Costco Wholesale Corp (COST)vsDuke Energy Corporation (DUK)
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$971.87
+0.68%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $423.23B
DUK
Duke Energy Corporation
$124.22
+0.91%
UTILITIES · Cap: $94.40B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Costco Wholesale Corp generates 797% more annual revenue ($293.59B vs $32.72B). DUK leads profitability with a 15.7% profit margin vs 3.0%. DUK appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 2.54. DUK earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 67/100 (B-).
COST
Buy61
out of 100
Grade: C+
DUK
Strong Buy67
out of 100
Grade: B-
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 27 in profit
Revenue surging 21.5% year-over-year
Earnings expanding 45.5% YoY
Generating 2.0B in free cash flow
Large-cap with strong market position
Reasonable price relative to book value
Strong operational efficiency at 25.5%
Areas to Watch
3.0% margin — thin
Operating margin of 3.7%
Expensive relative to growth rate
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Elevated debt levels
Weak financial health signals
Expensive relative to growth rate
Negative free cash flow — burning cash
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull 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.
Bull Case : DUK
The strongest argument for DUK centers on Market Cap, Price/Book, Operating Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 15.7% and operating margin at 25.5%. Revenue growth of 11.3% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : COST
The primary concerns for COST are Profit Margin, Operating Margin, PEG Ratio. A P/E of 48.1x leaves little room for execution misses. Thin 3.0% margins leave little buffer for downturns.
Bear Case : DUK
The primary concerns for DUK are Debt/Equity, Piotroski F-Score, PEG Ratio. Debt-to-equity of 1.66 is elevated, increasing financial risk.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
COST profiles as a growth stock while DUK is a mature 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.
COST generates stronger free cash flow (2.0B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
DUK scores higher overall (67/100 vs 61/100), backed by strong 15.7% margins and 11.3% revenue growth. 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.
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 →Duke Energy Corporation
UTILITIES · UTILITIES - REGULATED ELECTRIC · USA
Duke Energy Corporation is an American electric power and natural gas holding company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Visit Website →Compare with Other DISCOUNT STORES Stocks
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