American International Group Inc (AIG)vsCostco Wholesale Corp (COST)
AIG
American International Group Inc
$75.47
+1.52%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $40.11B
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$974.86
+0.11%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $432.25B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Costco Wholesale Corp generates 976% more annual revenue ($286.27B vs $26.61B). AIG leads profitability with a 11.6% profit margin vs 3.0%. AIG appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.86. AIG earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 60/100 (C).
AIG
Buy60
out of 100
Grade: C
COST
Buy53
out of 100
Grade: C-
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
-112.5%
Fair Value
$36.92
Current Price
$75.47
$38.55 premium
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
Reasonable price relative to book value
Conservative balance sheet, low leverage
Growing faster than its price suggests
Attractively priced relative to earnings
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
ROE of 7.4% — below average capital efficiency
Revenue declined 7.2%
Earnings declined 5.6%
Distress zone — elevated risk
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 : AIG
The strongest argument for AIG centers on Price/Book, Debt/Equity, PEG Ratio. PEG of 0.86 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 : AIG
The primary concerns for AIG are Return on Equity, Revenue Growth, EPS Growth.
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
AIG profiles as a declining 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
AIG scores higher overall (60/100 vs 53/100). Both earn "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.
American International Group Inc
FINANCIAL SERVICES · INSURANCE - DIVERSIFIED · USA
American International Group, Inc., also known as AIG, is an American multinational finance and insurance corporation with operations in more than 80 countries and jurisdictions. The company operates through three core businesses: General Insurance, Life & Retirement, and a standalone technology-enabled subsidiary.
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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