Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (BABA)vsCostco Wholesale Corp (COST)
BABA
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd
$140.06
-0.67%
CONSUMER CYCLICAL · Cap: $349.01B
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$1,008.79
-0.32%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $449.00B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd generates 255% more annual revenue ($1.02T vs $286.27B). BABA leads profitability with a 8.9% profit margin vs 3.0%. BABA appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.81. COST earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 61/100 (C+).
BABA
Buy50
out of 100
Grade: C-
COST
Buy61
out of 100
Grade: C+
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
+72.8%
Fair Value
$558.77
Current Price
$140.06
$418.71 discount
Margin of Safety
-89.1%
Fair Value
$535.26
Current Price
$1008.79
$473.53 premium
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Mega-cap, among the largest globally
Growing faster than its price suggests
Reasonable price relative to book value
Generating 6.8B in free cash flow
Mega-cap, among the largest globally
Safe zone — low bankruptcy risk
Every $100 of equity generates 30 in profit
Conservative balance sheet, low leverage
Revenue surging 21.5% year-over-year
Earnings expanding 45.5% YoY
Areas to Watch
1.7% revenue growth
Earnings declined 70.9%
3.0% margin — thin
Operating margin of 3.7%
Expensive relative to growth rate
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : BABA
The strongest argument for BABA centers on Market Cap, PEG Ratio, Price/Book. PEG of 0.81 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. Revenue growth of 21.5% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : BABA
The primary concerns for BABA are Revenue Growth, EPS Growth.
Bear Case : COST
The primary concerns for COST are Profit Margin, Operating Margin, PEG Ratio. A P/E of 52.6x leaves little room for execution misses. Thin 3.0% margins leave little buffer for downturns.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
BABA profiles as a value stock while COST is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.
COST carries more volatility with a beta of 0.91 — expect wider price swings.
COST is growing revenue faster at 21.5% — sustainability is the question.
BABA generates stronger free cash flow (6.8B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
COST scores higher overall (61/100 vs 50/100) and 21.5% revenue growth. BABA offers better value entry with a 72.8% margin of safety. 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.
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd
CONSUMER CYCLICAL · INTERNET RETAIL · USA
Alibaba Group Holding Limited, also known as Alibaba Group and Alibaba.com, is a Chinese multinational technology company specializing in e-commerce, retail, Internet, and technology. Founded on 28 June 1999 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, the company provides consumer-to-consumer (C2C), business-to-consumer (B2C), and business-to-business (B2B) sales services via web portals, as well as electronic payment services, shopping search engines and cloud computing services. It owns and operates a diverse portfolio of companies around the world in numerous business sectors.
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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