Costco Wholesale Corp (COST)vsServiceNow Inc (NOW)
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$974.86
+0.11%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $432.25B
NOW
ServiceNow Inc
$103.06
-1.52%
TECHNOLOGY · Cap: $110.42B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Costco Wholesale Corp generates 2056% more annual revenue ($286.27B vs $13.28B). NOW leads profitability with a 13.2% profit margin vs 3.0%. NOW appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 1.06. NOW earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 56/100 (C).
COST
Buy53
out of 100
Grade: C-
NOW
Buy56
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
-404.2%
Fair Value
$20.44
Current Price
$103.06
$82.62 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
Large-cap with strong market position
Revenue surging 20.7% year-over-year
Generating 2.0B 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
Trading at 8.3x book value
3.4% earnings growth
Distress zone — elevated risk
Weak financial health signals
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : COST
The strongest argument for COST centers on Market Cap, Altman Z-Score, Return on Equity.
Bull Case : NOW
The strongest argument for NOW centers on Market Cap, Revenue Growth, Free Cash Flow. Revenue growth of 20.7% demonstrates continued momentum. PEG of 1.06 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 : NOW
The primary concerns for NOW are Price/Book, EPS Growth, Altman Z-Score. A P/E of 62.7x leaves little room for execution misses.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
COST profiles as a value stock while NOW is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.
NOW carries more volatility with a beta of 1.02 — expect wider price swings.
NOW is growing revenue faster at 20.7% — sustainability is the question.
NOW generates stronger free cash flow (2.0B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
NOW scores higher overall (56/100 vs 53/100) and 20.7% 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 →ServiceNow Inc
TECHNOLOGY · SOFTWARE - APPLICATION · USA
ServiceNow is an American software company based in Santa Clara, California that develops a cloud computing platform to help companies manage digital workflows for enterprise operations.
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