Costco Wholesale Corp (COST)vsSumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc (SMFG)
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$974.86
+0.11%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $432.25B
SMFG
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc
$19.93
+1.74%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $124.28B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc generates 1195% more annual revenue ($3.71T vs $286.27B). SMFG leads profitability with a 20.7% profit margin vs 3.0%. SMFG appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.81. SMFG earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 76/100 (B+).
COST
Buy53
out of 100
Grade: C-
SMFG
Strong Buy76
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
+42.7%
Fair Value
$41.40
Current Price
$19.93
$21.47 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
Reasonable price relative to book value
Strong operational efficiency at 39.3%
Large-cap with strong market position
Keeps 21 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Growing faster than its price suggests
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Areas to Watch
Trading at 13.5x book value
3.0% margin — thin
Operating margin of 3.7%
Expensive relative to growth rate
ROE of 4.9% — below average capital efficiency
Distress zone — elevated risk
Elevated debt levels
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : COST
The strongest argument for COST centers on Market Cap, Altman Z-Score, Return on Equity.
Bull Case : SMFG
The strongest argument for SMFG centers on Price/Book, Operating Margin, Market Cap. Profitability is solid with margins at 20.7% and operating margin at 39.3%. Revenue growth of 21.8% 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 : SMFG
The primary concerns for SMFG are Return on Equity, Altman Z-Score, Debt/Equity. Debt-to-equity of 3.89 is elevated, increasing financial risk.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
COST profiles as a value stock while SMFG is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.
COST carries more volatility with a beta of 0.99 — expect wider price swings.
SMFG is growing revenue faster at 21.8% — sustainability is the question.
Monitor DISCOUNT STORES industry trends, competitive dynamics, and regulatory changes.
Bottom Line
SMFG scores higher overall (76/100 vs 53/100), backed by strong 20.7% margins and 21.8% 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 →Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc
FINANCIAL SERVICES · BANKS - DIVERSIFIED · USA
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. provides commercial banking, finance leasing, securities, consumer finance, and other services primarily in Japan. The company is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.
Visit Website →Compare with Other DISCOUNT STORES Stocks
Want to dig deeper into these stocks?