Costco Wholesale Corp (COST)vs2U Inc (TWOU)
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$1,014.53
+1.59%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $450.10B
TWOU
2U Inc
$1.58
0.00%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $4.43M
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Costco Wholesale Corp generates 31503% more annual revenue ($286.27B vs $905.83M). COST leads profitability with a 3.0% profit margin vs -35.1%. TWOU appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.19. COST earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 61/100 (C+).
COST
Buy61
out of 100
Grade: C+
TWOU
Hold44
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 30 in profit
Conservative balance sheet, low leverage
Revenue surging 21.5% year-over-year
Earnings expanding 45.5% YoY
Growing faster than its price suggests
Reasonable price relative to book value
Conservative balance sheet, low leverage
Areas to Watch
3.0% margin — thin
Operating margin of 3.7%
Expensive relative to growth rate
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
0.0% earnings growth
Smaller company, higher risk/reward
ROE of -101.3% — below average capital efficiency
Revenue declined 16.8%
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 : TWOU
The strongest argument for TWOU centers on PEG Ratio, Price/Book, Debt/Equity. PEG of 0.19 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its 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.
Bear Case : TWOU
The primary concerns for TWOU are EPS Growth, Market Cap, Return on Equity.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
COST profiles as a growth stock while TWOU is a turnaround play — different risk/reward profiles.
COST carries more volatility with a beta of 0.98 — expect wider price swings.
COST is growing revenue faster at 21.5% — sustainability is the question.
COST generates stronger free cash flow (1.7B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
COST scores higher overall (61/100 vs 44/100) 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 →2U Inc
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · EDUCATION & TRAINING SERVICES · USA
2U, Inc. is an educational technology company in the United States, Hong Kong, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. The company is headquartered in Lanham, Maryland.
Visit Website →Compare with Other DISCOUNT STORES Stocks
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