Costco Wholesale Corp (COST)vsIntel Corporation (INTC)
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$974.86
+0.11%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $432.25B
INTC
Intel Corporation
$47.18
+7.08%
TECHNOLOGY · Cap: $220.09B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Costco Wholesale Corp generates 442% more annual revenue ($286.27B vs $52.85B). COST leads profitability with a 3.0% profit margin vs -0.5%. INTC appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.50. COST earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 53/100 (C-).
COST
Buy53
out of 100
Grade: C-
INTC
Hold42
out of 100
Grade: D
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
-74.7%
Fair Value
$558.15
Current Price
$974.86
$416.71 premium
Intrinsic value data unavailable for INTC.
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
Growing faster than its price suggests
Reasonable price relative to book value
Areas to Watch
Trading at 13.5x book value
3.0% margin — thin
Operating margin of 3.7%
Expensive relative to growth rate
Distress zone — elevated risk
ROE of 0.0% — below average capital efficiency
Revenue declined 4.1%
Earnings declined 71.7%
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : COST
The strongest argument for COST centers on Market Cap, Altman Z-Score, Return on Equity.
Bull Case : INTC
The strongest argument for INTC centers on Market Cap, PEG Ratio, Price/Book. PEG of 0.50 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 50.7x leaves little room for execution misses. Thin 3.0% margins leave little buffer for downturns.
Bear Case : INTC
The primary concerns for INTC are Altman Z-Score, Return on Equity, Revenue Growth.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
COST profiles as a value stock while INTC is a turnaround play — different risk/reward profiles.
INTC carries more volatility with a beta of 1.38 — expect wider price swings.
COST is growing revenue faster at 9.2% — sustainability is the question.
COST generates stronger free cash flow (1.7B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
COST scores higher overall (53/100 vs 42/100). Both earn "Buy" and "Hold" 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 →Intel Corporation
TECHNOLOGY · SEMICONDUCTORS · USA
Intel Corporation is an American multinational corporation and technology company headquartered in Santa Clara, California, in Silicon Valley. It is the world's largest semiconductor chip manufacturer by revenue, and is the developer of the x86 series of microprocessors, the processors found in most personal computers (PCs).
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