Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRK-B)vsCostco Wholesale Corp (COST)
BRK-B
Berkshire Hathaway Inc
$475.94
+0.18%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $1.02T
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$1,008.79
-0.32%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $449.00B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Berkshire Hathaway Inc generates 31% more annual revenue ($375.39B vs $286.27B). BRK-B leads profitability with a 19.3% profit margin vs 3.0%. COST appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 5.14. BRK-B earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 62/100 (C+).
BRK-B
Buy62
out of 100
Grade: C+
COST
Buy61
out of 100
Grade: C+
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Intrinsic value data unavailable for BRK-B.
Margin of Safety
-89.1%
Fair Value
$535.26
Current Price
$1008.79
$473.53 premium
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Mega-cap, among the largest globally
Reasonable price relative to book value
Earnings expanding 119.6% YoY
Conservative balance sheet, low leverage
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Generating 5.5B in free cash flow
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
Areas to Watch
4.4% revenue growth
Weak financial health signals
Expensive relative to growth rate
3.0% margin — thin
Operating margin of 3.7%
Expensive relative to growth rate
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : BRK-B
The strongest argument for BRK-B centers on Market Cap, Price/Book, EPS Growth. Profitability is solid with margins at 19.3% and operating margin at 14.3%.
Bull 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.
Bear Case : BRK-B
The primary concerns for BRK-B are Revenue Growth, Piotroski F-Score, PEG Ratio.
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.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
BRK-B profiles as a value stock while COST is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.
COST carries more volatility with a beta of 0.91 — expect wider price swings.
COST is growing revenue faster at 21.5% — sustainability is the question.
BRK-B generates stronger free cash flow (5.5B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
BRK-B scores higher overall (62/100 vs 61/100), backed by strong 19.3% margins. Both earn "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.
Berkshire Hathaway Inc
FINANCIAL SERVICES · INSURANCE - DIVERSIFIED · USA
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is an American multinational conglomerate holding company headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. The company wholly owns GEICO, Duracell, Dairy Queen, BNSF, Lubrizol, Fruit of the Loom, Helzberg Diamonds, Long & Foster, FlightSafety International, Pampered Chef, Forest River, and NetJets, and also owns 38.6% of Pilot Flying J; and significant minority holdings in public companies Kraft Heinz Company (26.7%), American Express (18.8%), The Coca-Cola Company (9.32%), Bank of America (11.9%), and Apple (6.3%).
Visit Website →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 →Compare with Other INSURANCE - DIVERSIFIED Stocks
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