Costco Wholesale Corp (COST)vsNextera Energy Inc (NEE)
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$1,008.79
-0.32%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $449.00B
NEE
Nextera Energy Inc
$93.10
-0.24%
UTILITIES · Cap: $194.60B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Costco Wholesale Corp generates 927% more annual revenue ($286.27B vs $27.87B). NEE leads profitability with a 29.4% profit margin vs 3.0%. NEE appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 2.12. NEE earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 67/100 (B-).
COST
Buy61
out of 100
Grade: C+
NEE
Strong Buy67
out of 100
Grade: B-
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
-87.6%
Fair Value
$537.65
Current Price
$1008.79
$471.14 premium
Intrinsic value data unavailable for NEE.
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
Revenue surging 21.5% year-over-year
Earnings expanding 45.5% YoY
Strong operational efficiency at 30.2%
Earnings expanding 160.0% YoY
Large-cap with strong market position
Keeps 29 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Areas to Watch
3.0% margin — thin
Operating margin of 3.7%
Expensive relative to growth rate
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Expensive relative to growth rate
Elevated debt levels
Weak financial health signals
Negative free cash flow — burning cash
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 : NEE
The strongest argument for NEE centers on Operating Margin, EPS Growth, Market Cap. Profitability is solid with margins at 29.4% and operating margin at 30.2%.
Bear Case : COST
The primary concerns for COST are Profit Margin, Operating Margin, PEG Ratio. A P/E of 52.6x leaves little room for execution misses. Thin 3.0% margins leave little buffer for downturns.
Bear Case : NEE
The primary concerns for NEE are PEG Ratio, Debt/Equity, Piotroski F-Score. Debt-to-equity of 1.75 is elevated, increasing financial risk.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
COST profiles as a growth stock while NEE is a mature play — different risk/reward profiles.
COST carries more volatility with a beta of 0.91 — expect wider price swings.
COST is growing revenue faster at 21.5% — sustainability is the question.
COST generates stronger free cash flow (1.7B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
NEE scores higher overall (67/100 vs 61/100), backed by strong 29.4% margins. Both earn "Strong 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 →Nextera Energy Inc
UTILITIES · UTILITIES - REGULATED ELECTRIC · USA
NextEra Energy, Inc. is an American energy company with about 46 gigawatts of generating capacity, revenues of over $17 billion in 2017, and about 14,000 employees throughout the US and Canada. Its subsidiaries include Florida Power & Light (FPL), NextEra Energy Resources, NextEra Energy Partners, Gulf Power Company, and NextEra Energy Services.
Visit Website →Compare with Other DISCOUNT STORES Stocks
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