Yield Theory

Consumer Discretionary stock comparison

TJX vs WSM: which business are you actually underwriting?

Compare The TJX Companies, Inc. with Williams-Sonoma, Inc. using their business models, SEC classifications, fiscal calendars, current primary filings, and the research questions that matter. This is a thesis framework—not a price target or automatic winner.
Sector
Consumer
Industry
Different SIC
Shared themes
1
Updated
2026-03-31

TJX vs WSM: quick comparison

Company factTJXWSM
CompanyThe TJX Companies, Inc.Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
ExchangeNYSENYSE
HeadquartersFramingham, MassachusettsNot recorded
Founded1956Not recorded
SEC industryRetail-Family Clothing StoresRetail-Home Furniture, Furnishings & Equipment Stores
Fiscal year-endFebruary 1January 31
Latest annual filing10-K · 2026-03-3110-K · 2026-03-26

How the businesses differ

Why this pair belongs in the comparison set

TJX and WSM have different SEC industry classifications, but both map to the maintained Economic trends research theme inside the Consumer Discretionary sector. A shared classification or theme makes the pair useful for a defined research question; it does not mean the companies have identical products, economics, or risks.

The TJX Companies, Inc. (TJX)

TJX runs off-price retail chains such as T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods, selling brand-name merchandise at a discount. Its treasure-hunt model tends to draw shoppers even during periods of tighter consumer budgets.

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (WSM)

Williams-Sonoma is a home-furnishings retailer with brands including Pottery Barn, West Elm, and its namesake stores.

The useful starting point is not which ticker has performed better. It is whether the two companies convert the same economic forces into revenue and cash flow in the same way. TJX is classified by the SEC as Retail-Family Clothing Stores, while WSM is classified as Retail-Home Furniture, Furnishings & Equipment Stores. The different industry codes are a warning against treating sector membership as proof of identical economics.

Which thesis does each company fit?

Use the distinction below to decide which filing deserves deeper work. It is a research routing rule, not a recommendation or prediction.

Study TJX when…

  • Real wage growth and consumer confidence
  • Interest rates on autos and big-ticket credit
  • Inventory cycles and promotional intensity
  • The trade-down between premium and value

Study WSM when…

  • Real wage growth and consumer confidence
  • Interest rates on autos and big-ticket credit
  • Inventory cycles and promotional intensity
  • The trade-down between premium and value

Shared research themes

Economic trends

SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence

Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable.TJX's fiscal year ends February 1, while WSM's ends January 31. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.

The current verified House Clerk snapshot contains 0matched transaction rows for TJXand 0 for WSM. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.

What this comparison cannot tell you

This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.

A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.

TJX vs WSM FAQs

Are TJX and WSM direct competitors?

The TJX Companies, Inc. and Williams-Sonoma, Inc. sit in the same Consumer Discretionary sector but have different SEC industry classifications. The comparison is most useful for portfolio role and sector exposure, not as a claim that every product competes directly.

Which is better, TJX or WSM?

There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.

Does this TJX vs WSM comparison include live prices?

No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices, then use the primary filings here to test the business thesis.

Where does the company information come from?

Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-08-12. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.

Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-08-12. Independent educational research; not investment advice.

Go beyond TJX vs WSM.

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