Costco Wholesale Corp (COST)vsAT&T Inc (T)
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$974.86
+0.11%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $432.25B
T
AT&T Inc
$28.87
-0.21%
COMMUNICATION SERVICES · Cap: $204.67B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Costco Wholesale Corp generates 128% more annual revenue ($286.27B vs $125.65B). T leads profitability with a 17.5% profit margin vs 3.0%. T appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 1.60. T earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 63/100 (C+).
COST
Buy53
out of 100
Grade: C-
T
Buy63
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
-39.7%
Fair Value
$20.67
Current Price
$28.87
$8.20 premium
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 4.5B 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
3.6% revenue growth
Earnings declined 5.6%
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : COST
The strongest argument for COST centers on Market Cap, Altman Z-Score, Return on Equity.
Bull Case : T
The strongest argument for T centers on Market Cap, P/E Ratio, Price/Book. Profitability is solid with margins at 17.5% and operating margin at 18.4%.
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 : T
The primary concerns for T are PEG Ratio, Revenue Growth, EPS Growth.
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.
T generates stronger free cash flow (4.5B), providing more financial flexibility.
Monitor DISCOUNT STORES industry trends, competitive dynamics, and regulatory changes.
Bottom Line
T scores higher overall (63/100 vs 53/100), backed by strong 17.5% margins. 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 →AT&T Inc
COMMUNICATION SERVICES · TELECOM SERVICES · USA
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational conglomerate holding company, Delaware-registered but headquartered at Whitacre Tower in Downtown Dallas, Texas. It is the world largest telecommunications company, and the second largest provider of mobile telephone services.
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