On the other hand, Wesfarmers' rivals Woolworths Group Ltd ( ASX: WOW ) and Metcash Limited ( ASX: MTS ) have run even further ahead with a 6% and 42% gain, respectively. Now there are questions if Wesfarmers' crown jewel, Bunnings Warehouse, could become a significant drag as analysts start to question if Bunnings could end up costing more than Woolworths' failed DIY superstore Masters. The irony is that Bunnings has been a money printing machine for Wesfarmers and Woolworths started its Masters joint venture (JV) in an attempt to restrict the river of cash flowing into its archrival, who also owns the Coles supermarket chain. The misadventure ended up costing Woolworths $2.6 billion, according to a report in the Australian Financial Review. Woolworths didn't need Masters to damage Bunnings after all. They only needed to have waited for the ill-fated decision by Wesfarmers to expand overseas. That seems to be a curse of many dominant Australian businesses.