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COST or KVUE or PM
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Kenvue (KVUE) vs. Philip Morris International (PM) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- COST leads with robust Q2 earnings growth of 13% and YTD returns around 16%, driven by membership fees and sales momentum in recent market activity.
- KVUE offers value with a forward P/E of 16 and 4.5% dividend yield, bolstered by Q4 earnings beats amid acquisition talks with Kimberly-Clark.
- PM provides high yield at ~4% with 19.7% one-year returns, though recent earnings misses pressured shares amid smoke-free transitions.
- Consumer staples exposure unites them, but COST shows superior stability, KVUE undervaluation, and PM income appeal.
- Relative performance highlights COST's outperformance versus peers, with all three navigating volatility through defensive traits.
Introduction
This stock comparison examines COST, KVUE, and PM, three consumer staples giants offering resilience in uncertain markets. COST dominates warehouse retail, KVUE leads consumer health, and PM navigates tobacco's evolution. Traders seeking momentum and investors eyeing dividends or value plays will find insights into recent performance, valuation sensitivity, and sector positioning. Amid shifting sentiment and economic pressures, understanding their relative strengths aids informed portfolio decisions in the current environment.
COST Overview and Recent Performance
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) operates membership-based warehouses globally, emphasizing bulk sales of branded and private-label goods for high-volume, low-margin efficiency. Its business thrives on renewal rates over 90% and e-commerce growth. In recent weeks, shares hovered near $998 post-Q2 earnings, where revenue hit $69.6 billion (up 9%) and EPS reached $4.58, beating estimates amid steady traffic and membership gains. Sentiment remains positive from consistent outperformance, with YTD returns at 15.7% versus the S&P 500's 1.5%, fueled by resilient consumer demand despite broader retail pressures.
KVUE Overview and Recent Performance
Kenvue Inc. (KVUE) focuses on consumer health products like Tylenol and Neutrogena across self-care, skin health, and essential health segments. Spun from Johnson & Johnson, it leverages strong brands in over-the-counter medicines and beauty. Recent market activity saw shares around $18.25, supported by Q4 earnings beats with margin improvements and organic growth, despite softer U.S. volumes. Progress toward a Kimberly-Clark acquisition has mixed institutional sentiment, but YTD gains near 5-7% reflect value appeal in a competitive sector, with forward P/E at 16.
PM Overview and Recent Performance
Philip Morris International Inc. (PM) is a global tobacco leader shifting to smoke-free products like IQOS, operating in over 100 markets. Its model balances combustibles with reduced-risk alternatives for sustained revenue. Shares traded near $170 recently after Q4 results showed revenue alignment but EPS misses, leading to a 5% dip amid delisting concerns and regulatory scrutiny. One-year returns stand at 19.7%, outpacing peers, with a $1.47 quarterly dividend reinforcing yield appeal, though margin pressures persist in the transition.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
COST, KVUE, and PM span consumer staples but diverge in models: COST's fee-driven retail scales via volumes, KVUE's brand portfolio emphasizes health innovation, and PM's pricing power navigates regulations. Growth drivers include COST's 9% sales momentum, KVUE's acquisition catalysts, and PM's smoke-free shift. Recent momentum favors COST (YTD +16%), over PM (+~13% estimated) and KVUE (+6%). Risks: COST valuation stretch (high P/E), KVUE competition/integration, PM regulatory headwinds. KVUE leads valuation sensitivity (forward P/E 16, yield 4.5%), while sentiment tilts to COST's stability.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently favors COST for its trend consistency, earnings beats, and defensive positioning amid volatility. Strong membership growth and relative outperformance signal higher probability of near-term upside, though KVUE's value and PM's yield offer alternatives based on income or catalysts.
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 disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
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 2 FA rating(s) are green whileKVUE’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s), and PM’s FA Score reflects 3 green FA rating(s).
- COST’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- KVUE’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- PM’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 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 7 TA indicator(s) are bullish while KVUE’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s), and PM’s TA Score reflects 5 bullish TA indicator(s).
- COST’s TA Score: 7 bullish, 4 bearish.
- KVUE’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 5 bearish.
- PM’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
COST (@Discount Stores) experienced а +1.68% price change this week, while KVUE (@Household/Personal Care) price change was +1.69% , and PM (@Tobacco) price fluctuated +1.99% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Discount Stores industry was +0.71%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -1.87%, and the average quarterly price growth was +11.43%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Household/Personal Care industry was +2.02%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -0.74%, and the average quarterly price growth was -7.71%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Tobacco industry was +1.70%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +1.58%, and the average quarterly price growth was -7.40%.
Reported Earning Dates
COST is expected to report earnings on Jul 29, 2026.
KVUE is expected to report earnings on May 13, 2026.
PM is expected to report earnings on Apr 22, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Discount Stores (+0.71% 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.
@Household/Personal Care (+2.02% weekly)Household/Personal Care companies sell products for home cleaning and/or personal hygiene and grooming purposes. Products of this industry include detergents, shampoos, soaps, cosmetics, fabric conditioners and infant care fragrances. Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Estee Lauder and Colgate-Palmolive are some of the biggest names in the business. A lot of the products become a necessary part of people’s daily routine, and therefore the industry is relatively less vulnerable to macroeconomic downturns. At the same time, product quality, consumer safety, and ease of use are extremely critical factors for a company to survive competition and earn recognition in this industry.
@Tobacco (+1.70% weekly)The industry is engaged in the growth, preparation for sale, advertisement, and distribution of tobacco and tobacco-related products like cigarettes. In 2017, tobacco companies spent an estimated $9.36 billion marketing cigarettes and smokeless tobacco in the U.S. – an amount that translates to more than $25 million each day (according to a CDC report). Philip Morris International Inc., Altria Group Inc., and British American Tobacco plc are some major cigar makers. In recent times, vaping or the use of e-cigarette (does not burn tobacco) is gaining momentum – several established cigarette makers are trying to expand their footprint in this new market.
| COST | KVUE | PM | |
| Capitalization | 458B | 33.4B | 251B |
| EBITDA | 13.7B | 2.99B | 17.5B |
| Gain YTD | 19.841 | 2.201 | 1.427 |
| P/E Ratio | 53.67 | 22.93 | 22.20 |
| Revenue | 280B | 15.1B | 40.6B |
| Total Cash | 17.2B | 1.06B | N/A |
| Total Debt | 8.1B | 8.67B | 48.8B |
COST | PM | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 21 | 16 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 94 Overvalued | 23 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 9 | 16 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 31 | 3 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 35 | 57 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 66 | 73 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 |
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.
PM's Valuation (23) in the Tobacco industry is significantly better than the same rating for COST (94) in the Specialty Stores industry. This means that PM’s stock grew significantly faster than COST’s over the last 12 months.
COST's Profit vs Risk Rating (9) in the Specialty Stores industry is in the same range as PM (16) in the Tobacco industry. This means that COST’s stock grew similarly to PM’s over the last 12 months.
PM's SMR Rating (3) in the Tobacco industry is in the same range as COST (31) in the Specialty Stores industry. This means that PM’s stock grew similarly to COST’s over the last 12 months.
COST's Price Growth Rating (35) in the Specialty Stores industry is in the same range as PM (57) in the Tobacco industry. This means that COST’s stock grew similarly to PM’s over the last 12 months.
COST's P/E Growth Rating (66) in the Specialty Stores industry is in the same range as PM (73) in the Tobacco industry. This means that COST’s stock grew similarly to PM’s over the last 12 months.
| COST | KVUE | PM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 33% | 1 day ago 62% | 1 day ago 77% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 37% | 1 day ago 58% | 1 day ago 45% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 67% | 1 day ago 54% | 1 day ago 48% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 63% | N/A | 1 day ago 47% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 66% | 1 day ago 55% | 1 day ago 56% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 62% | 1 day ago 61% | 1 day ago 51% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 64% | 1 day ago 55% | 1 day ago 57% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 18 days ago 38% | 11 days ago 64% | 21 days ago 47% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 33% | 1 day ago 50% | 3 days ago 68% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 55% | 1 day ago 61% | 1 day ago 41% |
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| HVAC | 37.58 | 0.76 | +2.06% |
| Advisorshares HVAC And Industrials ETF | |||
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| Global X NASDAQ 100® Collar 95-110 ETF | |||
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| State Street® SPDR® Blmbg ST HY Bd ETF | |||
| MVFD | 29.50 | 0.02 | +0.06% |
| Monarch Volume Factor Dividend Tree ETF | |||
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 62% 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% | +0.17% | ||
| WMT - COST | 62% Loosely correlated | +1.47% | ||
| BJ - COST | 45% Loosely correlated | -1.58% | ||
| OLLI - COST | 32% Poorly correlated | -5.05% | ||
| PSMT - COST | 31% Poorly correlated | +2.94% | ||
| TGT - COST | 23% Poorly correlated | +0.74% | ||
More | ||||
KVUE and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, KVUE has been loosely correlated with KMB. These tickers have moved in lockstep 39% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if KVUE jumps, then KMB could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To KVUE | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KVUE | 100% | +0.52% | ||
| KMB - KVUE | 39% Loosely correlated | +0.99% | ||
| CL - KVUE | 31% Poorly correlated | +0.57% | ||
| PG - KVUE | 30% Poorly correlated | +1.21% | ||
| UL - KVUE | 28% Poorly correlated | +0.36% | ||
| CLX - KVUE | 28% Poorly correlated | +1.85% | ||
More | ||||
PM and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, PM has been loosely correlated with BTI. These tickers have moved in lockstep 56% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if PM jumps, then BTI could also see price increases.