Costco Wholesale Corp (COST)vsElevance Health Inc (ELV)
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$995.75
-2.03%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $448.84B
ELV
Elevance Health Inc
$374.71
+1.53%
HEALTHCARE · Cap: $80.93B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Costco Wholesale Corp generates 43% more annual revenue ($286.27B vs $200.42B). COST leads profitability with a 3.0% profit margin vs 2.6%. ELV appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 1.43. COST earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 61/100 (C+).
COST
Buy61
out of 100
Grade: C+
ELV
Buy56
out of 100
Grade: C
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
-89.9%
Fair Value
$535.26
Current Price
$995.75
$460.49 premium
Margin of Safety
+63.5%
Fair Value
$1011.48
Current Price
$374.71
$636.77 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
Revenue surging 21.5% year-over-year
Earnings expanding 45.5% YoY
Large-cap with strong market position
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Reasonable price relative to book value
Generating 4.1B in free cash flow
Areas to Watch
3.0% margin — thin
Operating margin of 3.7%
Expensive relative to growth rate
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
2.6% revenue growth
2.6% margin — thin
Weak financial health signals
Earnings declined 16.8%
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 : ELV
The strongest argument for ELV centers on Market Cap, P/E Ratio, Price/Book. PEG of 1.43 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.
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.
Bear Case : ELV
The primary concerns for ELV are Revenue Growth, Profit Margin, Piotroski F-Score. Thin 2.6% margins leave little buffer for downturns.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
COST profiles as a growth stock while ELV is a value play — different risk/reward profiles.
COST carries more volatility with a beta of 0.98 — expect wider price swings.
COST is growing revenue faster at 21.5% — sustainability is the question.
ELV generates stronger free cash flow (4.1B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
COST scores higher overall (61/100 vs 56/100) and 21.5% revenue growth. ELV offers better value entry with a 63.5% margin of safety. 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 →Elevance Health Inc
HEALTHCARE · HEALTHCARE PLANS · USA
Elevance Health Inc. is a health benefits company. The company is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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