Costco Wholesale Corp (COST)vsTE Connectivity Ltd (TEL)
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$974.86
+0.11%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $432.25B
TEL
TE Connectivity Ltd
$206.37
+2.78%
TECHNOLOGY · Cap: $60.58B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Costco Wholesale Corp generates 1482% more annual revenue ($286.27B vs $18.09B). TEL leads profitability with a 11.4% profit margin vs 3.0%. TEL appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 1.14. TEL earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 74/100 (B).
COST
Buy53
out of 100
Grade: C-
TEL
Strong Buy74
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
+29.8%
Fair Value
$325.26
Current Price
$206.37
$118.89 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
Large-cap with strong market position
Strong operational efficiency at 20.9%
Revenue surging 21.7% year-over-year
Earnings expanding 44.4% YoY
Areas to Watch
Trading at 13.5x book value
3.0% margin — thin
Operating margin of 3.7%
Expensive relative to growth rate
Moderate valuation
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : COST
The strongest argument for COST centers on Market Cap, Altman Z-Score, Return on Equity.
Bull Case : TEL
The strongest argument for TEL centers on Market Cap, Operating Margin, Revenue Growth. Revenue growth of 21.7% demonstrates continued momentum. PEG of 1.14 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.
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 : TEL
The primary concerns for TEL are P/E Ratio.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
COST profiles as a value stock while TEL is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.
TEL carries more volatility with a beta of 1.25 — expect wider price swings.
TEL is growing revenue faster at 21.7% — sustainability is the question.
COST generates stronger free cash flow (1.7B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
TEL scores higher overall (74/100 vs 53/100) and 21.7% 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 →TE Connectivity Ltd
TECHNOLOGY · ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS · USA
TE Connectivity is an American Swiss-domiciled technology company that designs and manufactures connectors and sensors for several industries, such as automotive, industrial equipment, data communication systems, aerospace, defense, medical, oil and gas, consumer electronics and energy.
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