Compare Stocks › COST vs TJX
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) vs The TJX Companies, Inc. (TJX)
COST
Costco Wholesale Corporation
$974.78
VS
TJX
The TJX Companies, Inc.
$154.68
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.
TJX
- ★The TJX Companies, Inc. has maintained ROIC above 15% for 4 consecutive years, indicating a durable competitive advantage.
- ★The TJX Companies, Inc. scores 94/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with roic consistency as the strongest competitive dimension.
- ★Free cash flow has grown at a 27.8% CAGR over the past 4 years, demonstrating strong earnings power growth.
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.
TJX
- ⚠FCF yield of 2.3% is below 3%, meaning the market is pricing in substantial future growth to justify the current price.
Key Valuation Metrics
Learn more →COST
TJX
Valuation
$6.69B
Free Cash Flow
$3.94B
1.55%
FCF Yield
2.29%
50.77
Trailing P/E
31.76
43.44
Forward P/E
27.30
Quality & Moat
20.95%
ROIC
26.72%
25.24%
ROE
53.92%
12.93%
Gross Margin
30.96%
3.65
PEG Ratio
1.12
Balance Sheet Safety
0.26
Debt / Equity
1.32
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
-0.74
Net Debt / EBITDA
0.86
0.53%
Dividend Yield
1.10%
COST: 3Ties: 1TJX: 8
COSTTJX
Historical Fundamentals
Learn more →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.
TJX
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
Learn more →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
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
TJX
$9.31
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$8.37B
Δ Market Cap
+$77.92B
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
> $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
Learn more →COST
111.4% Overvalued
Price is 111.4% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $974.78
Strongly undervalued
Fairly valued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $461.18
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
TJX
82.0% Overvalued
Price is 82.0% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $154.68
Strongly undervalued
Fairly valued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $85.01
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth
Learn more →COST
What growth rate is the market pricing in at $975?
+20.8%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +23.4%
The market implies +20.8% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.
Standard FCF implies a demanding +23.4%, reflecting heavy growth investment.
TJX
What growth rate is the market pricing in at $155?
+18.9%
Market-Implied FCF Growth Rate
Market roughly matching historical growth — reasonable.
Economic Moat Score
Learn more →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.
TJX
94/100
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 5 years of fundamental data.
Forensic Accounting
Learn more →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.
TJX
-2.44
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
Learn more →COST
Insiders 0.2%Institutions 72.7%Retail & Other 27.2%
No. of Institutional Holders4,997
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.
TJX
Insiders 0.1%Institutions 93.1%Retail & Other 6.8%
No. of Institutional Holders3,419
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
Learn more →COST
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
TJX
1
Buys (3M)
2
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $4,199
ALVAREZ JOSE B
Director
$734.00
@ $183.50 · 2026-03-05
ALVAREZ JOSE B
Director
$3,465
@ $133.27 · 2025-12-04
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.
Insider Selling Activity
Learn more →COST
5
Sells (3M)
17
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $28.85M
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
DENMAN KENNETH D
Director
$298,036
@ $851.53 · 2024-07-15
HINES DANIEL M
Officer
$2.54M
@ $846.37 · 2024-07-15
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
TJX
1
Sells (3M)
7
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $14.09M
HERRMAN ERNIE L
Chief Executive Officer
$4.83M
@ $160.95 · 2026-03-02
HERRMAN ERNIE L
Chief Executive Officer
$8.15M
@ $149.93 · 2025-11-21
LANE AMY BETH
Director
$75,700
@ $151.40 · 2025-11-21
BENJAMIN PETER
Officer
$208,845
@ $139.23 · 2025-09-08
NEMEROV JACKWYN L
Director
$164,496
@ $138.00 · 2025-09-02
LANE AMY BETH
Director
$121,689
@ $128.09 · 2025-06-03
BENJAMIN PETER
Officer
$535,042
@ $129.77 · 2025-05-22
HERRMAN ERNIE L
Chief Executive Officer
$2.10M
@ $116.54 · 2025-03-20
HERRMAN ERNIE L
Chief Executive Officer
$2.88M
@ $123.04 · 2025-03-05
BENNETT ALAN M
Director
$988,254
@ $123.53 · 2025-02-27
HERRMAN ERNIE L
Chief Executive Officer
$950,551
@ $126.18 · 2024-12-05
LANE AMY BETH
Director
$126,925
@ $126.92 · 2024-11-27
HERRMAN ERNIE L
Chief Executive Officer
$2.32M
@ $121.27 · 2024-11-22
NEMEROV JACKWYN L
Director
$139,252
@ $117.71 · 2024-09-12
HERRMAN ERNIE L
Chief Executive Officer
$1.76M
@ $117.54 · 2024-09-10
HERRMAN ERNIE L
Chief Executive Officer
$2.41M
@ $120.47 · 2024-08-22
GREENLEES LOUISE E.
Officer
$555,635
@ $119.23 · 2024-08-22
CHING DAVID T
Director
$1.55M
@ $119.39 · 2024-08-22
KLINGER JOHN
Chief Financial Officer
$713,116
@ $105.10 · 2024-06-03
CANESTRARI KENNETH D
Officer
$1.12M
@ $104.01 · 2024-05-30
GREENLEES LOUISE E.
Officer
$831,277
@ $101.74 · 2024-05-29
LANE AMY BETH
Director
$153,102
@ $102.07 · 2024-05-28
HERRMAN ERNIE L
Chief Executive Officer
$2.04M
@ $102.17 · 2024-05-24
CANESTRARI KENNETH D
Officer
$2.03M
@ $100.00 · 2024-05-23
HERRMAN ERNIE L
Chief Executive Officer
$1.98M
@ $98.98 · 2024-03-21
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
Learn more →COST
😐Neutral(56/100)
"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"
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.
TJX
😏Greed(61/100)
"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.
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
Learn more →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: Neutral (56)
TJX
⚪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 (61)