Central Garden & Pet Company A (CENTA)vsCostco Wholesale Corp (COST)
CENTA
Central Garden & Pet Company A
$38.31
-1.26%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $2.27B
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$982.73
-0.95%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $438.30B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Costco Wholesale Corp generates 9730% more annual revenue ($303.15B vs $3.08B). CENTA leads profitability with a 5.4% profit margin vs 3.0%. CENTA appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 1.87. COST earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 55/100 (C-).
CENTA
Buy52
out of 100
Grade: C-
COST
Buy55
out of 100
Grade: C-
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
-22.9%
Fair Value
$27.25
Current Price
$38.31
$11.06 premium
Intrinsic value data unavailable for COST.
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Reasonable price relative to book value
Attractively priced relative to earnings
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
Expensive relative to growth rate
5.4% margin — thin
Revenue declined 8.2%
Earnings declined 4.6%
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 : CENTA
The strongest argument for CENTA centers on Price/Book, P/E Ratio.
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 : CENTA
The primary concerns for CENTA are PEG Ratio, Profit Margin, Revenue Growth.
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
COST carries more volatility with a beta of 0.87 — 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 PACKAGED FOODS industry trends, competitive dynamics, and regulatory changes.
Bottom Line
COST scores higher overall (55/100 vs 52/100) and 11.1% revenue growth. 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.
Central Garden & Pet Company A
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · PACKAGED FOODS · USA
Central Garden & Pet Company produces and distributes various products for the lawn and garden, and pet supply markets in the United States. The company is headquartered in Walnut Creek, California.
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 PACKAGED FOODS Stocks
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