Costco Wholesale Corp (COST)vsShell PLC ADR (SHEL)
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$974.86
+0.11%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $432.25B
SHEL
Shell PLC ADR
$91.12
+0.45%
ENERGY · Cap: $254.34B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Costco Wholesale Corp generates 7% more annual revenue ($286.27B vs $266.89B). SHEL leads profitability with a 6.7% profit margin vs 3.0%. SHEL appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 2.25. SHEL earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 57/100 (C).
COST
Buy53
out of 100
Grade: C-
SHEL
Buy57
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
+71.2%
Fair Value
$280.80
Current Price
$91.12
$189.68 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
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Reasonable price relative to book value
Generating 3.4B 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
Expensive relative to growth rate
3.8% earnings growth
6.7% margin — thin
Revenue declined 3.3%
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : COST
The strongest argument for COST centers on Market Cap, Altman Z-Score, Return on Equity.
Bull Case : SHEL
The strongest argument for SHEL centers on Market Cap, P/E Ratio, Price/Book.
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 : SHEL
The primary concerns for SHEL are PEG Ratio, EPS Growth, Profit Margin.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
COST carries more volatility with a beta of 0.99 — expect wider price swings.
COST is growing revenue faster at 9.2% — sustainability is the question.
SHEL generates stronger free cash flow (3.4B), providing more financial flexibility.
Monitor DISCOUNT STORES industry trends, competitive dynamics, and regulatory changes.
Bottom Line
SHEL scores higher overall (57/100 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 →Shell PLC ADR
ENERGY · OIL & GAS INTEGRATED · USA
Shell plc is a global petrochemical and energy company. The company is headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands.
Visit Website →Compare with Other DISCOUNT STORES Stocks
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