Costco Wholesale Corp (COST)vsSony Group Corp (SONY)
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$974.86
+0.11%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $432.25B
SONY
Sony Group Corp
$20.54
-0.15%
TECHNOLOGY · Cap: $122.85B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Sony Group Corp generates 4501% more annual revenue ($13.17T vs $286.27B). COST leads profitability with a 3.0% profit margin vs -1.6%. SONY appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 2.78. COST earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 53/100 (C-).
COST
Buy53
out of 100
Grade: C-
SONY
Hold47
out of 100
Grade: D+
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
+8.7%
Fair Value
$25.06
Current Price
$20.54
$4.52 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
Generating 898.5B in free cash flow
Large-cap with strong market position
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Reasonable price relative to book value
Areas to Watch
Trading at 13.5x book value
3.0% margin — thin
Operating margin of 3.7%
Expensive relative to growth rate
0.5% revenue growth
Expensive relative to growth rate
Currently unprofitable
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : COST
The strongest argument for COST centers on Market Cap, Altman Z-Score, Return on Equity.
Bull Case : SONY
The strongest argument for SONY centers on Free Cash Flow, Market Cap, P/E Ratio.
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 : SONY
The primary concerns for SONY are Revenue Growth, PEG Ratio, Profit Margin.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
COST profiles as a value stock while SONY is a turnaround play — different risk/reward profiles.
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.
SONY generates stronger free cash flow (898.5B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
COST scores higher overall (53/100 vs 47/100). Both earn "Buy" and "Hold" 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 →Sony Group Corp
TECHNOLOGY · CONSUMER ELECTRONICS · USA
Sony Group Corporation designs, develops, produces and sells electronic equipment, instruments and devices for the consumer, professional and industrial markets worldwide. The company is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.
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