] - Walmart's sales grew by 5.8% year over year, indicating that high-growth segments are becoming a larger part of its revenue [8]