Costco Wholesale Corp (COST)vsIntuit Inc (INTU)
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$974.86
+0.11%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $432.25B
INTU
Intuit Inc
$426.86
-1.29%
TECHNOLOGY · Cap: $120.34B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Costco Wholesale Corp generates 1323% more annual revenue ($286.27B vs $20.12B). INTU leads profitability with a 21.6% profit margin vs 3.0%. INTU appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 1.35. INTU earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 65/100 (C+).
COST
Buy53
out of 100
Grade: C-
INTU
Buy65
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
-308.7%
Fair Value
$104.45
Current Price
$426.86
$322.41 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
Revenue surging 41.0% year-over-year
Large-cap with strong market position
Every $100 of equity generates 24 in profit
Keeps 22 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Generating 1.5B 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
Moderate valuation
Earnings declined 18.5%
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : COST
The strongest argument for COST centers on Market Cap, Altman Z-Score, Return on Equity.
Bull Case : INTU
The strongest argument for INTU centers on Revenue Growth, Market Cap, Return on Equity. Profitability is solid with margins at 21.6% and operating margin at 15.7%. Revenue growth of 41.0% demonstrates continued momentum.
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 : INTU
The primary concerns for INTU are P/E Ratio, EPS Growth.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
COST profiles as a value stock while INTU is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.
INTU carries more volatility with a beta of 1.28 — expect wider price swings.
INTU is growing revenue faster at 41.0% — sustainability is the question.
COST generates stronger free cash flow (1.7B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
INTU scores higher overall (65/100 vs 53/100), backed by strong 21.6% margins and 41.0% revenue growth. 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 →Intuit Inc
TECHNOLOGY · SOFTWARE - APPLICATION · USA
Intuit Inc. is an American business that specializes in financial software. Intuit's products include the tax preparation application TurboTax, personal finance app Mint and the small business accounting program QuickBooks.
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