Costco Wholesale (COST) Stock Analysis

September 7, 2026

This is a peer-relative look at Costco Wholesale (COST): its performance, risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividend, and valuation are each measured against its Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail peers, so every number reads in context rather than in isolation.

Company Profile

Company profile fields for Costco Wholesale (COST)
Profile Item	COST
Name	Costco Wholesale Corporation
Country/Region	United States
GICS Sector	Consumer Staples
GICS Industry Group	Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail
GICS Industry	Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail
GICS Sub-Industry	Consumer Staples Merchandise Retail
Market Capitalization	406.11 billion USD
Currency	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq
Listing Date	July 9, 1986
Security Type	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

COST

GSPC

Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Costco Wholesale (COST) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Costco Wholesale (COST) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Costco Wholesale (COST) metric values compared with Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: COST	Industry group median
Total Return (1Y)	-3.64%	14.87%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	20.53%	13.50%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	15.88%	9.51%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

COST

GSPC

Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Costco Wholesale (COST) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Costco Wholesale (COST) metric values compared with Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: COST	Industry group median
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	19.94%	35.96%
Beta (5Y)	0.88	0.64
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-31.40%	-37.11%

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Each dot is a stock plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. COST is highlighted; the dashed line is the Capital Allocation Line from the risk-free rate through the industry median — dots above it are stronger on a risk-adjusted basis.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Costco Wholesale (COST) metric values compared with Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: COST	Industry group median
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.39	0.25
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.54	0.36

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Costco Wholesale (COST) posts ROE of 29.15%, in the upper peer quartile. That suggests the company earns more from each dollar of shareholders’ equity than most industry peers, a useful capital-efficiency signal.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

29.15%

Group distribution

Max: 35.20%
COST: 29.15%
Q3: 22.31%
Median: 15.25%
Q1: 7.33%
Min: -2.30%

Largest peers

SYY: 77.69%
COST: 29.15%
TGT: 26.41%
WMT: 22.31%
DG: 19.69%
CASY: 19.15%
KR: 13.78%

Where Costco Wholesale (COST) stands on ROE within its Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Net Margin (TTM)

Costco Wholesale (COST) keeps 3.01% of revenue as net profit, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal net margin range. Its full cost stack is taking a typical share of sales for the industry.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.01%

Group distribution

Max: 5.59%
Q3: 3.41%
COST: 3.01%
Median: 2.44%
Q1: 1.67%
Min: -0.12%

Largest peers

TGT: 4.08%
CASY: 4.07%
DG: 3.90%
COST: 3.01%
WMT: 3.00%
SYY: 2.08%
KR: 0.71%

Where Costco Wholesale (COST) stands on net margin within its Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Costco Wholesale (COST) turns 3.67% of revenue into operating profit, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal operating margin range. Its core cost structure looks typical for the industry.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.67%

Group distribution

Max: 7.49%
Q3: 5.70%
Median: 3.97%
COST: 3.67%
Q1: 1.89%
Min: 1.10%

Largest peers

DG: 6.81%
TGT: 6.04%
CASY: 5.35%
SYY: 4.85%
COST: 3.67%
WMT: 3.45%
KR: 3.22%

Where Costco Wholesale (COST) stands on operating margin within its Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Profitability Metrics

Costco Wholesale (COST) metric values compared with Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: COST	Industry group median
ROE (TTM)	29.15%	15.25%
ROA (TTM)	8.67%	5.69%
Net Margin (TTM)	3.01%	2.44%
Operating Margin (TTM)	3.67%	3.97%
Gross Margin (TTM)	12.88%	24.53%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Costco Wholesale (COST) grew revenue 8.17%, roughly around the peer group's normal range. Top-line momentum looks broadly typical for the industry.

Costco Wholesale (COST): Revenue Growth across different time periods, set against Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry-group medians.

EPS Growth

Costco Wholesale (COST) grew earnings per share 9.96%, roughly around the peer group's normal range. Bottom-line momentum looks broadly typical for the industry.

Costco Wholesale (COST): EPS Growth across different time periods, set against Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry-group medians.

Growth Metrics

Costco Wholesale (COST) metric values compared with Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: COST	Industry group median
Revenue Growth (YoY)	8.17%	5.61%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	6.64%	5.09%
EPS Growth (YoY)	9.96%	3.16%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	11.49%	10.78%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Costco Wholesale (COST) has current ratio of 1.07, in the healthier middle range for its industry. The short-term asset cushion looks balanced relative to peers rather than stretched thin.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.07

Group distribution

Max: 2.03
Q3: 1.45
Median: 1.19
COST: 1.07
Q1: 1.00
Min: 0.68

Largest peers

SYY: 1.28
DG: 1.21
COST: 1.07
CASY: 1.01
TGT: 0.99
KR: 0.79
WMT: 0.77

Where Costco Wholesale (COST) stands on current ratio within its Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Costco Wholesale (COST) has debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, in the lower-leverage quartile for its industry. Borrowing is modest relative to equity compared with most peers, which can leave more flexibility through a cycle.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.60

Group distribution

Max: 3.73
Q3: 1.90
Median: 1.26
Q1: 0.68
COST: 0.60
Min: 0.01

Largest peers

SYY: 5.65
KR: 3.73
DG: 1.70
TGT: 1.08
CASY: 0.74
WMT: 0.72
COST: 0.60

Where Costco Wholesale (COST) stands on debt-to-equity ratio within its Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Financial Strength Metrics

Costco Wholesale (COST) metric values compared with Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: COST	Industry group median
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.07	1.19
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.60	1.26
Net Debt / EBITDA	-0.07	2.64

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Costco Wholesale (COST) has dividend yield of 0.58%, in the industry’s normal income range. It provides a meaningful dividend without the red flag of an unusually high headline yield.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.58%

Group distribution

Max: 2.78%
Q3: 1.80%
COST: 0.58%
Median: 0.44%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

TGT: 2.78%
SYY: 2.68%
DG: 1.80%
KR: 1.79%
WMT: 0.89%
COST: 0.58%
CASY: 0.30%

Where Costco Wholesale (COST) stands on dividend yield within its Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Costco Wholesale (COST) has payout ratio of 27.01%, within the industry’s typical payout band. The dividend shares profits with investors while leaving earnings coverage that looks normal for the peer group.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

27.01%

Group distribution

Max: 59.29%
Q3: 29.94%
COST: 27.01%
Median: 11.99%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

KR: 80.12%
SYY: 59.29%
TGT: 47.30%
WMT: 34.96%
DG: 30.65%
COST: 27.01%
CASY: 11.90%

Where Costco Wholesale (COST) stands on payout ratio within its Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Metrics

Costco Wholesale (COST) metric values compared with Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: COST	Industry group median
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.58%	0.44%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	27.01%	11.99%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Costco Wholesale (COST) trades at P/E ratio of 46.09, in the richer earnings-multiple quartile for its industry. That premium needs support from growth, durable earnings, or stronger business quality.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

46.09

Group distribution

Max: 54.46
COST: 46.09
Q3: 37.68
Median: 21.21
Q1: 16.34
Min: 11.82

Largest peers

COST: 46.09
CASY: 39.52
WMT: 38.82
KR: 34.26
SYY: 21.87
DG: 17.30
TGT: 17.06

Where Costco Wholesale (COST) stands on P/E ratio within its Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Costco Wholesale (COST) trades at 1.38 on P/S ratio, in the higher sales-valuation quartile. Investors are paying up for each dollar of revenue, so stronger margins, growth, or revenue quality need to carry that price.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.38

Group distribution

Max: 1.59
COST: 1.38
Q3: 0.92
Median: 0.47
Q1: 0.25
Min: 0.03

Largest peers

CASY: 1.59
COST: 1.38
WMT: 1.16
TGT: 0.69
DG: 0.67
SYY: 0.45
KR: 0.24

Where Costco Wholesale (COST) stands on P/S ratio within its Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Costco Wholesale (COST) trades at 24.57 on P/B ratio, above the industry benchmark range. Investors are putting an unusually rich price on each dollar of book equity relative to peers.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

24.57

Group distribution

COST: 24.57
Max: 9.04
Q3: 7.06
Median: 4.19
Q1: 2.31
Min: 0.94

Largest peers

COST: 24.57
SYY: 14.37
WMT: 9.04
CASY: 7.06
KR: 6.33
TGT: 4.19
DG: 3.16

Where Costco Wholesale (COST) stands on P/B ratio within its Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Valuation Metrics

Costco Wholesale (COST) metric values compared with Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: COST	Industry group median
P/E Ratio (TTM)	46.09	21.21
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.38	0.47
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	24.57	4.19
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.71%	4.26%