British American Tobacco p.l.c. (BTI)vsCostco Wholesale Corp (COST)
BTI
British American Tobacco p.l.c.
$58.28
+0.34%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $125.67B
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$1,008.79
-0.32%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $449.00B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Costco Wholesale Corp generates 1018% more annual revenue ($286.27B vs $25.61B). BTI leads profitability with a 30.3% profit margin vs 3.0%. BTI appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 1.52. COST earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 61/100 (C+).
BTI
Buy60
out of 100
Grade: C+
COST
Buy61
out of 100
Grade: C+
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
+23.4%
Fair Value
$78.80
Current Price
$58.28
$20.52 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
Keeps 30 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Strong operational efficiency at 34.6%
Large-cap with strong market position
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Generating 3.0B 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
Expensive relative to growth rate
Trading at 10.1x book value
0.1% revenue growth
1.6% earnings growth
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 : BTI
The strongest argument for BTI centers on Profit Margin, Operating Margin, Market Cap. Profitability is solid with margins at 30.3% and operating margin at 34.6%.
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 : BTI
The primary concerns for BTI are PEG Ratio, Price/Book, Revenue 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
BTI 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.
BTI generates stronger free cash flow (3.0B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
COST scores higher overall (61/100 vs 60/100) and 21.5% revenue growth. BTI offers better value entry with a 23.4% 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.
British American Tobacco p.l.c.
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · TOBACCO · USA
British American Tobacco plc offers tobacco and nicotine products to consumers around the world. The company is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.
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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