Costco Wholesale Corp (COST)vsVale SA ADR (VALE)
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$974.86
+0.11%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $432.25B
VALE
Vale SA ADR
$15.14
+1.82%
BASIC MATERIALS · Cap: $64.24B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Costco Wholesale Corp generates 34% more annual revenue ($286.27B vs $213.59B). VALE leads profitability with a 6.5% profit margin vs 3.0%. COST appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 5.41. VALE earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 55/100 (C).
COST
Buy53
out of 100
Grade: C-
VALE
Buy55
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
-47.9%
Fair Value
$11.75
Current Price
$15.14
$3.39 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
Large-cap with strong market position
Reasonable price relative to book value
Strong operational efficiency at 27.6%
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
0.5% revenue growth
ROE of 5.9% — below average capital efficiency
6.5% margin — thin
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : COST
The strongest argument for COST centers on Market Cap, Altman Z-Score, Return on Equity.
Bull Case : VALE
The strongest argument for VALE centers on Market Cap, Price/Book, Operating Margin.
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 : VALE
The primary concerns for VALE are P/E Ratio, Revenue Growth, Return on Equity.
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.
COST generates stronger free cash flow (1.7B), providing more financial flexibility.
Monitor DISCOUNT STORES industry trends, competitive dynamics, and regulatory changes.
Bottom Line
VALE scores higher overall (55/100 vs 53/100). 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 →Vale SA ADR
BASIC MATERIALS · OTHER INDUSTRIAL METALS & MINING · USA
Vale SA produces and sells iron ore and iron ore pellets for use as raw material in steelmaking in Brazil and internationally. The company is headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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