Costco Wholesale Corp (COST)vsVertiv Holdings Co (VRT)
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$1,021.88
+2.24%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $449.00B
VRT
Vertiv Holdings Co
$367.92
+8.22%
INDUSTRIALS · Cap: $130.60B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Costco Wholesale Corp generates 2540% more annual revenue ($286.27B vs $10.84B). VRT leads profitability with a 14.4% profit margin vs 3.0%. VRT appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 1.66. VRT earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 67/100 (B-).
COST
Buy61
out of 100
Grade: C+
VRT
Strong Buy67
out of 100
Grade: B-
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
-87.6%
Fair Value
$537.65
Current Price
$1021.88
$484.23 premium
Intrinsic value data unavailable for VRT.
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
Every $100 of equity generates 45 in profit
Revenue surging 30.1% year-over-year
Earnings expanding 135.7% YoY
Large-cap with strong market position
Areas to Watch
3.0% margin — thin
Operating margin of 3.7%
Expensive relative to growth rate
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Expensive relative to growth rate
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Trading at 35.7x book value
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 : VRT
The strongest argument for VRT centers on Return on Equity, Revenue Growth, EPS Growth. Revenue growth of 30.1% 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 : VRT
The primary concerns for VRT are PEG Ratio, P/E Ratio, Price/Book. A P/E of 85.4x leaves little room for execution misses.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
VRT carries more volatility with a beta of 2.10 — expect wider price swings.
VRT is growing revenue faster at 30.1% — 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
VRT scores higher overall (67/100 vs 61/100) and 30.1% 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 →Vertiv Holdings Co
INDUSTRIALS · ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT & PARTS · USA
Vertiv Holdings Co designs, manufactures and services critical digital infrastructure technologies and lifecycle services for data centers, communication networks, and commercial and industrial environments in the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The company is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.
Compare with Other DISCOUNT STORES Stocks
Want to dig deeper into these stocks?