Costco Wholesale Corp (COST)vsSprouts Farmers Market LLC (SFM)
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$971.87
-0.30%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $423.23B
SFM
Sprouts Farmers Market LLC
$82.87
+3.35%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $8.12B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Costco Wholesale Corp generates 3199% more annual revenue ($293.59B vs $8.90B). SFM leads profitability with a 5.7% profit margin vs 3.0%. SFM appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 1.19. COST earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 61/100 (C+).
COST
Buy61
out of 100
Grade: C+
SFM
Buy54
out of 100
Grade: C-
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 35 in profit
Safe zone — low bankruptcy risk
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Areas to Watch
3.0% margin — thin
Operating margin of 3.7%
Expensive relative to growth rate
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
4.1% revenue growth
5.7% margin — thin
Elevated debt levels
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. Revenue growth of 21.5% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bull Case : SFM
The strongest argument for SFM centers on Return on Equity, Altman Z-Score, P/E Ratio. PEG of 1.19 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 : SFM
The primary concerns for SFM are Revenue Growth, Profit Margin, Debt/Equity.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
COST profiles as a growth stock while SFM is a value 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 (2.0B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
COST scores higher overall (61/100 vs 54/100) and 21.5% 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 →Sprouts Farmers Market LLC
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · GROCERY STORES · USA
Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. offers fresh, natural and organic food products in the United States. The company is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona.
Visit Website →Compare with Other DISCOUNT STORES Stocks
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