Costco Wholesale Corp (COST)vsSalesforce.com Inc (CRM)
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$974.86
+0.11%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $432.25B
CRM
Salesforce.com Inc
$181.96
-0.58%
TECHNOLOGY · Cap: $171.49B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Costco Wholesale Corp generates 589% more annual revenue ($286.27B vs $41.52B). CRM leads profitability with a 18.0% profit margin vs 3.0%. CRM appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 1.06. CRM earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 63/100 (C+).
COST
Buy53
out of 100
Grade: C-
CRM
Buy63
out of 100
Grade: C+
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
-74.7%
Fair Value
$558.15
Current Price
$974.86
$416.71 premium
Margin of Safety
+34.2%
Fair Value
$276.43
Current Price
$181.96
$94.47 discount
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
Generating 1.7B in free cash flow
Large-cap with strong market position
Conservative balance sheet, low leverage
Reasonable price relative to book value
Generating 5.3B in free cash flow
Areas to Watch
Trading at 13.5x book value
3.0% margin — thin
Operating margin of 3.7%
Expensive relative to growth rate
Grey zone — moderate risk
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : COST
The strongest argument for COST centers on Market Cap, Altman Z-Score, Return on Equity.
Bull Case : CRM
The strongest argument for CRM centers on Market Cap, Debt/Equity, Price/Book. Profitability is solid with margins at 18.0% and operating margin at 19.2%. Revenue growth of 12.1% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : COST
The primary concerns for COST are Price/Book, Profit Margin, Operating Margin. A P/E of 50.7x leaves little room for execution misses. Thin 3.0% margins leave little buffer for downturns.
Bear Case : CRM
The primary concerns for CRM are Altman Z-Score.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
COST profiles as a value stock while CRM is a mature play — different risk/reward profiles.
CRM carries more volatility with a beta of 1.31 — expect wider price swings.
CRM is growing revenue faster at 12.1% — sustainability is the question.
CRM generates stronger free cash flow (5.3B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
CRM scores higher overall (63/100 vs 53/100), backed by strong 18.0% margins and 12.1% 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.
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 →Salesforce.com Inc
TECHNOLOGY · SOFTWARE - APPLICATION · USA
Salesforce.com, Inc. is an American cloud-based software company headquartered in San Francisco, California. It provides customer relationship management (CRM) service and also provides a complementary suite of enterprise applications focused on customer service, marketing automation, analytics, and application development.
Visit Website →Compare with Other DISCOUNT STORES Stocks
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