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Best Stock to Buy Right Now: Costco vs. Coca-Cola
The Motley Foolยท 2025-11-16 16:23
Core Viewpoint - Coca-Cola is currently more appealing to investors compared to Costco, primarily due to its higher dividend yield and better valuation metrics, while Costco offers stronger growth potential in the long term [1]. Dividend Analysis - Coca-Cola offers a dividend yield of nearly 2.9%, significantly higher than Costco's 0.6%, which is below the S&P 500 average [2]. - Coca-Cola has a long history of dividend consistency, having increased its dividend annually for over six decades, qualifying it as a Dividend King, while Costco has only 21 annual dividend hikes [3]. Valuation Metrics - Coca-Cola's price-to-earnings (P/E) and price-to-book (P/B) ratios are below their five-year averages, indicating it is fairly priced to slightly cheap [4]. - In contrast, Costco's P/S, P/E, and P/B ratios are all above their five-year averages, suggesting it appears expensive despite a 15% decline in stock price [5]. Growth Perspective - Costco has demonstrated stronger growth metrics, with revenue growing at an annualized rate of around 9% and earnings expanding at approximately 13% over the past decade [7]. - Coca-Cola's revenue has remained flat over the past decade, with earnings growing at just over 4% annually, indicating limited growth potential [7][8]. Market Performance - Costco's shares are down approximately 15%, marking the seventh drawdown in the past decade, but historical trends suggest a potential rebound [9]. - Coca-Cola's current market cap stands at $306 billion, while Costco's is at $409 billion, reflecting their respective positions in the market [6][9]. Investment Outlook - From a dividend and value investment perspective, Coca-Cola is likely to be more attractive than Costco at this time [10]. - However, for growth investors, Costco presents a more compelling long-term opportunity, albeit at a premium price [11].