ATA Creativity Global (AACG)vsCostco Wholesale Corp (COST)
AACG
ATA Creativity Global
$0.77
-1.33%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $34.57M
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$920.65
+0.62%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $401.22B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Costco Wholesale Corp generates 109401% more annual revenue ($293.59B vs $268.11M). COST leads profitability with a 3.0% profit margin vs -17.9%. AACG appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.62. COST earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 55/100 (C-).
AACG
Hold43
out of 100
Grade: D
COST
Buy55
out of 100
Grade: C-
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Earnings expanding 58.5% YoY
Growing faster than its price suggests
Mega-cap, among the largest globally
Safe zone — low bankruptcy risk
Every $100 of equity generates 26 in profit
Conservative balance sheet, low leverage
Generating 2.5B in free cash flow
Areas to Watch
Smaller company, higher risk/reward
Elevated debt levels
Weak financial health signals
ROE of -6.2% — below average capital efficiency
Trading at 12.2x book value
3.0% margin — thin
Operating margin of 4.0%
Weak financial health signals
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : AACG
The strongest argument for AACG centers on EPS Growth, PEG Ratio. PEG of 0.62 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.
Bull Case : COST
The strongest argument for COST centers on Market Cap, Altman Z-Score, Return on Equity. Revenue growth of 11.6% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : AACG
The primary concerns for AACG are Market Cap, Debt/Equity, Piotroski F-Score.
Bear Case : COST
The primary concerns for COST are Price/Book, Profit Margin, Operating Margin. A P/E of 45.3x leaves little room for execution misses. Thin 3.0% margins leave little buffer for downturns.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
AACG profiles as a turnaround stock while COST is a value play — different risk/reward profiles.
AACG carries more volatility with a beta of 1.14 — expect wider price swings.
COST is growing revenue faster at 11.6% — sustainability is the question.
COST generates stronger free cash flow (2.5B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
COST scores higher overall (55/100 vs 43/100) and 11.6% 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.
ATA Creativity Global
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · EDUCATION & TRAINING SERVICES · China
ATA Creativity Global, provides educational services to individual students through its network of training centers in China. The company is headquartered in Beijing, China.
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.
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