Costco Wholesale Corp (COST)vsExxon Mobil Corp (XOM)
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$974.86
+0.11%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $432.25B
XOM
Exxon Mobil Corp
$163.26
-1.28%
ENERGY · Cap: $665.31B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Exxon Mobil Corp generates 13% more annual revenue ($323.90B vs $286.27B). XOM leads profitability with a 8.9% profit margin vs 3.0%. XOM appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 2.02. COST earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 53/100 (C-).
COST
Buy53
out of 100
Grade: C-
XOM
Hold44
out of 100
Grade: D
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
-262.4%
Fair Value
$45.63
Current Price
$163.26
$117.63 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
Mega-cap, among the largest globally
Safe zone — low bankruptcy risk
Conservative balance sheet, low leverage
Reasonable price relative to book value
Generating 5.2B in free cash flow
Areas to Watch
Trading at 13.5x book value
3.0% margin — thin
Operating margin of 3.7%
Expensive relative to growth rate
Expensive relative to growth rate
Weak financial health signals
Revenue declined 1.3%
Earnings declined 11.0%
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : COST
The strongest argument for COST centers on Market Cap, Altman Z-Score, Return on Equity.
Bull Case : XOM
The strongest argument for XOM centers on Market Cap, Altman Z-Score, Debt/Equity.
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 : XOM
The primary concerns for XOM are PEG Ratio, Piotroski F-Score, Revenue Growth.
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.
XOM generates stronger free cash flow (5.2B), providing more financial flexibility.
Monitor DISCOUNT STORES industry trends, competitive dynamics, and regulatory changes.
Bottom Line
COST scores higher overall (53/100 vs 44/100). Both earn "Buy" and "Hold" 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 →Exxon Mobil Corp
ENERGY · OIL & GAS INTEGRATED · USA
Exxon Mobil Corporation, stylized as ExxonMobil, is an American multinational oil and gas corporation headquartered in Irving, Texas. It is the largest direct descendant of John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil, and was formed on November 30, 1999 by the merger of Exxon (formerly the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey) and Mobil (formerly the Standard Oil Company of New York). ExxonMobil's primary brands are Exxon, Mobil, Esso, and ExxonMobil Chemical. ExxonMobil is incorporated in New Jersey.
Visit Website →Compare with Other DISCOUNT STORES Stocks
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