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COST vs GIS

COST
Costco Wholesale Corporation
NEUTRAL
Price
$996.43
Market Cap
$442.28B
Sector
Consumer Defensive
AI Confidence
80%
GIS
General Mills, Inc.
NEUTRAL
Price
$47.41
Market Cap
$25.29B
Sector
Consumer Defensive
AI Confidence
72%

Valuation

P/E Ratio
COST
51.82
GIS
8.96
Forward P/E
COST
44.4
GIS
10.09
P/B Ratio
COST
13.78
GIS
2.67
P/S Ratio
COST
1.55
GIS
1.32
EV/EBITDA
COST
32.11
GIS
10.31

Profitability

Gross Margin
COST
12.93%
GIS
34.39%
Operating Margin
COST
3.74%
GIS
15.6%
Profit Margin
COST
2.99%
GIS
15.24%
ROE
COST
29.65%
GIS
30.87%
ROA
COST
8.72%
GIS
6.22%

Growth

Revenue Growth
COST
9.2%
GIS
-6.8%
Earnings Growth
COST
13.9%
GIS
115.5%

Financial Health

Debt/Equity
COST
0.26
GIS
1.51
Current Ratio
COST
1.06
GIS
0.66
Quick Ratio
COST
0.54
GIS
0.35

Dividends

Dividend Yield
COST
0.52%
GIS
5.15%
Payout Ratio
COST
27.04%
GIS
45.56%

AI Verdict

COST NEUTRAL

COST shows neutral fundamentals based on deterministic rules. Financial strength is stable (F-Score 4/9). Mixed signals with both opportunities and risks present.

Strengths
Low debt with D/E ratio of 0.26
Strong ROE of 29.7%
Risks
High valuation with P/E of 51.8
Premium vs Graham Number ($176.89)
Low profit margin of 3.0%
GIS NEUTRAL

General Mills (GIS) trades at a steep discount to peers with a P/E of 8.96 versus a sector average of 22.53, supported by a robust 5.15% dividend yield and strong earnings execution, having beaten estimates in 3 of the last 4 quarters. However, the stock faces persistent headwinds from -6.80% YoY revenue growth and declining top-line momentum over the past three years, with 3Y and 1Y price returns of -31.6% and -23.4%, respectively. While profitability remains solid—ROE of 30.87% and operating margin of 15.60%—leverage is elevated at 1.51 D/E and liquidity is weak (current ratio 0.66), raising concerns about financial flexibility. Analysts are tepid with a 'hold' consensus and a $53.53 target implying only 12.9% upside, while recent insider selling adds a bearish signal.

Strengths
Attractive valuation with P/E of 8.96, significantly below sector average of 22.53 and peer TGT (10.48), CL (21.86), and MNST (40.52)
High dividend yield of 5.15% well-covered by a 45.56% payout ratio, offering income appeal in a defensive sector
Strong earnings quality: beat EPS estimates in 3 of last 4 quarters with average surprise of 4.54% and 107.7% Q/Q earnings growth
Risks
Revenue contraction of -6.80% YoY with no signs of inflection, contrasting peer MNST (+16.8%) and sector average growth of +5.46%
Deteriorating market sentiment: 3Y return of -31.6% and 1Y return of -23.4%, underperforming all major peers except TGT
Elevated leverage with Debt/Equity of 1.51, though below sector average of 3.28, limits financial flexibility and increases refinancing risk

Compare Another Pair

COST vs GIS: Head-to-Head Comparison

This page compares Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) and General Mills, Inc. (GIS) across key fundamental metrics including valuation ratios, profitability margins, growth rates, financial health indicators, and dividend metrics. Each metric highlights the better-performing stock so you can quickly identify relative strengths and weaknesses.

Our AI engine independently analyzes each company's financials, competitive position, and market conditions to produce a verdict (Bullish, Neutral, or Bearish) along with key strengths and risks. Use this comparison alongside your own research to make informed investment decisions.

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