Compare StocksCOST vs NKE

Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) vs NIKE, Inc. (NKE)

COST
Costco Wholesale Corporation
$1011.70
VS
NKE
NIKE, Inc.
$44.40

Rewards

COST
  • Costco Wholesale Corporation has maintained ROIC above 15% for 4 consecutive years, indicating a durable competitive advantage.
  • Costco Wholesale Corporation scores 96/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with roic consistency as the strongest competitive dimension.
  • Free cash flow has grown at a 30.8% CAGR over the past 4 years, demonstrating strong earnings power growth.
NKE
  • NIKE, Inc. has maintained ROIC above 10% for 4 consecutive years, suggesting solid business economics.
  • NIKE, Inc. scores 72/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with roic consistency as the strongest competitive dimension.
  • Return on equity has consistently exceeded 20% over 4 years, indicating efficient use of shareholder capital.

Risks

COST
  • Gross margin of 12.9% is low, suggesting a competitive or commodity-like market with limited pricing power.
  • Despite buyback spending, shares outstanding increased in 3 out of 4 years — stock-based compensation is offsetting repurchases.
  • FCF yield of 1.5% is below 3%, meaning the market is pricing in substantial future growth to justify the current price.
NKE
  • Free cash flow has declined at a 9.6% CAGR over the past 4 years — a concerning trend.

Key Valuation Metrics

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COST
NKE
Valuation
$6.69B
Free Cash Flow
$3.27B
1.49%
FCF Yield
4.97%
52.64
Trailing P/E
29.21
45.02
Forward P/E
24.05
Quality & Moat
30.54%
ROIC
10.10%
47.71%
ROE
22.85%
12.93%
Gross Margin
40.92%
1.16
PEG Ratio
1.37
Balance Sheet Safety
0.60
Debt / Equity
0.79
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
-0.07
Net Debt / EBITDA
0.81
0.58%
Dividend Yield
3.69%
COST: 6Ties: 1NKE: 5
COSTNKE

Historical Fundamentals

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COST

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

NKE

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

$1 Retained Earnings Test

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COST
$19.41
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$9.28B
Δ Market Cap
+$180.14B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
NKE
$-11.96
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Market Cap Declined
Σ Retained
$7.51B
Δ Market Cap
$-89.79B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis

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COST
129.0% Overvalued
Price is 129.0% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $1011.70
Fair Value: $441.80
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
NKE
61.3% Margin of Safety
Price is 61.3% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $44.40
Fair Value: $114.74
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued

Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth

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COST

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $1012?

+21.6%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +24.3%

The market implies +21.6% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.

Standard FCF implies a demanding +24.3%, reflecting heavy growth investment.

NKE

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $44?

+8.6%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +8.4%

The market implies +8.6% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.

Standard FCF implies a demanding +8.4%, reflecting heavy growth investment.

Economic Moat Score

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COST
96/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. ROIC Consistency is the standout factor.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.
NKE
72/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. ROIC Consistency is the standout factor.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.

Forensic Accounting

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COST
-2.65
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
NKE
-2.36
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

Ownership Breakdown

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COST
Insiders 0.2%Institutions 72.6%Retail & Other 27.2%
No. of Institutional Holders5,063
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
NKE
Insiders 1.5%Institutions 82.2%Retail & Other 16.3%
No. of Institutional Holders2,715
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

Insider Buying Activity

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COST
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
NKE
5
Buys (3M)
9
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $9.19M
HILL ELLIOTT
Chief Executive Officer
$1.00M
@ $42.27 · 2026-04-13
HILL ELLIOTT
Chief Executive Officer
$1.00M
@ $42.27 · 2026-04-13
COOK TIMOTHY D
Director
$1.06M
@ $42.43 · 2026-04-10
ROGERS JOHN W JR
Director
$173,360
@ $43.34 · 2026-04-09
SWAN ROBERT HOLMES
Director
$500,002
@ $42.44 · 2026-04-07
HILL ELLIOTT
Chief Executive Officer
$1.00M
@ $61.10 · 2025-12-29
COOK TIMOTHY D
Director
$2.95M
@ $58.97 · 2025-12-22
SWAN ROBERT HOLMES
Director
$500,080
@ $57.54 · 2025-12-22
KNUDSTORP JORGEN VIG
Director
$1.00M
@ $62.09 · 2025-11-07
SWAN ROBERT HOLMES
Director
$502,756
@ $58.46 · 2025-04-04
ROGERS JOHN W JR
Director
$191,624
@ $76.65 · 2024-12-27
SWAN ROBERT HOLMES
Director
$226,516
@ $77.02 · 2024-06-28
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises

Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.

Insider Selling Activity

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COST
2
Sells (3M)
15
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $23.76M
FRATES CATON
Officer
$695,100
@ $993.00 · 2026-04-01
ADAMO CLAUDINE
Officer
$732,205
@ $1003.02 · 2026-03-09
JONES TERESA A
Officer
$838,318
@ $986.26 · 2026-01-21
DECKER SUSAN LYNNE
Director
$437,390
@ $955.00 · 2026-01-16
KLAUER JAMES C
Officer
$1.41M
@ $939.00 · 2026-01-14
POLIT JAVIER
Officer
$2.26M
@ $866.38 · 2025-12-30
WILCOX WILLIAM RICHARD
Officer
$2.23M
@ $930.13 · 2025-11-07
ADAMO CLAUDINE
Officer
$2.53M
@ $935.68 · 2025-10-24
BARBRE TIFFANY MARIE
Divisional Officer
$1.16M
@ $934.91 · 2025-10-24
FRATES CATON
Officer
$1.40M
@ $910.02 · 2025-09-29
JONES TERESA A
Officer
$595,230
@ $992.05 · 2025-08-20
RUBANENKO YORAM B.
Officer
$3.90M
@ $974.96 · 2025-07-14
DECKER SUSAN LYNNE
Director
$536,058
@ $980.00 · 2025-06-18
CALLANS PATRICK J
Officer
$3.01M
@ $1002.77 · 2025-06-09
RIEL PIERRE
Officer
$2.03M
@ $1014.15 · 2025-06-06
KLAUER JAMES C
Officer
$3.92M
@ $981.07 · 2025-04-17
MILLERCHIP GARY
Officer
$1.03M
@ $940.01 · 2025-03-27
ADAMO CLAUDINE
Officer
$830,304
@ $922.56 · 2025-03-24
FRATES CATON
Officer
$765,213
@ $900.25 · 2025-03-18
VACHRIS ROLAND MICHAEL
Chief Executive Officer
$3.35M
@ $931.00 · 2025-03-11
GALANTI RICHARD ALAN
Officer and Director
$1.27M
@ $894.97 · 2024-10-24
JONES TERESA A
Officer
$717,236
@ $896.54 · 2024-10-23
RIEL PIERRE
Officer
$1.79M
@ $896.71 · 2024-10-15
CALLANS PATRICK J
Officer
$2.23M
@ $893.94 · 2024-09-30
ADAMO CLAUDINE
Officer
$2.84M
@ $888.99 · 2024-09-30
FRATES CATON
Officer
$1.50M
@ $883.35 · 2024-09-30
DECKER SUSAN LYNNE
Director
$543,430
@ $876.50 · 2024-08-15
GALANTI RICHARD ALAN
Officer and Director
$868,962
@ $868.96 · 2024-08-15
JONES TERESA A
Officer
$3,330
@ $832.50 · 2024-07-25
HINES DANIEL M
Officer
$2.54M
@ $846.37 · 2024-07-15
DENMAN KENNETH D
Director
$298,036
@ $851.53 · 2024-07-15
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
NKE
1
Sells (3M)
10
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $30.93M
LEINWAND ROBERT
Officer
$565,021
@ $62.33 · 2026-02-12
PARKER MARK G
Officer and Director
$5.58M
@ $64.80 · 2025-11-14
HEINLE TREASURE
Officer
$306,461
@ $71.27 · 2025-10-06
LEINWAND ROBERT
Officer
$52,367
@ $75.13 · 2025-10-02
LEINWAND ROBERT
Officer
$76,058
@ $74.64 · 2025-09-05
PARKER MARK G
Officer and Director
$6.54M
@ $75.93 · 2025-08-14
MCCARTNEY PHILIP
Officer
$244,138
@ $77.21 · 2025-08-13
LEINWAND ROBERT
Officer
$123,152
@ $74.91 · 2025-08-05
PARKER MARK G
Officer and Director
$7.95M
@ $72.29 · 2025-07-16
PARKER MARK G
Officer and Director
$9.49M
@ $62.05 · 2025-05-14
NIELSEN JOHANNA
Officer
$7,978
@ $57.81 · 2025-04-24
PARKER MARK G
Officer and Director
$12.36M
@ $72.83 · 2025-02-14
LEINWAND ROBERT
Officer
$328,082
@ $72.81 · 2025-02-13
O NEILL HEIDI
Officer
$1.01M
@ $71.18 · 2025-02-11
PARKER MARK G
Officer and Director
$3.46M
@ $76.64 · 2024-11-14
PARKER MARK G
Officer and Director
$4.09M
@ $78.00 · 2024-08-14
FRIEND MATTHEW
Chief Financial Officer
$394,281
@ $72.88 · 2024-08-07
PARKER MARK G
Officer and Director
$8.03M
@ $72.97 · 2024-07-18
FRIEND MATTHEW
Chief Financial Officer
$889,185
@ $95.10 · 2024-06-05
PARKER MARK G
Officer and Director
$15.68M
@ $93.14 · 2024-05-14
NIELSEN JOHANNA
Officer
$26,406
@ $93.64 · 2024-05-09
MATHESON MONIQUE SUZETTE
Officer
$4.24M
@ $94.16 · 2024-05-07
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives

Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives.

🎭 Mr. Market's Mood

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COST
FearGreed
😏Greed(67/100)

"Market is optimistic — be cautious and ensure you have a margin of safety"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
NKE
FearGreed
😨Fear(36/100)

"Market is pessimistic — investigate whether fears are temporary or structural"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

Composite sentiment score based on market signals. Inspired by Buffett’s "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

⚖️ Buffett Signal

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COST
Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Greed (67)
NKE
Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Fear (36)
View COST Full AnalysisView NKE Full Analysis
COST vs NKE: Which Is the Better Buy? | SafetyMargin.io