Costco Wholesale Corp (COST)vsUBS Group AG (UBS)
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$974.86
+0.11%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $432.25B
UBS
UBS Group AG
$38.10
+3.00%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $116.88B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Costco Wholesale Corp generates 477% more annual revenue ($286.27B vs $49.60B). UBS leads profitability with a 15.7% profit margin vs 3.0%. UBS appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.44. UBS earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 77/100 (B+).
COST
Buy53
out of 100
Grade: C-
UBS
Strong Buy77
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
+61.2%
Fair Value
$109.04
Current Price
$38.10
$70.94 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
Growing faster than its price suggests
Reasonable price relative to book value
Strong operational efficiency at 54.6%
Earnings expanding 58.0% YoY
Large-cap with strong market position
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
Negative free cash flow — burning cash
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : COST
The strongest argument for COST centers on Market Cap, Altman Z-Score, Return on Equity.
Bull Case : UBS
The strongest argument for UBS centers on PEG Ratio, Price/Book, Operating Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 15.7% and operating margin at 54.6%. Revenue growth of 12.4% 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 : UBS
The primary concerns for UBS are Free Cash Flow.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
COST profiles as a value stock while UBS is a mature play — different risk/reward profiles.
COST carries more volatility with a beta of 0.99 — expect wider price swings.
UBS is growing revenue faster at 12.4% — sustainability is the question.
COST generates stronger free cash flow (1.7B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
UBS scores higher overall (77/100 vs 53/100), backed by strong 15.7% margins and 12.4% 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 →UBS Group AG
FINANCIAL SERVICES · BANKS - DIVERSIFIED · USA
UBS Group AG, provides advice and financial solutions to private, institutional and corporate clients worldwide. The company is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland.
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