Costco Wholesale Corp (COST)vsWalmart Inc. (WMT)
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$1,012.79
+0.36%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $448.84B
WMT
Walmart Inc.
$130.33
+0.35%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $1.05T
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Walmart Inc. generates 149% more annual revenue ($713.16B vs $286.27B). WMT leads profitability with a 3.1% profit margin vs 3.0%. WMT appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 4.90. COST earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 61/100 (C+).
COST
Buy61
out of 100
Grade: C+
WMT
Hold43
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
Mega-cap, among the largest globally
Safe zone — low bankruptcy risk
Every $100 of equity generates 22 in profit
Generating 6.1B in free cash flow
Areas to Watch
3.0% margin — thin
Operating margin of 3.7%
Expensive relative to growth rate
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Trading at 10.4x book value
3.1% margin — thin
Operating margin of 4.6%
Expensive relative to growth rate
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 : WMT
The strongest argument for WMT centers on Market Cap, Altman Z-Score, Return on Equity.
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 : WMT
The primary concerns for WMT are Price/Book, Profit Margin, Operating Margin. A P/E of 48.4x leaves little room for execution misses. Thin 3.1% margins leave little buffer for downturns.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
COST profiles as a growth stock while WMT is a value 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.
WMT generates stronger free cash flow (6.1B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
COST scores higher overall (61/100 vs 43/100) 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 →Walmart Inc.
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · DISCOUNT STORES · USA
Walmart Inc. is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets, discount department stores, and grocery stores from the United States, headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas. It also owns and operates Sam's Club retail warehouses.
Visit Website →Compare with Other DISCOUNT STORES Stocks
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