Costco Wholesale Corp (COST)vsThe Magnum Ice Cream Company N.V. (MICC)
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$971.87
-0.30%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $423.23B
MICC
The Magnum Ice Cream Company N.V.
$16.72
-0.48%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $9.97B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Costco Wholesale Corp generates 3612% more annual revenue ($293.59B vs $7.91B). MICC leads profitability with a 3.7% profit margin vs 3.0%. MICC appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.69. COST earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 61/100 (C+).
COST
Buy61
out of 100
Grade: C+
MICC
Hold49
out of 100
Grade: D+
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 27 in profit
Revenue surging 21.5% year-over-year
Earnings expanding 45.5% YoY
Generating 2.0B in free cash flow
Every $100 of equity generates 85 in profit
Conservative balance sheet, low leverage
Growing faster than its price suggests
Areas to Watch
3.0% margin — thin
Operating margin of 3.7%
Expensive relative to growth rate
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Moderate valuation
Trading at 14.2x book value
0.0% earnings growth
3.7% margin — thin
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 : MICC
The strongest argument for MICC centers on Return on Equity, Debt/Equity, PEG Ratio. PEG of 0.69 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 48.1x leaves little room for execution misses. Thin 3.0% margins leave little buffer for downturns.
Bear Case : MICC
The primary concerns for MICC are P/E Ratio, Price/Book, EPS Growth. Thin 3.7% margins leave little buffer for downturns.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
COST profiles as a growth stock while MICC is a value play — different risk/reward profiles.
COST is growing revenue faster at 21.5% — sustainability is the question.
COST generates stronger free cash flow (2.0B), providing more financial flexibility.
Monitor DISCOUNT STORES industry trends, competitive dynamics, and regulatory changes.
Bottom Line
COST scores higher overall (61/100 vs 49/100) and 21.5% revenue growth. 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 →The Magnum Ice Cream Company N.V.
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · PACKAGED FOODS · USA
The Magnum Ice Cream Company N.V. engages in ice cream business. The company is headquartered in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands.
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