Costco Wholesale Corp (COST)vsQualcomm Incorporated (QCOM)
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$974.86
+0.11%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $432.25B
QCOM
Qualcomm Incorporated
$130.35
+1.31%
TECHNOLOGY · Cap: $137.43B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Costco Wholesale Corp generates 538% more annual revenue ($286.27B vs $44.87B). QCOM leads profitability with a 12.0% profit margin vs 3.0%. QCOM appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.55. QCOM earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 61/100 (C+).
COST
Buy53
out of 100
Grade: C-
QCOM
Buy61
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
-285.6%
Fair Value
$33.80
Current Price
$130.35
$96.55 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
Safe zone — low bankruptcy risk
Large-cap with strong market position
Every $100 of equity generates 22 in profit
Growing faster than its price suggests
Strong operational efficiency at 27.5%
Generating 4.4B 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 1.8%
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : COST
The strongest argument for COST centers on Market Cap, Altman Z-Score, Return on Equity.
Bull Case : QCOM
The strongest argument for QCOM centers on Altman Z-Score, Market Cap, Return on Equity. PEG of 0.55 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 : QCOM
The primary concerns for QCOM are P/E Ratio, EPS Growth.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
QCOM carries more volatility with a beta of 1.27 — expect wider price swings.
COST is growing revenue faster at 9.2% — sustainability is the question.
QCOM generates stronger free cash flow (4.4B), providing more financial flexibility.
Monitor DISCOUNT STORES industry trends, competitive dynamics, and regulatory changes.
Bottom Line
QCOM scores higher overall (61/100 vs 53/100). 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 →Qualcomm Incorporated
TECHNOLOGY · SEMICONDUCTORS · USA
Qualcomm is an American multinational corporation headquartered in San Diego, California, and incorporated in Delaware. It creates semiconductors, software, and services related to wireless technology. It owns patents critical to the 5G, 4G, CDMA2000, TD-SCDMA and WCDMA mobile communications standards.
Visit Website →Compare with Other DISCOUNT STORES Stocks
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