Costco Wholesale Corp (COST)vsSmithfield Foods, Inc. Common Stock (SFD)
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$971.87
+0.68%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $423.23B
SFD
Smithfield Foods, Inc. Common Stock
$26.87
+1.66%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $10.49B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Costco Wholesale Corp generates 1787% more annual revenue ($293.59B vs $15.56B). SFD leads profitability with a 6.5% profit margin vs 3.0%. SFD trades at a lower P/E of 10.4x. COST earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 61/100 (C+).
COST
Buy61
out of 100
Grade: C+
SFD
Hold48
out of 100
Grade: D+
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Mega-cap, among the largest globally
Safe zone — low bankruptcy risk
Every $100 of equity generates 27 in profit
Revenue surging 21.5% year-over-year
Earnings expanding 45.5% YoY
Generating 2.0B in free cash flow
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Safe zone — low bankruptcy risk
Reasonable price relative to book value
Areas to Watch
3.0% margin — thin
Operating margin of 3.7%
Expensive relative to growth rate
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
0.8% revenue growth
6.5% margin — thin
Negative free cash flow — burning cash
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull 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.
Bull Case : SFD
The strongest argument for SFD centers on P/E Ratio, Altman Z-Score, Price/Book.
Bear Case : COST
The primary concerns for COST are Profit Margin, Operating Margin, PEG Ratio. A P/E of 48.1x leaves little room for execution misses. Thin 3.0% margins leave little buffer for downturns.
Bear Case : SFD
The primary concerns for SFD are Revenue Growth, Profit Margin, Free Cash Flow.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
COST profiles as a growth stock while SFD is a value play — different risk/reward profiles.
COST is growing revenue faster at 21.5% — sustainability is the question.
COST generates stronger free cash flow (2.0B), providing more financial flexibility.
Monitor DISCOUNT STORES industry trends, competitive dynamics, and regulatory changes.
Bottom Line
COST scores higher overall (61/100 vs 48/100) and 21.5% revenue growth. Both earn "Buy" and "Hold" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
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.
Visit Website →Smithfield Foods, Inc. Common Stock
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · PACKAGED FOODS · USA
Smithfield Foods, Inc. manufactures and markets packaged meats and fresh pork in the United States and internationally.
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