Compare StocksCOST vs JPM

Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) vs JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM)

COST
Costco Wholesale Corporation
$974.78
VS
JPM
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
$287.97

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.
JPM
  • Each dollar of retained earnings has created $3.95 of market value — management is an exceptional capital allocator.

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.
JPM
  • Gross margin of 0.0% is low, suggesting a competitive or commodity-like market with limited pricing power.
  • JPMorgan Chase & Co. scores only 18/100 on the Economic Moat Score, suggesting limited durable competitive advantages.
  • Altman Z-Score of 0.30 places the company in the distress zone — financial patterns resemble those of companies that experienced bankruptcy.

Key Valuation Metrics

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COST
JPM
Valuation
$6.69B
Free Cash Flow
N/A
1.55%
FCF Yield
N/A
50.77
Trailing P/E
14.39
43.44
Forward P/E
12.26
Quality & Moat
20.95%
ROIC
5.32%
25.24%
ROE
N/A
12.93%
Gross Margin
0.00%
3.65
PEG Ratio
N/A
Balance Sheet Safety
0.26
Debt / Equity
N/A
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
-0.74
Net Debt / EBITDA
N/A
0.53%
Dividend Yield
2.08%
COST: 2Ties: 1JPM: 3
COSTJPM

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.

JPM

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
JPM
$3.95
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$120.20B
Δ Market Cap
+$475.31B
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
111.4% Overvalued
Price is 111.4% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $974.78
Fair Value: $461.18
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
JPM
46.5% Margin of Safety
Price is 46.5% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $287.97
Fair Value: $538.22
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 $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.

JPM

Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.

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.
JPM
18/100
No Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

No durable moat detected, though revenue predictability shows some competitive positioning. The business lacks consistent evidence of sustainable advantages.

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.
JPM
-2.17
Possible 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 72.7%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.
JPM
Insiders 0.4%Institutions 75.0%Retail & Other 24.6%
No. of Institutional Holders6,240
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
JPM
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
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
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
JPM
12
Sells (3M)
30
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $104.76M
LEOPOLD ROBIN
Officer
$132,684
@ $307.14 · 2026-02-19
ROHRBAUGH TROY L
Officer
$15.36M
@ $307.11 · 2026-02-19
BARNUM JEREMY
Chief Financial Officer
$886,157
@ $306.42 · 2026-02-17
BEER LORI A
Chief Technology Officer
$627,207
@ $306.40 · 2026-02-17
ERDOES MARY E.
Officer
$1.76M
@ $306.41 · 2026-02-17
PETNO DOUGLAS B
Officer
$1.07M
@ $306.40 · 2026-02-17
PIEPSZAK JENNIFER A
Chief Operating Officer
$2.68M
@ $312.79 · 2026-01-16
BARNUM JEREMY
Chief Financial Officer
$904,890
@ $312.79 · 2026-01-16
BEER LORI A
Chief Technology Officer
$640,295
@ $312.80 · 2026-01-16
ERDOES MARY E.
Officer
$1.79M
@ $312.78 · 2026-01-16
PETNO DOUGLAS B
Officer
$1.09M
@ $312.80 · 2026-01-16
BACON ASHLEY
Officer
$2.30M
@ $312.79 · 2026-01-16
LEOPOLD ROBIN
Officer
$301,311
@ $311.92 · 2025-11-07
BAMMANN LINDA B.
Director
$2.83M
@ $297.94 · 2025-09-02
BACON ASHLEY
Officer
$1.39M
@ $267.44 · 2025-06-12
PIEPSZAK JENNIFER A
Chief Operating Officer
$1.61M
@ $262.47 · 2025-06-05
BEER LORI A
Chief Technology Officer
$1.57M
@ $267.09 · 2025-05-16
LAKE MARIANNE
Officer
$3.28M
@ $267.08 · 2025-05-16
PETNO DOUGLAS B
Officer
$2.71M
@ $266.89 · 2025-05-15
ERDOES MARY E.
Officer
$3.69M
@ $262.54 · 2025-05-13
BACON ASHLEY
Officer
$1.37M
@ $262.53 · 2025-05-13
ROHRBAUGH TROY L
Officer
$3.29M
@ $263.08 · 2025-05-12
PIEPSZAK JENNIFER A
Chief Operating Officer
$1.54M
@ $250.76 · 2025-05-06
BARNUM JEREMY
Chief Financial Officer
$10.03M
@ $250.77 · 2025-05-06
BAMMANN LINDA B.
Director
$2.38M
@ $250.00 · 2025-05-06
DIMON JAMES
Chief Executive Officer
$31.50M
@ $235.68 · 2025-04-14
LEOPOLD ROBIN
Officer
$308,652
@ $246.92 · 2025-03-24
PIEPSZAK JENNIFER A
Chief Operating Officer
$1.06M
@ $247.03 · 2025-03-24
ROHRBAUGH TROY L
Officer
$6.18M
@ $247.02 · 2025-03-24
BEER LORI A
Chief Technology Officer
$506,698
@ $246.93 · 2025-03-24
LEOPOLD ROBIN
Officer
$337,610
@ $270.09 · 2025-02-20
PIEPSZAK JENNIFER A
Chief Operating Officer
$1.15M
@ $269.85 · 2025-02-20
ROHRBAUGH TROY L
Officer
$10.12M
@ $269.84 · 2025-02-20
BEER LORI A
Chief Technology Officer
$554,054
@ $269.88 · 2025-02-20
FRIEDMAN STACEY R.
General Counsel
$919,371
@ $278.34 · 2025-02-18
ERDOES MARY E.
Officer
$1.47M
@ $278.37 · 2025-02-18
PETNO DOUGLAS B
Officer
$971,646
@ $278.41 · 2025-02-18
FRIEDMAN STACEY R.
General Counsel
$838,778
@ $253.94 · 2025-01-16
ERDOES MARY E.
Officer
$1.34M
@ $253.97 · 2025-01-16
BACON ASHLEY
Officer
$1.81M
@ $253.94 · 2025-01-16
PETNO DOUGLAS B
Officer
$886,565
@ $253.96 · 2025-01-16
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
😐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.
JPM
FearGreed
😐Neutral(51/100)

"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.

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: Neutral (56)
JPM
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 (51)
View COST Full AnalysisView JPM Full Analysis
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) vs JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) Stock Comparison | SafetyMargin.io