COST vs. TSN: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at COST and TSN, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
Symbol | COST | TSN |
---|---|---|
Company Name | Costco Wholesale Corporation | Tyson Foods, Inc. |
Country | United States | United States |
GICS Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Staples |
GICS Industry | Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail | Food Products |
Market Capitalization | 434.10 billion USD | 20.52 billion USD |
Exchange | NasdaqGS | NYSE |
Listing Date | July 9, 1986 | March 17, 1980 |
Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of COST and TSN 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.
Historical Performance at a Glance
Symbol | COST | TSN |
---|---|---|
5-Day Price Return | 0.14% | 2.40% |
13-Week Price Return | -3.67% | 3.04% |
26-Week Price Return | -6.86% | 0.47% |
52-Week Price Return | 13.35% | -4.38% |
Month-to-Date Return | 4.17% | 10.31% |
Year-to-Date Return | 6.83% | 0.44% |
10-Day Avg. Volume | 2.34M | 3.25M |
3-Month Avg. Volume | 2.24M | 2.90M |
3-Month Volatility | 17.98% | 18.84% |
Beta | 0.99 | 0.58 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
COST
31.13%
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail Industry
- Max
- 34.20%
- Q3
- 21.61%
- Median
- 13.70%
- Q1
- 5.18%
- Min
- -9.87%
In the upper quartile for the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail 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.
TSN
4.26%
Food Products Industry
- Max
- 27.15%
- Q3
- 15.66%
- Median
- 10.47%
- Q1
- 7.82%
- Min
- -2.46%
TSN’s Return on Equity of 4.26% is in the lower quartile for the Food Products industry. This indicates a less efficient generation of profit from its equity base when compared to its competitors.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
COST
2.92%
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail Industry
- Max
- 7.16%
- Q3
- 3.87%
- Median
- 2.44%
- Q1
- 1.65%
- Min
- -0.70%
COST’s Net Profit Margin of 2.92% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
TSN
1.45%
Food Products Industry
- Max
- 18.44%
- Q3
- 9.92%
- Median
- 6.38%
- Q1
- 4.13%
- Min
- -0.92%
Falling into the lower quartile for the Food Products industry, TSN’s Net Profit Margin of 1.45% indicates weaker profitability. This means the company retains a smaller portion of each dollar in sales as profit compared to its competitors.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
COST
3.75%
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail Industry
- Max
- 9.42%
- Q3
- 5.29%
- Median
- 4.03%
- Q1
- 2.22%
- Min
- -1.85%
COST’s Operating Profit Margin of 3.75% is around the midpoint for the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
TSN
2.77%
Food Products Industry
- Max
- 24.83%
- Q3
- 14.27%
- Median
- 9.73%
- Q1
- 6.26%
- Min
- -0.10%
TSN’s Operating Profit Margin of 2.77% is in the lower quartile for the Food Products industry. This indicates weaker profitability from core operations, which may stem from inefficiencies or competitive pressures on pricing.
Profitability at a Glance
Symbol | COST | TSN |
---|---|---|
Return on Equity (TTM) | 31.13% | 4.26% |
Return on Assets (TTM) | 10.75% | 2.13% |
Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 2.92% | 1.45% |
Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 3.75% | 2.77% |
Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 12.78% | 7.53% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
COST
1.02
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail Industry
- Max
- 1.80
- Q3
- 1.25
- Median
- 0.97
- Q1
- 0.82
- Min
- 0.52
COST’s Current Ratio of 1.02 aligns with the median group of the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
TSN
1.73
Food Products Industry
- Max
- 3.80
- Q3
- 2.40
- Median
- 1.61
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- 0.55
TSN’s Current Ratio of 1.73 aligns with the median group of the Food Products industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
COST
0.21
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail Industry
- Max
- 3.44
- Q3
- 1.56
- Median
- 1.00
- Q1
- 0.30
- Min
- 0.00
Falling into the lower quartile for the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry, COST’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.21 points to a conservative financing strategy. This results in lower financial risk but potentially limits strategic investments compared to more leveraged competitors.
TSN
0.49
Food Products Industry
- Max
- 1.87
- Q3
- 0.90
- Median
- 0.48
- Q1
- 0.24
- Min
- 0.00
TSN’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.49 is typical for the Food Products industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
COST
91.27
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail Industry
- Max
- 24.36
- Q3
- 14.71
- Median
- 6.25
- Q1
- 3.16
- Min
- -10.70
With an Interest Coverage Ratio of 91.27, COST demonstrates a superior capacity to service its debt, placing it well above the typical range for the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry. This stems from either robust earnings or a conservative debt load.
TSN
4.11
Food Products Industry
- Max
- 70.39
- Q3
- 32.08
- Median
- 9.51
- Q1
- 4.55
- Min
- -1.69
In the lower quartile for the Food Products industry, TSN’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 4.11 indicates a tighter cushion for servicing debt, suggesting less financial flexibility than many of its competitors.
Financial Strength at a Glance
Symbol | COST | TSN |
---|---|---|
Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.02 | 1.73 |
Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 0.52 | 0.78 |
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.21 | 0.49 |
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 91.27 | 4.11 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
COST
0.35%
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail Industry
- Max
- 6.63%
- Q3
- 3.17%
- Median
- 1.35%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
COST’s Dividend Yield of 0.35% is consistent with its peers in the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
TSN
3.53%
Food Products Industry
- Max
- 7.43%
- Q3
- 4.12%
- Median
- 2.67%
- Q1
- 1.57%
- Min
- 0.00%
TSN’s Dividend Yield of 3.53% is consistent with its peers in the Food Products industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
COST
25.50%
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail Industry
- Max
- 163.46%
- Q3
- 90.34%
- Median
- 52.13%
- Q1
- 20.46%
- Min
- 0.00%
COST’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 25.50% is within the typical range for the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
TSN
88.65%
Food Products Industry
- Max
- 202.50%
- Q3
- 109.53%
- Median
- 67.28%
- Q1
- 39.33%
- Min
- 0.00%
TSN’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 88.65% is within the typical range for the Food Products industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
Dividend at a Glance
Symbol | COST | TSN |
---|---|---|
Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.35% | 3.53% |
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 25.50% | 88.65% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
COST
55.52
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail Industry
- Max
- 49.92
- Q3
- 31.34
- Median
- 23.38
- Q1
- 17.55
- Min
- 6.19
At 55.52, COST’s P/E Ratio is exceptionally high, exceeding the typical maximum for the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry. This suggests the stock may be significantly overvalued compared to its peers and implies high market expectations that could be difficult to meet.
TSN
25.13
Food Products Industry
- Max
- 35.81
- Q3
- 22.88
- Median
- 17.13
- Q1
- 13.91
- Min
- 2.77
A P/E Ratio of 25.13 places TSN in the upper quartile for the Food Products industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company’s future growth.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
COST
1.62
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail Industry
- Max
- 1.88
- Q3
- 1.00
- Median
- 0.55
- Q1
- 0.40
- Min
- 0.06
COST’s P/S Ratio of 1.62 is in the upper echelon for the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail 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.
TSN
0.36
Food Products Industry
- Max
- 3.63
- Q3
- 1.86
- Median
- 1.14
- Q1
- 0.68
- Min
- 0.12
In the lower quartile for the Food Products industry, TSN’s P/S Ratio of 0.36 indicates its revenue is valued more conservatively than most of its peers. This could present a compelling opportunity if the market has overlooked its sales-generating capabilities.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
COST
16.62
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail Industry
- Max
- 9.74
- Q3
- 4.99
- Median
- 2.88
- Q1
- 1.77
- Min
- 0.46
At 16.62, COST’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail 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.
TSN
1.09
Food Products Industry
- Max
- 5.01
- Q3
- 2.76
- Median
- 1.98
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- 0.52
TSN’s P/B Ratio of 1.09 is in the lower quartile for the Food Products industry. From a value investing perspective, this is favorable, as it suggests the stock is trading at a discount to its net asset value and may offer a greater margin of safety.
Valuation at a Glance
Symbol | COST | TSN |
---|---|---|
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 55.52 | 25.13 |
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 1.62 | 0.36 |
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 16.62 | 1.09 |
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 59.51 | 11.76 |