Costco Wholesale Corp (COST)vsSeagate Technology PLC (STX)
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$972.33
-0.25%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $431.59B
STX
Seagate Technology PLC
$411.23
-5.38%
TECHNOLOGY · Cap: $97.36B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Costco Wholesale Corp generates 2746% more annual revenue ($286.27B vs $10.06B). STX leads profitability with a 19.6% profit margin vs 3.0%. STX appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.67. STX earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 72/100 (B).
COST
Buy53
out of 100
Grade: C-
STX
Strong Buy72
out of 100
Grade: B
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
-74.8%
Fair Value
$556.12
Current Price
$972.33
$416.21 premium
Margin of Safety
+1.9%
Fair Value
$415.12
Current Price
$411.23
$3.89 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
Earnings expanding 67.7% YoY
Large-cap with strong market position
Every $100 of equity generates 22 in profit
Growing faster than its price suggests
Strong operational efficiency at 29.9%
Revenue surging 21.5% year-over-year
Areas to Watch
Trading at 13.4x book value
3.0% margin — thin
Operating margin of 3.7%
Expensive relative to growth rate
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Trading at 195.8x book value
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : COST
The strongest argument for COST centers on Market Cap, Altman Z-Score, Return on Equity.
Bull Case : STX
The strongest argument for STX centers on EPS Growth, Market Cap, Return on Equity. Profitability is solid with margins at 19.6% and operating margin at 29.9%. Revenue growth of 21.5% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : COST
The primary concerns for COST are Price/Book, Profit Margin, Operating Margin. A P/E of 50.8x leaves little room for execution misses. Thin 3.0% margins leave little buffer for downturns.
Bear Case : STX
The primary concerns for STX are P/E Ratio, Price/Book. A P/E of 49.0x leaves little room for execution misses.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
COST profiles as a value stock while STX is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.
STX carries more volatility with a beta of 1.65 — expect wider price swings.
STX is growing revenue faster at 21.5% — sustainability is the question.
COST generates stronger free cash flow (1.7B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
STX scores higher overall (72/100 vs 53/100), backed by strong 19.6% margins and 21.5% 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 →Seagate Technology PLC
TECHNOLOGY · COMPUTER HARDWARE · USA
Seagate Technology Holdings plc, an Irish public limited company (commonly referred to as Seagate) is an American data storage company.
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