Costco Wholesale Corp (COST)vsNVIDIA Corporation (NVDA)
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$974.86
+0.11%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $432.25B
NVDA
NVIDIA Corporation
$178.68
+1.99%
TECHNOLOGY · Cap: $4.26T
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Costco Wholesale Corp generates 33% more annual revenue ($286.27B vs $215.94B). NVDA leads profitability with a 55.6% profit margin vs 3.0%. NVDA appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.72. NVDA earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 79/100 (B+).
COST
Buy53
out of 100
Grade: C-
NVDA
Strong Buy79
out of 100
Grade: B+
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
+23.6%
Fair Value
$229.32
Current Price
$178.68
$50.64 discount
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
Every $100 of equity generates 101 in profit
Keeps 56 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Strong operational efficiency at 65.0%
Revenue surging 73.2% year-over-year
Earnings expanding 95.6% YoY
Areas to Watch
Trading at 13.5x book value
3.0% margin — thin
Operating margin of 3.7%
Expensive relative to growth rate
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Weak financial health signals
Trading at 27.6x book value
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : COST
The strongest argument for COST centers on Market Cap, Altman Z-Score, Return on Equity.
Bull Case : NVDA
The strongest argument for NVDA centers on Market Cap, Return on Equity, Profit Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 55.6% and operating margin at 65.0%. Revenue growth of 73.2% 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 : NVDA
The primary concerns for NVDA are P/E Ratio, Piotroski F-Score, Price/Book.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
COST profiles as a value stock while NVDA is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.
NVDA carries more volatility with a beta of 2.38 — expect wider price swings.
NVDA is growing revenue faster at 73.2% — sustainability is the question.
NVDA generates stronger free cash flow (34.9B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
NVDA scores higher overall (79/100 vs 53/100), backed by strong 55.6% margins and 73.2% revenue growth. 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 →NVIDIA Corporation
TECHNOLOGY · SEMICONDUCTORS · USA
Nvidia Corporation is an American multinational technology company incorporated in Delaware and based in Santa Clara, California. It designs graphics processing units (GPUs) for the gaming and professional markets, as well as system on a chip units (SoCs) for the mobile computing and automotive market.
Visit Website →Compare with Other DISCOUNT STORES Stocks
Want to dig deeper into these stocks?