Costco Wholesale Corp (COST)vsWestern Digital Corporation (WDC)
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$971.87
-1.46%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $434.37B
WDC
Western Digital Corporation
$575.50
+4.79%
TECHNOLOGY · Cap: $225.26B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Costco Wholesale Corp generates 2393% more annual revenue ($293.59B vs $11.78B). WDC leads profitability with a 55.3% profit margin vs 3.0%. WDC appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.58. WDC earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 80/100 (A-).
COST
Buy61
out of 100
Grade: C+
WDC
Exceptional Buy80
out of 100
Grade: A-
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
Mega-cap, among the largest globally
Every $100 of equity generates 67 in profit
Keeps 55 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Strong operational efficiency at 37.0%
Revenue surging 45.5% year-over-year
Earnings expanding 482.9% YoY
Areas to Watch
3.0% margin — thin
Operating margin of 3.7%
Expensive relative to growth rate
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Distress zone — elevated risk
Trading at 27.5x book value
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 : WDC
The strongest argument for WDC centers on Market Cap, Return on Equity, Profit Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 55.3% and operating margin at 37.0%. Revenue growth of 45.5% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : COST
The primary concerns for COST are Profit Margin, Operating Margin, PEG Ratio. A P/E of 49.3x leaves little room for execution misses. Thin 3.0% margins leave little buffer for downturns.
Bear Case : WDC
The primary concerns for WDC are P/E Ratio, Altman Z-Score, Price/Book.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
WDC carries more volatility with a beta of 2.20 — expect wider price swings.
WDC is growing revenue faster at 45.5% — 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
WDC scores higher overall (80/100 vs 61/100), backed by strong 55.3% margins and 45.5% revenue growth. Both earn "Exceptional 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 →Western Digital Corporation
TECHNOLOGY · COMPUTER HARDWARE · USA
Western Digital Corporation (WDC, commonly known as Western Digital or WD) is an American computer hard disk drive manufacturer and data storage company, headquartered in San Jose, California. It designs, manufactures and sells data technology products, including storage devices, data center systems and cloud storage services.
Compare with Other DISCOUNT STORES Stocks
Want to dig deeper into these stocks?