Costco Wholesale Corp (COST)vsGE Vernova LLC (GEV)
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$974.86
+0.11%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $432.25B
GEV
GE Vernova LLC
$923.69
+1.57%
INDUSTRIALS · Cap: $246.74B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Costco Wholesale Corp generates 652% more annual revenue ($286.27B vs $38.07B). GEV leads profitability with a 12.8% profit margin vs 3.0%. GEV appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 3.34. GEV earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 55/100 (C-).
COST
Buy53
out of 100
Grade: C-
GEV
Buy55
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
-6.0%
Fair Value
$829.76
Current Price
$923.69
$93.93 premium
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
Mega-cap, among the largest globally
Every $100 of equity generates 43 in profit
Generating 1.8B 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
3.8% revenue growth
Expensive relative to growth rate
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Trading at 22.3x book value
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : COST
The strongest argument for COST centers on Market Cap, Altman Z-Score, Return on Equity.
Bull Case : GEV
The strongest argument for GEV centers on Market Cap, Return on Equity, Free Cash Flow.
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 : GEV
The primary concerns for GEV are Revenue Growth, PEG Ratio, P/E Ratio. A P/E of 51.3x leaves little room for execution misses.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
COST is growing revenue faster at 9.2% — sustainability is the question.
GEV generates stronger free cash flow (1.8B), providing more financial flexibility.
Monitor DISCOUNT STORES industry trends, competitive dynamics, and regulatory changes.
Bottom Line
GEV scores higher overall (55/100 vs 53/100). 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 →GE Vernova LLC
INDUSTRIALS · SPECIALTY INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY · USA
GE Vernova LLC, an energy business company, generates electricity.
Visit Website →Compare with Other DISCOUNT STORES Stocks
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