Costco Wholesale Corp (COST)vsHelen of Troy Ltd (HELE)
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$982.73
-0.95%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $438.30B
HELE
Helen of Troy Ltd
$29.31
+0.38%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $677.39M
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Costco Wholesale Corp generates 16503% more annual revenue ($303.15B vs $1.83B). COST leads profitability with a 3.0% profit margin vs -5.4%. HELE appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.97. HELE earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 57/100 (C).
COST
Buy55
out of 100
Grade: C-
HELE
Buy57
out of 100
Grade: C
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Intrinsic value data unavailable for COST.
Margin of Safety
+71.2%
Fair Value
$61.43
Current Price
$29.31
$32.12 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 26 in profit
Conservative balance sheet, low leverage
Generating 2.5B in free cash flow
Reasonable price relative to book value
Growing faster than its price suggests
Earnings expanding 24.9% YoY
Areas to Watch
Trading at 12.2x book value
3.0% margin — thin
Operating margin of 3.8%
Expensive relative to growth rate
2.1% revenue growth
Smaller company, higher risk/reward
Operating margin of 0.5%
ROE of -11.6% — below average capital efficiency
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 11.1% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bull Case : HELE
The strongest argument for HELE centers on Price/Book, PEG Ratio, EPS Growth. PEG of 0.97 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its 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.
Bear Case : HELE
The primary concerns for HELE are Revenue Growth, Market Cap, Operating Margin.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
COST profiles as a value stock while HELE is a turnaround play — different risk/reward profiles.
HELE carries more volatility with a beta of 1.34 — 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.
Bottom Line
HELE scores higher overall (57/100 vs 55/100). 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 →Helen of Troy Ltd
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · HOUSEHOLD & PERSONAL PRODUCTS · USA
Helen of Troy Limited designs, develops, imports, markets and distributes a portfolio of consumer products globally. The company is headquartered in El Paso, Texas.
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