Seek Returns logo

APP vs. COST: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison

Updated

Here’s a clear look at APP and COST, comparing key factors like performance, valuation metrics, dividends, and financial strength. It’s built for investors or anyone curious to see how these two stocks match up.

Company Overview

COST stands out with 454.91 billion USD in market value—about 3.75× APP’s market cap of 121.26 billion USD.

APP’s beta of 2.39 points to much larger expected swings compared to COST’s calmer 0.99, suggesting both higher upside and downside potential.

SymbolAPPCOST
Company NameAppLovin CorporationCostco Wholesale Corporation
CountryUSUS
SectorTechnologyConsumer Defensive
IndustrySoftware - ApplicationDiscount Stores
CEOMr. Adam Arash ForoughiMr. Ron M. Vachris
Price358.35 USD1,025.3 USD
Market Cap121.26 billion USD454.91 billion USD
Beta2.390.99
ExchangeNASDAQNASDAQ
IPO DateApril 15, 2021July 9, 1986
ADRNoNo

Performance Comparison

This chart compares the performance of APP and COST over the past year by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each (starting one year ago).

Hover over the lines to see the investment’s value and total return (%) at specific dates.

Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.

Valuation Metrics Comparison

For a detailed comparison of valuation metrics between APP and COST, please refer to the table below.

SymbolAPPCOST
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM)63.4359.73
Forward PEG Ratio (TTM)2.435.78
Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM)23.611.72
Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM)211.6417.80
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM)47.8765.69
EV-to-EBITDA (TTM)47.3040.04
EV-to-Sales (TTM)24.231.71
EV-to-Free Cash Flow (TTM)49.1265.07

Dividend Comparison

APP offers a 0% dividend yield, suggesting it may be reinvesting available cash back into the business for future growth, while COST provides a 0.47% dividend yield, giving investors a steady income stream.

SymbolAPPCOST
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.47%

Financial Strength Metrics Comparison

This section dives into the financial resilience of APP and COST, spotlighting key metrics like liquidity, leverage, and debt coverage. Check out the standout observations below where notable differences or extremes pop up.

  • COST’s current ratio of 1.00 indicates its assets may not cover near-term debts, whereas APP at 1.68 maintains healthy liquidity.
  • COST posts a quick ratio of 0.49, indicating limited coverage of short-term debts from its most liquid assets—while APP at 1.68 enjoys stronger liquidity resilience.
  • APP is heavily leveraged (debt-to-equity ratio 6.45), which can boost returns but raises risk if borrowing costs climb, while COST at 0.31 keeps leverage at a more moderate level.
SymbolAPPCOST
Current Ratio (TTM)1.681.00
Quick Ratio (TTM)1.680.49
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM)6.450.31
Debt-to-Assets Ratio (TTM)0.650.11
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)7.41573.59