Costco Wholesale Corp (COST)vsValmont Industries Inc (VMI)
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$974.86
+0.49%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $432.25B
VMI
Valmont Industries Inc
$406.39
+0.59%
INDUSTRIALS · Cap: $7.94B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Costco Wholesale Corp generates 6875% more annual revenue ($286.27B vs $4.10B). VMI leads profitability with a 8.5% profit margin vs 3.0%. VMI appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 1.55. VMI earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 63/100 (C+).
COST
Buy53
out of 100
Grade: C-
VMI
Buy63
out of 100
Grade: C+
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
-74.7%
Fair Value
$558.15
Current Price
$974.86
$416.71 premium
Margin of Safety
+39.1%
Fair Value
$785.30
Current Price
$406.39
$378.91 discount
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
Generating 1.7B in free cash flow
Earnings expanding 135.3% YoY
Conservative balance sheet, low leverage
Every $100 of equity generates 22 in profit
Areas to Watch
Trading at 13.5x book value
3.0% margin — thin
Operating margin of 3.7%
Expensive relative to growth rate
Expensive relative to growth rate
0.1% revenue growth
Weak financial health signals
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : COST
The strongest argument for COST centers on Market Cap, Altman Z-Score, Return on Equity.
Bull Case : VMI
The strongest argument for VMI centers on EPS Growth, Debt/Equity, Return on Equity.
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.
Bear Case : VMI
The primary concerns for VMI are PEG Ratio, Revenue Growth, Piotroski F-Score.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
VMI carries more volatility with a beta of 1.21 — 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.
Monitor DISCOUNT STORES industry trends, competitive dynamics, and regulatory changes.
Bottom Line
VMI scores higher overall (63/100 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.
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 →Valmont Industries Inc
INDUSTRIALS · CONGLOMERATES · USA
Valmont Industries, Inc. produces and sells metal products manufactured in the United States, Australia, Denmark, and internationally. The company is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska.
Visit Website →Compare with Other DISCOUNT STORES Stocks
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