Costco Wholesale Corp (COST)vsVital Farms Inc (VITL)
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$998.67
+1.59%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $450.10B
VITL
Vital Farms Inc
$13.65
+12.81%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $518.47M
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Costco Wholesale Corp generates 37594% more annual revenue ($286.27B vs $759.44M). VITL leads profitability with a 8.7% profit margin vs 3.0%. VITL trades at a lower P/E of 8.4x. VITL earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 69/100 (B-).
COST
Buy61
out of 100
Grade: C+
VITL
Strong Buy69
out of 100
Grade: B-
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Intrinsic value data unavailable for COST.
Margin of Safety
+38.0%
Fair Value
$41.61
Current Price
$13.65
$27.96 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
Revenue surging 21.5% year-over-year
Earnings expanding 45.5% YoY
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Earnings expanding 51.3% YoY
Safe zone — low bankruptcy risk
Every $100 of equity generates 21 in profit
Conservative balance sheet, low leverage
Reasonable price relative to book value
Areas to Watch
3.0% margin — thin
Operating margin of 3.7%
Expensive relative to growth rate
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Smaller company, higher risk/reward
Weak financial health signals
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. Revenue growth of 21.5% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bull Case : VITL
The strongest argument for VITL centers on P/E Ratio, EPS Growth, Altman Z-Score. Revenue growth of 28.7% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : COST
The primary concerns for COST are Profit Margin, Operating Margin, PEG Ratio. A P/E of 52.6x leaves little room for execution misses. Thin 3.0% margins leave little buffer for downturns.
Bear Case : VITL
The primary concerns for VITL are Market Cap, Piotroski F-Score, Free Cash Flow.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
VITL carries more volatility with a beta of 1.35 — expect wider price swings.
VITL is growing revenue faster at 28.7% — 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
VITL scores higher overall (69/100 vs 61/100) and 28.7% 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 →Vital Farms Inc
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · FARM PRODUCTS · USA
Vital Farms, Inc., an ethical food company, offers free range products in the United States. The company is headquartered in Austin, Texas.
Visit Website →Compare with Other DISCOUNT STORES Stocks
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