Both stocks run through our valuation models. Here is how Costco Wholesale (COST) and Altria (MO) compare, as of Aug 14, 2026.
As of Aug 14, 2026, Fair Value Calculator sees Altria as the more attractively valued of the two: Costco Wholesale trades at $962 versus a fair value of $384 (-60%), while Altria trades at $65.08 versus $81.81 (+26%).
Costco Wholesale
COST · USD · Consumer Staples
-60%
upside to fair value
overvalued
Price$962
Fair Value$384
Quality67/100
Altria
MO · USD · Consumer Staples
+26%
upside to fair value
undervalued
Price$65.08
Fair Value$81.81
Quality85/100
Head-to-head numbers
Green value = the better side for that row (for valuation multiples: lower = cheaper).
Costco WholesaleAltria
Valuation
46.1×P/E (TTM)13.9×
1.38×P/S (TTM)5.93×
13.93×P/B—
28.9×EV/EBITDA8.9×
4.47×PEG1.65×
0.6%Dividend yield6.0%
$5.37Dividend per share$4.20
Profitability
3%Net margin40%
4%Operating margin62%
29%Return on equity—
9%Return on assets28%
Growth
22%Revenue growth (YoY)5%
6.6%Avg. growth/yr (3Y)-7.1%
10.5%Avg. growth/yr (5Y)-5.1%
Balance & size
0.20×Debt / equity—
$406BMarket cap$121B
healthyGrowth qualitymixed
Altria leads: 4 to 7 metric wins.
Dash = not meaningfully computable, for example with negative equity.
Quality in detail
The quality score, broken down into the same factor families as on the stock page, 0 to 100 per family.
Costco Wholesaleof which business quality 65 · market factors 49Altriaof which business quality 80 · market factors 58
ProfitabilityMargins and returns on capital today
73
82
Quality GrowthAre margins and returns improving?
42
32
CashflowEarnings quality: real cash, not paper profit
InvestmentDisciplined investing over empire-building
69
100
Low VolatilityCalm price path (market factor)
81
88
MomentumPrice trend over the last 3–12 months (market factor)
34
43
52W MomentumDistance to the 52-week high (market factor)
39
48
Net IssuanceBuybacks instead of dilution
82
100
What the models say
The median fair value (base case) per model family, each in the currency of its trading venue. Green = above the current price, red = below.
Costco Wholesale
DCF Models$424
Earnings-Based$202
Dividend Discount$94.03
Multiples$353
Asset-Based$44.06
Growth DCF$401
Economic Profit$224
Growth Earnings$315
26 of 26 models see the stock below the current price.
Altria
DCF Models$60.89
Earnings-Based$53.39
Dividend Discount$44.95
Multiples$87.36
Growth DCF$43.59
Economic Profit$73.52
Growth Earnings$66.10
12 of 21 models see the stock below the current price.
Scenario ranges
From our cautious bear case to the optimistic bull case. The white tick is the current price: left of fair value means room to run.
Costco Wholesale
Bear $260Fair Value $384Bull $479
$962 = current price (white tick)
Altria
Bear $65.52Fair Value $81.81Bull $106
$65.08 = current price (white tick)
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Ranked within their sector
Where each stock sits within its sector peer group. Band = middle 50% of peers, tick = median, dot = this stock.
Costco Wholesale · Consumer Staples
Quality score67 · Top 25%
Fair value upside-60% · bottom 25%
Altria · Consumer Staples
Quality score85 · Top 25%
Fair value upside+26% · above median
Bottom line
As of Aug 14, 2026, Fair Value Calculator sees Altria as the more attractively valued of the two: Costco Wholesale trades at $962 versus a fair value of $384 (-60%), while Altria trades at $65.08 versus $81.81 (+26%).
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A model-based valuation snapshot from 21 models. Values change with price and fundamentals; the date shown above applies.
