American Public Education Inc (APEI)vsCostco Wholesale Corp (COST)
APEI
American Public Education Inc
$44.02
-4.66%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $845.90M
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$982.73
-0.95%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $438.30B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Costco Wholesale Corp generates 45281% more annual revenue ($303.15B vs $668.01M). APEI leads profitability with a 6.8% profit margin vs 3.0%. APEI appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.97. APEI earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 66/100 (B-).
APEI
Strong Buy66
out of 100
Grade: B-
COST
Buy55
out of 100
Grade: C-
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
+40.7%
Fair Value
$72.87
Current Price
$44.02
$28.85 discount
Intrinsic value data unavailable for COST.
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Earnings expanding 129.3% YoY
Growing faster than its price suggests
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Reasonable price relative to book value
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
6.8% margin — thin
Trading at 12.2x book value
3.0% margin — thin
Operating margin of 3.8%
Expensive relative to growth rate
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : APEI
The strongest argument for APEI centers on EPS Growth, PEG Ratio, P/E Ratio. PEG of 0.97 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 11.1% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : APEI
The primary concerns for APEI are Market Cap, Profit Margin.
Bear Case : COST
The primary concerns for COST are Price/Book, Profit Margin, Operating Margin. A P/E of 47.6x leaves little room for execution misses. Thin 3.0% margins leave little buffer for downturns.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
APEI carries more volatility with a beta of 1.41 — expect wider price swings.
COST is growing revenue faster at 11.1% — sustainability is the question.
COST generates stronger free cash flow (2.5B), providing more financial flexibility.
Monitor EDUCATION & TRAINING SERVICES industry trends, competitive dynamics, and regulatory changes.
Bottom Line
APEI scores higher overall (66/100 vs 55/100). 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.
American Public Education Inc
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · EDUCATION & TRAINING SERVICES · USA
American Public Education, Inc. offers postsecondary education online and on campus. The company is headquartered in Charles Town, West Virginia.
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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