Arch Capital Group Ltd (ACGL)vsCostco Wholesale Corp (COST)
ACGL
Arch Capital Group Ltd
$93.32
-0.30%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $33.94B
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$974.86
+0.11%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $432.25B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Costco Wholesale Corp generates 1336% more annual revenue ($286.27B vs $19.93B). ACGL leads profitability with a 22.1% profit margin vs 3.0%. ACGL appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 1.06. ACGL earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 81/100 (A-).
ACGL
Exceptional Buy81
out of 100
Grade: A-
COST
Buy53
out of 100
Grade: C-
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
+81.8%
Fair Value
$542.88
Current Price
$93.32
$449.56 discount
Margin of Safety
-74.7%
Fair Value
$558.15
Current Price
$974.86
$416.71 premium
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Reasonable price relative to book value
Keeps 22 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Conservative balance sheet, low leverage
Strong operational efficiency at 29.5%
Earnings expanding 38.8% YoY
Mega-cap, among the largest globally
Safe zone — low bankruptcy risk
Every $100 of equity generates 30 in profit
Conservative balance sheet, low leverage
Generating 1.7B in free cash flow
Areas to Watch
No major concerns identified
Trading at 13.5x book value
3.0% margin — thin
Operating margin of 3.7%
Expensive relative to growth rate
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : ACGL
The strongest argument for ACGL centers on P/E Ratio, Price/Book, Profit Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 22.1% and operating margin at 29.5%. PEG of 1.06 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.
Bull Case : COST
The strongest argument for COST centers on Market Cap, Altman Z-Score, Return on Equity.
Bear Case : ACGL
No major red flags identified for ACGL, but monitor valuation.
Bear Case : COST
The primary concerns for COST are Price/Book, Profit Margin, Operating Margin. A P/E of 50.7x leaves little room for execution misses. Thin 3.0% margins leave little buffer for downturns.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
ACGL profiles as a mature stock while COST is a value play — different risk/reward profiles.
COST carries more volatility with a beta of 0.99 — expect wider price swings.
COST is growing revenue faster at 9.2% — sustainability is the question.
COST generates stronger free cash flow (1.7B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
ACGL scores higher overall (81/100 vs 53/100), backed by strong 22.1% margins. Both earn "Exceptional Buy" and "Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
Arch Capital Group Ltd
FINANCIAL SERVICES · INSURANCE - DIVERSIFIED · USA
Arch Capital Group Ltd., offers insurance, reinsurance and mortgage products worldwide. The company is headquartered in Pembroke, Bermuda.
Costco Wholesale Corp
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · DISCOUNT STORES · USA
Costco Wholesale Corporation (doing business as Costco Wholesale and also known simply as Costco) is an American multinational corporation which operates a chain of membership-only (needing a membership to shop there) big-box retail stores. As of 2020, Costco was the fifth largest retailer in the world, and the world's largest retailer of choice and prime beef, organic foods, rotisserie chicken, and wine as of 2016.
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