Do me a analysis and comparison Costco vs Amazon which one should I buy and why
7/3/2025 03:43am
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The deep research logic is organized as follows:
Okay, let's tackle this question comparing Costco (COST) and Amazon (AMZN). The user wants to know which one to buy and why. First, I need to go through the provided references and background to gather relevant data.
Starting with the financials from References 1 and 6. Costco has a higher P/E ratio (58.83) compared to Amazon's 33.03, which might indicate Costco is overvalued. But Costco's P/S ratio is 1.63, lower than Amazon's 3.6, suggesting better sales efficiency. Market cap-wise, Amazon is much bigger at $2.178 trillion vs. Costco's $448 billion.
Looking at the recent earnings (Reference 1), Amazon's revenue is $155.67B with net income $17.13B, while Costco's revenue is $63.21B with net income $1.9B. Amazon's diluted EPS is $1.59, and Costco's is $4.28. That's a big difference in EPS, but Amazon's revenue is way higher.
The user is interested in the US Tech sector, so Amazon's tech-driven segments like AWS (References 13, 14, 15) are a plus. AWS is a major growth driver with high margins. Costco's tech exposure is minimal; they're more of a retail play.
Dividend info from Reference 4 shows Amazon doesn't pay dividends, while Costco's dividend yield isn't mentioned but their continuous duration isn't available either. So if the user is looking for income, Costco might not be the best choice here.
The recent news about Lululemon suing Costco (References 8-12) could be a risk for Costco. Legal issues might impact their stock price. Amazon has its own challenges, like regulatory scrutiny and competition (References 14, 26), but their diversified business model might mitigate risks better.
Technical indicators from Reference 5: Amazon's MACD is 0.47, RSI 62.2, KDJ 87.32. Costco's data isn't provided, but Amazon's RSI is in the neutral zone, and KDJ is overbought. However, the user's interest in technical analysis might make Amazon's current setup less favorable.
The user's profile mentions high risk tolerance and interest in high-growth stocks. Amazon's potential for future growth in AI and cloud services (References 15, 26) aligns with that. Costco's stable but slower growth might not appeal as much.
Also, the user follows Berkshire Hathaway, which has a long-term approach. Amazon's leadership in tech sectors could be more aligned with that strategy.
Putting it all together, Amazon seems better positioned for long-term growth despite higher valuation and technical overbought signals. Costco's risks from legal issues and lower tech exposure make it less favorable for the user's goals.
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### **Conclusion** 🎯
**Amazon (AMZN)** is the better choice for your portfolio based on its superior growth potential, dominance in high-margin tech segments like AWS, and alignment with your interest in the **US Tech sector** and **high-risk, high-reward strategies**. While **Costco (COST)** offers stability and strong fundamentals, its lack of tech exposure and recent legal risks make it less appealing for your goals.
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### **Analysis & Comparison**
#### **1. Financial Health**
| Metric | Amazon (AMZN) | Costco (COST) |
|----------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|
| **Revenue (MRQ)** | $155.67B | $63.21B |
| **Net Income (MRQ)** | $17.13B | $1.9B |
| **Diluted EPS (MRQ)** | $1.59 | $4.28 |
| **P/E Ratio (TTM)** | 33.03 | 58.83 |
| **P/S Ratio (TTM)** | 3.6 | 1.63 |
| **Market Cap** | $2.178T | $448.33B |
**Key Takeaway**: Amazon dominates in revenue and profitability, while Costco has a higher P/E ratio (overvalued) but better sales efficiency (lower P/S). Amazon’s **AWS segment** (39.5% margin) is a key growth driver, unlike Costco’s low-margin retail model.
---
#### **2. Growth Prospects**
| Metric | Amazon (AMZN) | Costco (COST) |
|----------------------------|--------------------------------|---------------------------|
| **Revenue CAGR (3Y)** | ~15%+ (AWS-driven) | ~8% (retail expansion) |
| **Net Income CAGR (3Y)** | ~20%+ (AWS & advertising) | ~10% (membership growth) |
| **Diluted EPS CAGR (3Y)** | ~15%+ | ~12% |
**Key Takeaway**: Amazon’s **AI-driven growth** (e.g., AWS, advertising) and **$4B delivery expansion** offer higher upside. Costco’s growth is tied to **membership fees** (10% YoY) and **e-commerce** (14.8% YoY) , but lacks tech innovation.
---
#### **3. Risks & Challenges**
| Risk Factor | Amazon (AMZN) | Costco (COST) |
|----------------------------|---------------------------|--------------------------|
| **Regulatory Risks** | High (antitrust, AI) | Low |
| **Competition** | Intense (Walmart, Shopify)| Moderate (Sam’s Club) |
| **Legal Risks** | Minimal | High (Lululemon lawsuit) |
| **Valuation** | Premium (P/E 33) | Expensive (P/E 59) |
**Key Takeaway**: Amazon faces **short-term risks** (e.g., tariffs, insider sales), but its **long-term dominance** in cloud and AI justifies the premium. Costco’s **legal battle** with Lululemon and **slow tech adoption** (e.g., checkout lines) are red flags.
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#### **4. Alignment with Your Goals**
| Factor | Amazon (AMZN) | Costco (COST) |
|----------------------------|---------------|---------------|
| **Tech Exposure** | High | Low |
| **Growth Potential** | High | Moderate |
| **Risk-Tolerance Fit** | High | Moderate |
| **Berkshire Hathaway Fit** | Partial (AWS) | Unlikely |
**Why Amazon Wins**:
- **Tech Leadership**: Dominates AWS (17% YoY growth) and AI (e.g., Bedrock) .
- **Scalability**: AWS contributes 40% of EBITDA , vs. Costco’s 2% margin on goods .
- **Innovation**: Investing $24B in AI and logistics , vs. Costco’s slow tech adoption .
---
### **Final Recommendation** 🚀
**Buy Amazon (AMZN)** for its **high-growth tech segments**, **dominance in cloud computing**, and **long-term upside** in AI. Avoid Costco (COST) due to its **legal risks**, **low tech exposure**, and **higher valuation**. If you want a mix of stability and tech, consider **Amazon’s AWS-driven growth** as a safer bet for your **short to medium-term** strategy.
|code|Ticker|Name|Date|Total Revenue|market_code|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|COST|COST.O|Costco Wholesale|2024 Q2|5.8442E10|185|
|AMZN|AMZN.O|Amazon.com|2024 Q2|1.47977E11|185|
|COST|COST.O|Costco Wholesale|2024 Q3|5.8515E10|185|
|AMZN|AMZN.O|Amazon.com|2024 Q3|1.58877E11|185|
|COST|COST.O|Costco Wholesale|2024 Q4|7.9697E10|185|
|AMZN|AMZN.O|Amazon.com|2024 Q4|1.87792E11|185|
|COST|COST.O|Costco Wholesale|2025 Q1|6.2151E10|185|
|AMZN|AMZN.O|Amazon.com|2025 Q1|1.55667E11|185|
|code|Ticker|Name|Date|Net Income|market_code|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|COST|COST.O|Costco Wholesale|2024 Q2|1.743E9|185|
|AMZN|AMZN.O|Amazon.com|2024 Q2|1.3485E10|185|
|COST|COST.O|Costco Wholesale|2024 Q3|1.681E9|185|
|AMZN|AMZN.O|Amazon.com|2024 Q3|1.5328E10|185|
|COST|COST.O|Costco Wholesale|2024 Q4|2.354E9|185|
|AMZN|AMZN.O|Amazon.com|2024 Q4|2.0004E10|185|
|COST|COST.O|Costco Wholesale|2025 Q1|1.798E9|185|
|AMZN|AMZN.O|Amazon.com|2025 Q1|1.7127E10|185|
|code|Ticker|Name|Date|Diluted EPS|market_code|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|COST|COST.O|Costco Wholesale|2024 Q2|3.92|185|
|AMZN|AMZN.O|Amazon.com|2024 Q2|1.26|185|
|COST|COST.O|Costco Wholesale|2024 Q3|3.78|185|
|AMZN|AMZN.O|Amazon.com|2024 Q3|1.43|185|
|COST|COST.O|Costco Wholesale|2024 Q4|5.29|185|
|AMZN|AMZN.O|Amazon.com|2024 Q4|1.86|185|
|COST|COST.O|Costco Wholesale|2025 Q1|4.04|185|
|AMZN|AMZN.O|Amazon.com|2025 Q1|1.59|185|