Walmart is usually cheaper than Target, especially on groceries and name-brand essentials. Target is often the better choice for shoppers who want a cleaner store, trendier clothing and home goods, and stylish store brands. Target’s 5% Circle Card discount can close much of the price gap.
As businesses, the two are not close in size. Walmart earned $713.2 billion in revenue last fiscal year, about seven times Target’s $104.8 billion. Below, you will find how Walmart and Target compare on prices, store brands, memberships, shopping experience, customers, and 2026 results.
Key Takeaways
- Walmart wins on price for most groceries and household staples, according to multiple store price tests.
- Target wins on store experience, style, and its owned brands, which make up about 30% of its sales.
- Target’s Circle Card gives 5% off nearly all purchases, which can make some Target baskets cheaper than Walmart’s.
- Walmart is far larger, with 4,611 US stores compared with Target’s 1,995.
- In the second quarter of 2026, Target’s comparable sales grew faster (3.8%) than Walmart US’s (2.6%), but Walmart is still growing its lead in size.
Walmart vs Target at a Glance
| Feature | Walmart | Target |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1962, Rogers, Arkansas | 1962, Roseville, Minnesota |
| Headquarters | Bentonville, Arkansas | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| CEO | John Furner | Michael Fiddelke |
| Annual revenue | $713.2 billion (fiscal 2026) | $104.8 billion (fiscal 2025) |
| US stores | 4,611 Walmart stores, plus 601 Sam’s Clubs | 1,995 stores |
| Employees | About 2.1 million worldwide | About 415,000 |
| Slogan | “Save Money. Live Better.” | “Expect More. Pay Less.” |
| Main store brands | Great Value, Equate, bettergoods | Good & Gather, up & up, Cat & Jack |
| Paid membership | Walmart+ ($98 a year) | Target Circle 360 ($99 a year) |
| Card discount | No general store discount | 5% off with Target Circle Card |
| Stock ticker | WMT (Nasdaq) | TGT (NYSE) |
Sources: Walmart and Target annual reports for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2026.
Both companies opened their first discount stores in 1962, the same year Kmart started. Sixty years later, they serve very different shoppers.
Is Walmart Cheaper Than Target?
Yes, in most price tests. Walmart is usually cheaper on groceries, cleaning supplies, and name-brand items. The gap is often small on single items, but it adds up across a full cart.
Here is what independent price tests have found:
| Test | Items Compared | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Kantar Retail basket study (older study) | National brands and store brands | Walmart’s branded basket was 4% cheaper; with Target’s 5% card discount, Target was 1.1% cheaper |
| Shop Your Way blog (2023) | 21 grocery and household items | Walmart was cheaper on 19 items and tied on 2 |
| The Kitchn (2024) | 8 grocery staples in California | Close to a tie; Walmart was cheaper on name brands |
The pattern is clear. Walmart wins on sticker prices. But Target shoppers who use the Circle Card and the free Target Circle deals can cut their cost enough to match Walmart on many trips.
Why is Target more expensive than Walmart? Target spends more on store design, wider aisles, and trend-driven products. It also sells more premium store brands and exclusive designer collaborations. Walmart’s whole business is built on low costs, huge buying power, and everyday low prices.
Is Target expensive? Not really. Target is a discount store, and its prices are close to Walmart’s on many items. It only looks expensive next to Walmart, the price leader. Compared with department stores or specialty shops, Target is a low-cost option.
How Do Walmart and Target Store Brands Compare?
Store brands are where both chains make some of their best profits, and where shoppers save the most.
| Category | Walmart | Target |
|---|---|---|
| Groceries | Great Value, bettergoods | Good & Gather, Favorite Day |
| Household and personal care | Equate, Great Value | up & up |
| Kids’ clothing | Wonder Nation | Cat & Jack |
| Home | Mainstays, Better Homes & Gardens | Threshold, Room Essentials |
Walmart’s Great Value focuses on the lowest price. Target’s Good & Gather focuses on clean ingredients and modern packaging at a slightly higher price. Owned and exclusive brands make up about 30% of Target’s merchandise sales, according to its annual report.
Walmart+ vs Target Circle 360: Which Membership Is Better?
Both retailers sell paid memberships for fast delivery, and both cost about the same.
| Feature | Walmart+ | Target Circle 360 |
|---|---|---|
| Annual price | $98 | $99 |
| Monthly price | $12.95 | $10.99 |
| Same-day delivery | Free on orders of $35 or more | Free on orders of $35 or more (through Shipt) |
| Shipping | Free shipping, no minimum | Free 2-day shipping |
| Extra perks | Gas discounts, Paramount+ streaming | Extra member deals |
Prices as of September 2026. Check each retailer’s site for current offers.
Target also offers a free program, Target Circle, with weekly deals and birthday rewards. Walmart+ is the stronger choice for drivers and streamers, while Circle 360 works well for shoppers who already use the Target Circle Card.
Which Store Offers a Better Shopping Experience?
Most shoppers say Target, and this is the biggest reason people choose it despite higher prices.
- Target: Bright lighting, wide aisles, and neat displays. Many stores include a Starbucks and an Ulta Beauty shop. Target is remodeling more than 100 stores in 2026.
- Walmart: Larger Supercenters with full grocery sections, pharmacies, auto care, and vision centers. Stores can feel busier, but you can buy almost anything in one trip.
Why do people prefer Walmart over Target? Price and selection. Walmart Supercenters carry a wider range of groceries and everyday items, and Walmart has far more locations, especially in rural areas. For a weekly grocery trip on a budget, Walmart is the practical choice.
Who Shops at Walmart vs Target?
The two retailers attract overlapping but different customers.
| Walmart | Target | |
|---|---|---|
| Core shopper | Budget-focused families of all income levels | Middle- and higher-income families and young adults |
| Main reason to visit | Low prices and one-stop shopping | Style, experience, and good value |
| Store locations | Rural, suburban, and urban | Mostly suburban and urban |
| Reach | 280 million customers a week worldwide | Most US households shop there each year |
About 79% of Target shoppers earn $40,000 or more, according to Numerator data. See the full breakdown in our guide to Target’s target market. Walmart, on the other hand, has been winning more higher-income shoppers in recent years as prices rose across the economy.
How Are Walmart and Target Positioned Differently?
Walmart and Target sell many of the same products, but they hold very different places in shoppers’ minds. That is market positioning at work.
- Walmart’s position: The lowest prices, every day. Its slogan, “Save Money. Live Better.,” promises savings above all else.
- Target’s position: “Cheap chic,” or style at a fair price. Its slogan, “Expect More. Pay Less.,” promises a better experience without a big price jump.
Because Walmart owns “lowest price,” Target cannot win a pure price war. Instead, it competes on design, store brands, and experience, which lets it charge a little more.
Is Walmart a Bigger Company Than Target?
Yes, by far. Walmart is the largest company in the world by revenue, and it is about seven times larger than Target.
| Measure | Walmart | Target |
|---|---|---|
| Annual revenue | $713.2 billion | $104.8 billion |
| Net income | $22.3 billion | $3.7 billion |
| Ecommerce sales | $150.4 billion (global) | Not reported separately |
| Employees | About 2.1 million | About 415,000 |
| Countries | 19 | United States only |
Walmart fiscal 2026 and Target fiscal 2025, both ended January 31, 2026, per each company’s annual report and earnings release.
Walmart also owns Sam’s Club, which competes with Costco in the warehouse club market. Learn more about its ownership in who owns Walmart.
Is Walmart or Target Doing Better in 2026?
Target had the better quarter, but Walmart is having the better year.
| Q2 2026 Results | Walmart | Target |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | About $187.9 billion (+6%) | $26.5 billion (+5.3%) |
| US comparable sales | +2.6% (Walmart US) | +3.8% |
| Digital growth | US ecommerce +24% | Digital comparable sales +8.7% |
| Full-year outlook | Raised to 4% to 5% sales growth | Raised to about 5% sales growth |
Walmart’s quarter ended July 31, 2026; Target’s ended August 1, 2026.
Target’s second quarter was a comeback after a weak 2025, when its full-year sales fell 1.7%. New CEO Michael Fiddelke, who took over in February 2026, is focused on new merchandise and store remodels, according to Target’s second-quarter report. Its results also got a boost from a $994 million tariff refund.
Walmart, led by CEO John Furner, keeps gaining market share through online sales, faster delivery, and advertising.
Both companies are also in the news for pricing. In October 2026, the Federal Trade Commission ordered Walmart, Target, and several other companies to share how they use personal data to set prices and pay, as reported by Fox 10.
What About Costco and Amazon?
Walmart and Target are not the only options. Costco often beats both on bulk groceries, but it requires a membership starting at $65 a year. Amazon wins on selection and fast shipping for non-grocery items. Walmart competes with all three, as we explain in our list of Walmart competitors.
| Store | Best For |
|---|---|
| Walmart | Lowest everyday prices and one-stop shopping |
| Target | Style, home goods, kids’ clothing, and store experience |
| Costco | Bulk buying for large families |
| Amazon | Selection and shipping for non-grocery items |
Bottom Line
Walmart wins on price, and Target wins on experience. For me, the smartest shoppers use both: Walmart for the weekly grocery run, and Target for clothes, home goods, and the items where its Circle deals beat Walmart. As a business case, this rivalry also shows why positioning matters. Walmart owns “cheapest,” so Target built a different promise, and both have thrived for more than 60 years. For a deeper look at Walmart’s strengths and weaknesses, see our Walmart SWOT analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Walmart is usually better for groceries because its prices are lower and its Supercenters carry a wider selection, including fresh meat and produce. Target is a good choice for smaller grocery trips, organic options, and its Good & Gather store brand.
No. Target stopped matching competitors’ prices, including Walmart and Amazon, on July 28, 2025. It still matches its own lower prices on target.com. Walmart also does not match other retailers’ prices in its stores.
Both opened their first discount stores in 1962. Target’s first store opened in Roseville, Minnesota, in May 1962. Sam Walton opened the first Walmart in Rogers, Arkansas, in July 1962, so Target is a few months older. Kmart also opened its first store that year.
No. Target and Walmart are separate public companies and direct rivals. Walmart trades on the Nasdaq as WMT, while Target trades on the New York Stock Exchange as TGT. Neither company owns any part of the other.
Walmart+ is often the better value for families who buy groceries online and drive often, thanks to its gas discounts and streaming perk. Target Circle 360 suits shoppers who mostly buy home goods and clothing from Target and want same-day delivery.
