ABEV vs. COST: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at ABEV and COST, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Overview
COST’s market capitalization of 437.72 billion USD is significantly greater than ABEV’s 38.65 billion USD, highlighting its more substantial market valuation.
COST carries a higher beta at 0.99, indicating it’s more sensitive to market moves, while ABEV (beta: 0.35) exhibits greater stability.
ABEV trades as an American Depositary Receipt (ADR), offering U.S. investors a convenient way to access its foreign-listed shares. In contrast, COST is a standard domestic listing.
| Symbol | ABEV | COST |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Ambev S.A. | Costco Wholesale Corporation |
| Country | BR | US |
| Sector | Consumer Defensive | Consumer Defensive |
| Industry | Beverages - Alcoholic | Discount Stores |
| CEO | Carlos Eduardo Klutzenschell Lisboa | Ron M. Vachris |
| Price | 2.47 USD | 987.02 USD |
| Market Cap | 38.65 billion USD | 437.72 billion USD |
| Beta | 0.35 | 0.99 |
| Exchange | NYSE | NASDAQ |
| IPO Date | March 5, 1997 | July 9, 1986 |
| ADR | Yes | No |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of ABEV and COST by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period.
Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Profitability
Return on Equity
ABEV
14.93%
Beverages - Alcoholic Industry
- Max
- 14.93%
- Q3
- 11.65%
- Median
- 9.82%
- Q1
- 7.98%
- Min
- 7.40%
In the upper quartile for the Beverages - Alcoholic industry, ABEV’s Return on Equity of 14.93% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
COST
31.13%
Discount Stores Industry
- Max
- 31.68%
- Q3
- 28.60%
- Median
- 15.53%
- Q1
- 12.21%
- Min
- 12.12%
In the upper quartile for the Discount Stores industry, COST’s Return on Equity of 31.13% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
Return on Invested Capital
ABEV
15.16%
Beverages - Alcoholic Industry
- Max
- 8.96%
- Q3
- 8.78%
- Median
- 7.43%
- Q1
- 6.60%
- Min
- 6.50%
ABEV’s Return on Invested Capital of 15.16% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Beverages - Alcoholic industry. This demonstrates an outstanding ability to deploy capital efficiently and create significant value.
COST
20.02%
Discount Stores Industry
- Max
- 20.02%
- Q3
- 12.27%
- Median
- 11.13%
- Q1
- 6.51%
- Min
- 5.03%
In the upper quartile for the Discount Stores industry, COST’s Return on Invested Capital of 20.02% signifies a highly effective use of its capital to generate profits when compared to its peers.
Net Profit Margin
ABEV
15.74%
Beverages - Alcoholic Industry
- Max
- 15.74%
- Q3
- 11.09%
- Median
- 7.37%
- Q1
- 4.71%
- Min
- 3.46%
A Net Profit Margin of 15.74% places ABEV in the upper quartile for the Beverages - Alcoholic industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
COST
2.92%
Discount Stores Industry
- Max
- 2.92%
- Q3
- 2.92%
- Median
- 2.81%
- Q1
- 2.75%
- Min
- 2.75%
COST’s Net Profit Margin of 2.92% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Discount Stores industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
Operating Profit Margin
ABEV
24.12%
Beverages - Alcoholic Industry
- Max
- 26.22%
- Q3
- 21.64%
- Median
- 11.53%
- Q1
- 8.73%
- Min
- 4.73%
An Operating Profit Margin of 24.12% places ABEV in the upper quartile for the Beverages - Alcoholic industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
COST
3.75%
Discount Stores Industry
- Max
- 5.42%
- Q3
- 5.42%
- Median
- 4.33%
- Q1
- 3.93%
- Min
- 2.10%
COST’s Operating Profit Margin of 3.75% is in the lower quartile for the Discount Stores industry. This indicates weaker profitability from core operations, which may stem from inefficiencies or competitive pressures on pricing.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | ABEV | COST |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 14.93% | 31.13% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 9.80% | 10.39% |
| Return on Invested Capital (TTM) | 15.16% | 20.02% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 15.74% | 2.92% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 24.12% | 3.75% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 50.61% | 13.38% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio
ABEV
1.11
Beverages - Alcoholic Industry
- Max
- 2.16
- Q3
- 1.70
- Median
- 1.37
- Q1
- 0.95
- Min
- 0.70
ABEV’s Current Ratio of 1.11 aligns with the median group of the Beverages - Alcoholic industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
COST
1.02
Discount Stores Industry
- Max
- 1.25
- Q3
- 1.23
- Median
- 1.02
- Q1
- 0.78
- Min
- 0.74
COST’s Current Ratio of 1.02 aligns with the median group of the Discount Stores industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio
ABEV
0.03
Beverages - Alcoholic Industry
- Max
- 0.92
- Q3
- 0.90
- Median
- 0.66
- Q1
- 0.16
- Min
- 0.03
Falling into the lower quartile for the Beverages - Alcoholic industry, ABEV’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.03 points to a conservative financing strategy. This results in lower financial risk but potentially limits strategic investments compared to more leveraged competitors.
COST
0.30
Discount Stores Industry
- Max
- 2.34
- Q3
- 1.40
- Median
- 0.80
- Q1
- 0.31
- Min
- 0.20
Falling into the lower quartile for the Discount Stores industry, COST’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.30 points to a conservative financing strategy. This results in lower financial risk but potentially limits strategic investments compared to more leveraged competitors.
Interest Coverage Ratio
ABEV
10.02
Beverages - Alcoholic Industry
- Max
- 10.02
- Q3
- 10.02
- Median
- 3.93
- Q1
- 3.73
- Min
- 3.32
ABEV’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 10.02 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Beverages - Alcoholic industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
COST
916.73
Discount Stores Industry
- Max
- 18.46
- Q3
- 17.45
- Median
- 13.09
- Q1
- 10.49
- Min
- 1.08
With an Interest Coverage Ratio of 916.73, COST demonstrates a superior capacity to service its debt, placing it well above the typical range for the Discount Stores industry. This stems from either robust earnings or a conservative debt load.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | ABEV | COST |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 1.11 | 1.02 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 0.80 | 0.52 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | 0.03 | 0.30 |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio (TTM) | 0.02 | 0.11 |
| Net Debt-to-EBITDA Ratio (TTM) | -0.54 | -0.49 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 10.02 | 916.73 |
Growth
The following charts compare key year-over-year (YoY) growth metrics for ABEV and COST. These metrics are based on the companies’ annual financial reports.
Revenue Growth
Earnings Per Share (EPS) Growth
Free Cash Flow Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield
ABEV
1.89%
Beverages - Alcoholic Industry
- Max
- 1,539.93%
- Q3
- 3.36%
- Median
- 1.63%
- Q1
- 0.78%
- Min
- 0.00%
ABEV’s Dividend Yield of 1.89% is consistent with its peers in the Beverages - Alcoholic industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
COST
0.48%
Discount Stores Industry
- Max
- 4.51%
- Q3
- 0.91%
- Median
- 0.49%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
COST’s Dividend Yield of 0.48% is consistent with its peers in the Discount Stores industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
Dividend Payout Ratio
ABEV
73.84%
Beverages - Alcoholic Industry
- Max
- 73.84%
- Q3
- 45.81%
- Median
- 33.17%
- Q1
- 7.61%
- Min
- 0.00%
ABEV’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 73.84% is in the upper quartile for the Beverages - Alcoholic industry. This indicates a strong commitment to shareholder returns but also suggests that a smaller portion of earnings is retained for reinvestment compared to many peers.
COST
19.69%
Discount Stores Industry
- Max
- 44.99%
- Q3
- 36.65%
- Median
- 19.69%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
COST’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 19.69% is within the typical range for the Discount Stores industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | ABEV | COST |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.89% | 0.48% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 73.84% | 19.69% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio
ABEV
14.68
Beverages - Alcoholic Industry
- Max
- 29.99
- Q3
- 27.46
- Median
- 17.07
- Q1
- 13.71
- Min
- 9.30
ABEV’s P/E Ratio of 14.68 is within the middle range for the Beverages - Alcoholic industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
COST
55.87
Discount Stores Industry
- Max
- 55.76
- Q3
- 45.00
- Median
- 33.38
- Q1
- 22.25
- Min
- 10.79
At 55.87, COST’s P/E Ratio is exceptionally high, exceeding the typical maximum for the Discount Stores industry. This suggests the stock may be significantly overvalued compared to its peers and implies high market expectations that could be difficult to meet.
Forward P/E to Growth Ratio
ABEV
1.23
Beverages - Alcoholic Industry
- Max
- 2.24
- Q3
- 2.12
- Median
- 1.48
- Q1
- 1.20
- Min
- 1.19
ABEV’s Forward PEG Ratio of 1.23 is within the middle range of its peers in the Beverages - Alcoholic industry. This suggests a reasonable balance between the stock’s price and its expected growth, aligning with sector valuation norms.
COST
5.06
Discount Stores Industry
- Max
- 5.06
- Q3
- 3.70
- Median
- 2.97
- Q1
- 2.24
- Min
- 1.25
A Forward PEG Ratio of 5.06 places COST in the upper quartile for the Discount Stores industry. This suggests the stock is potentially expensive compared to its peers relative to its growth forecast, which may warrant caution.
Price-to-Sales Ratio
ABEV
2.31
Beverages - Alcoholic Industry
- Max
- 2.32
- Q3
- 2.30
- Median
- 1.63
- Q1
- 0.89
- Min
- 0.76
ABEV’s P/S Ratio of 2.31 is in the upper echelon for the Beverages - Alcoholic industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.
COST
1.63
Discount Stores Industry
- Max
- 2.07
- Q3
- 1.63
- Median
- 0.96
- Q1
- 0.64
- Min
- 0.43
COST’s P/S Ratio of 1.63 is in the upper echelon for the Discount Stores industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.
Price-to-Book Ratio
ABEV
2.24
Beverages - Alcoholic Industry
- Max
- 2.39
- Q3
- 2.34
- Median
- 1.97
- Q1
- 1.54
- Min
- 0.74
ABEV’s P/B Ratio of 2.24 is within the conventional range for the Beverages - Alcoholic industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
COST
16.15
Discount Stores Industry
- Max
- 16.12
- Q3
- 9.30
- Median
- 5.40
- Q1
- 3.27
- Min
- 2.73
At 16.15, COST’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Discount Stores industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | ABEV | COST |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | 14.68 | 55.87 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | 1.23 | 5.06 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 2.31 | 1.63 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | 2.24 | 16.15 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | 9.61 | 59.82 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | 6.68 | 37.31 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 2.13 | 1.61 |