Advertisement
COST vs MDLZ
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Mondelez International (MDLZ) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- COST has delivered strong YTD gains of approximately 17%, outperforming the S&P 500's modest 0.5% return, driven by membership growth and warehouse expansion.
- MDLZ shows YTD performance around 14%, supported by resilient snacking demand but pressured by cocoa inflation and muted volume growth.
- COST trades at a premium trailing P/E of 54x with a 0.5% dividend yield, reflecting defensive retail stability, while MDLZ offers a higher 3.25% yield at 32x P/E amid consumer staples exposure.
- Recent market activity highlights COST's momentum from digital enhancements and tariff-related opportunities, contrasting MDLZ's navigation of input cost challenges.
- Both stocks exhibit low beta profiles (COST 1.01, MDLZ 0.40), appealing for relative stability in volatile conditions.
Introduction
Comparing COST and MDLZ offers insights into defensive sectors: warehouse retail versus packaged snacks. Both operate in consumer staples, providing essential goods resilient to economic shifts, but differ in business models—membership-driven bulk sales for Costco versus branded confectionery for Mondelez. Traders seeking relative performance edges and investors eyeing stability in current market positioning will find this stock comparison valuable, particularly amid recent volatility from commodity pressures and retail expansions. This analysis draws on verifiable data to highlight contrasts in momentum, valuation, and sentiment.
COST Overview and Recent Performance
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) operates membership warehouses globally, emphasizing high-volume, low-margin sales of groceries, electronics, and essentials under brands like Kirkland Signature. In recent market activity, COST shares have shown upward momentum, closing around $1,010 with YTD gains near 17%, outpacing the S&P 500. This reflects robust membership fee income growth of 14% in recent quarters and plans for 30 new warehouses annually, bolstering sentiment despite tariff lawsuits and oil price concerns. Digital initiatives like app-based scanning and strong comparable sales (up 8% recently) have supported performance, with gross margins at 12.88% underscoring cost discipline. Upcoming earnings on March 5 are anticipated to show EPS of $4.53, up 13% year-over-year.
MDLZ Overview and Recent Performance
Mondelez International, Inc. (MDLZ) is a global snacking leader with brands like Oreo, Cadbury, and Milka, focusing on biscuits, chocolate, and confectionery across 150+ countries. Recent weeks have seen MDLZ shares trade around $61, with YTD returns of about 14%, buoyed by Q4 revenue of $10.5 billion (up 9%) and adjusted EPS of $0.72. However, cocoa cost inflation has tempered volume/mix, leading to a cautious 2026 outlook of flat-to-2% organic growth despite 3-5% long-term targets. Europe and emerging markets contributed solidly, but price hikes have softened demand. Supply chain restructurings in North America and Europe aim to enhance efficiency, influencing mixed sentiment amid a low beta of 0.40 for stability.
Trending AI Robots
Tickeron’s Trending AI Robots page curates the top-performing AI trading bots from hundreds available, each deploying diverse strategies across thousands of tickers and timeframes like 5-minute to daily charts. Only those excelling in current conditions—such as high volatility in tech or commodities—earn a spot, with stats like annualized returns up to 120%, win rates of 60-85%, and profit factors exceeding 2.5 featured prominently. For instance, semiconductor bots show +100% returns with 70% win rates, while aerospace agents hit 89% annualized on 75% wins. These bots vary in focus, from swing trading dips in ETFs to hedging volatility, offering measurable edges over benchmarks. Explore the page to identify bots aligning with your style and market outlook.
Head-to-Head Comparison
COST and MDLZ both anchor consumer staples but diverge sharply. Costco’s membership model drives recurring fees (14% growth) and warehouse scalability (market cap $449B), fueling consistent momentum versus Mondelez’s brand-driven growth in snacking (market cap $79B), vulnerable to cocoa volatility. Recent relative performance favors COST with superior YTD gains and stability (P/E 54x, low debt-to-equity 0.19), trading off higher valuation for retail defensiveness against MDLZ’s value tilt (P/E 33x, 3.25% yield) amid input risks. Sector exposure contrasts bulk essentials versus discretionary treats, with COST benefiting from digital catalysts and MDLZ from emerging market tailwinds. Sentiment leans toward COST for trend strength, though MDLZ offers income appeal in uncertain conditions.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently favors COST due to stronger trend consistency, YTD outperformance, and catalysts like membership expansion and digital perks amid stable retail demand. While MDLZ holds appeal for yield and undervaluation potential post-cocoa peak, its volume pressures introduce higher near-term variability. Probabilistic edges point to COST for relative positioning in defensive rotations.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full Disclaimers and Limitations.
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is COST is a Hold and MDLZ is a Hold.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
COST’s FA Score shows that 3 FA rating(s) are green whileMDLZ’s FA Score has 2 green FA rating(s).
- COST’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 red.
- MDLZ’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
COST’s TA Score shows that 6 TA indicator(s) are bullish while MDLZ’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s).
- COST’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 4 bearish.
- MDLZ’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
COST (@Discount Stores) experienced а +2.88% price change this week, while MDLZ (@Food: Specialty/Candy) price change was -0.55% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Discount Stores industry was -2.23%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -3.18%, and the average quarterly price growth was +5.41%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Food: Specialty/Candy industry was +1.10%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -7.48%, and the average quarterly price growth was -0.93%.
Reported Earning Dates
COST is expected to report earnings on Jul 29, 2026.
MDLZ is expected to report earnings on Jul 28, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Discount Stores (-2.23% weekly)Companies in the discount stores industry specialize in offering substantial discounts on a vast array of retail products. Some companies in this industry also operate general merchandise warehouse clubs. Products sold at discount stores are typically similar to those of any department store, but the pricing of the goods is generally much lower (and hence the name “discount”). Think Dollar General Corporation, Dollar Tree, Inc. and Five Below, Inc. Many discount stores target low-income households and/or price-sensitive consumers as their potential market. Discount stores’ profitability could hinge on factors like competitive pricing, sufficient locations, healthy revenue per square foot, and effective advertisement. These store operators could have an edge over other retailers during financial crises or recessions, when many consumers could be looking for less expensive alternatives.
@Food: Specialty/Candy (+1.10% weekly)A specialty/candy manufacturer specializes in one or more of the following: chocolate, candies, pasta, condiments, seasonings, among other items. Hershey Company, McCormick & Company and J.M. Smucker Company are some of the major firms in this segment. Demand for this industry’s products comes from both institutions/restaurants as well as households.
| COST | MDLZ | COST / MDLZ | |
| Capitalization | 462B | 78.3B | 590% |
| EBITDA | 14.1B | 5.23B | 270% |
| Gain YTD | 21.087 | 14.245 | 148% |
| P/E Ratio | 54.15 | 30.18 | 179% |
| Revenue | 286B | 39.3B | 728% |
| Total Cash | 18.2B | 1.52B | 1,194% |
| Total Debt | 8.17B | 21.6B | 38% |
COST | MDLZ | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 17 | 69 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 94 Overvalued | 30 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 11 | 72 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 33 | 69 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 32 | 50 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 58 | 26 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 75 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
MDLZ's Valuation (30) in the Food Major Diversified industry is somewhat better than the same rating for COST (94) in the Specialty Stores industry. This means that MDLZ’s stock grew somewhat faster than COST’s over the last 12 months.
COST's Profit vs Risk Rating (11) in the Specialty Stores industry is somewhat better than the same rating for MDLZ (72) in the Food Major Diversified industry. This means that COST’s stock grew somewhat faster than MDLZ’s over the last 12 months.
COST's SMR Rating (33) in the Specialty Stores industry is somewhat better than the same rating for MDLZ (69) in the Food Major Diversified industry. This means that COST’s stock grew somewhat faster than MDLZ’s over the last 12 months.
COST's Price Growth Rating (32) in the Specialty Stores industry is in the same range as MDLZ (50) in the Food Major Diversified industry. This means that COST’s stock grew similarly to MDLZ’s over the last 12 months.
MDLZ's P/E Growth Rating (26) in the Food Major Diversified industry is in the same range as COST (58) in the Specialty Stores industry. This means that MDLZ’s stock grew similarly to COST’s over the last 12 months.
| COST | MDLZ | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 44% | 2 days ago 49% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 37% | 2 days ago 52% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 61% | 2 days ago 51% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 65% | 2 days ago 55% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 66% | 2 days ago 56% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 61% | 2 days ago 50% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 63% | 16 days ago 53% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 5 days ago 37% | 2 days ago 50% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 40% | 2 days ago 51% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 59% | 2 days ago 28% |
Advertisement
COST and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, COST has been loosely correlated with WMT. These tickers have moved in lockstep 57% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if COST jumps, then WMT could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To COST | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COST | 100% | +0.79% | ||
| WMT - COST | 57% Loosely correlated | +0.75% | ||
| BJ - COST | 46% Loosely correlated | +1.01% | ||
| PSMT - COST | 29% Poorly correlated | +1.03% | ||
| TGT - COST | 23% Poorly correlated | +1.32% | ||
| DLMAF - COST | 20% Poorly correlated | +1.54% | ||
More | ||||