Costco Wholesale Corp (COST)vsVertiv Holdings Co (VRT)
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$983.86
+0.43%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $432.25B
VRT
Vertiv Holdings Co
$251.07
-0.53%
INDUSTRIALS · Cap: $103.64B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Costco Wholesale Corp generates 2698% more annual revenue ($286.27B vs $10.23B). VRT leads profitability with a 13.0% profit margin vs 3.0%. VRT appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 1.83. VRT earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 67/100 (B-).
COST
Buy53
out of 100
Grade: C-
VRT
Strong Buy67
out of 100
Grade: B-
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
-76.3%
Fair Value
$558.15
Current Price
$983.86
$425.71 premium
Margin of Safety
-55.7%
Fair Value
$159.59
Current Price
$251.07
$91.48 premium
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
Every $100 of equity generates 42 in profit
Large-cap with strong market position
Strong operational efficiency at 21.2%
Revenue surging 22.7% year-over-year
Areas to Watch
Trading at 13.6x book value
3.0% margin — thin
Operating margin of 3.7%
Expensive relative to growth rate
Expensive relative to growth rate
2.0% earnings growth
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Trading at 24.4x book value
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : COST
The strongest argument for COST centers on Market Cap, Altman Z-Score, Return on Equity.
Bull Case : VRT
The strongest argument for VRT centers on Return on Equity, Market Cap, Operating Margin. Revenue growth of 22.7% demonstrates continued momentum.
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 : VRT
The primary concerns for VRT are PEG Ratio, EPS Growth, P/E Ratio. A P/E of 79.4x leaves little room for execution misses.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
COST profiles as a value stock while VRT is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.
VRT carries more volatility with a beta of 2.08 — expect wider price swings.
VRT is growing revenue faster at 22.7% — sustainability is the question.
COST generates stronger free cash flow (1.7B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
VRT scores higher overall (67/100 vs 53/100) and 22.7% revenue growth. Both earn "Strong 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 →Vertiv Holdings Co
INDUSTRIALS · ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT & PARTS · USA
Vertiv Holdings Co designs, manufactures and services critical digital infrastructure technologies and lifecycle services for data centers, communication networks, and commercial and industrial environments in the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The company is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.
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