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AVGO vs. COST: Broadcom vs. Costco Wholesale Stock Comparison

How do Broadcom (AVGO) and Costco Wholesale (COST) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Broadcom (AVGO) is classified in the Information Technology sector (Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment), whereas Costco Wholesale (COST) belongs to Consumer Staples (Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail) — their GICS classifications point to very different parts of the market.

Company profile comparison for Broadcom (AVGO) and Costco Wholesale (COST)
Profile ItemAVGOCOST
NameBroadcom Inc.Costco Wholesale Corp
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyConsumer Staples
GICS Industry GroupSemiconductors & Semiconductor EquipmentConsumer Staples Distribution & Retail
GICS IndustrySemiconductors & Semiconductor EquipmentConsumer Staples Distribution & Retail
GICS Sub-IndustrySemiconductorsConsumer Staples Merchandise Retail
Market Capitalization1,401.97 billion USD466.86 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateAugust 6, 2009July 9, 1986
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AVGO
COST
GSPC
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Broadcom (AVGO) vs. Costco Wholesale (COST), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 Broadcom (AVGO) and Costco Wholesale (COST). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Broadcom (AVGO) and Costco Wholesale (COST). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Broadcom (AVGO) and Costco Wholesale (COST)
MetricAVGOCOST
Total Return (1Y)-8.02%14.87%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)53.49%24.84%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)44.26%16.92%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AVGO
COST
GSPC
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Broadcom (AVGO) vs. Costco Wholesale (COST), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 Broadcom (AVGO) and Costco Wholesale (COST). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Broadcom (AVGO) and Costco Wholesale (COST)
MetricAVGOCOST
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)48.06%20.30%
Beta (5Y)1.500.84
Max Drawdown (5Y)-41.15%-31.40%
Avg. Volume (3M)23.75M2.15M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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AVGO and COST are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. Each dashed Capital Allocation Line uses that stock's own industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Broadcom (AVGO) and Costco Wholesale (COST)
MetricAVGOCOST
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.260.52
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.350.77

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Broadcom (AVGO) at 44.25% and Costco Wholesale (COST) at 28.40% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

AVGO

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

44.25%

Max
52.82%
AVGO
44.25%
Q3
22.26%
Median
10.58%
Q1
1.29%
Min
-16.89%

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

28.40%

Max
33.48%
COST
28.40%
Q3
22.31%
Median
15.57%
Q1
7.66%
Min
-2.27%
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Broadcom (AVGO) vs. Costco Wholesale (COST): A comparison of their ROE against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmarks.

Net Margin (TTM)

Broadcom (AVGO) at 42.94% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Costco Wholesale (COST) at 3.04%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

AVGO

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

42.94%

Max
63.80%
AVGO
42.94%
Q3
28.36%
Median
11.44%
Q1
0.90%
Min
-37.77%

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.04%

Max
5.45%
Q3
3.42%
COST
3.04%
Median
2.44%
Q1
1.86%
Min
-0.06%
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Broadcom (AVGO) vs. Costco Wholesale (COST): A comparison of their net margin against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmarks.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Broadcom (AVGO) at 54.31% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Costco Wholesale (COST) at 3.79%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

AVGO

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

54.31%

Max
58.66%
AVGO
54.31%
Q3
30.23%
Median
15.91%
Q1
7.54%
Min
-25.74%

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.79%

Max
6.81%
Q3
5.49%
Median
3.84%
COST
3.79%
Q1
2.00%
Min
0.97%
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Broadcom (AVGO) vs. Costco Wholesale (COST): A comparison of their operating margin against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmarks.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Broadcom (AVGO) and Costco Wholesale (COST)
MetricAVGOCOST
ROE (TTM)44.25%28.40%
ROA (TTM)15.37%8.66%
Net Margin (TTM)42.94%3.04%
Operating Margin (TTM)54.31%3.79%
Gross Margin (TTM)75.52%12.77%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Broadcom (AVGO) at 23.87% and Costco Wholesale (COST) at 10.14% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Broadcom (AVGO) vs. Costco Wholesale (COST): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Broadcom (AVGO) reports EPS growth of 287.80%, ranked against its industry; Costco Wholesale (COST) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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Broadcom (AVGO) vs. Costco Wholesale (COST): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Broadcom (AVGO) and Costco Wholesale (COST)
MetricAVGOCOST
Revenue Growth (YoY)23.87%10.14%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)24.38%7.76%
EPS Growth (YoY)287.80%--
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)21.60%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Broadcom (AVGO) at 2.50 and Costco Wholesale (COST) at 1.06 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

AVGO

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

2.50

Max
10.33
Q3
5.62
Median
3.33
AVGO
2.50
Q1
2.35
Min
1.03

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.06

Max
2.04
Q3
1.45
Median
1.17
COST
1.06
Q1
1.00
Min
0.69
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Broadcom (AVGO) vs. Costco Wholesale (COST): A comparison of their current ratio against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmarks.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Costco Wholesale (COST) at 0.28 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Broadcom (AVGO) at 0.60 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

AVGO

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.60

Max
1.46
Q3
0.65
AVGO
0.60
Median
0.27
Q1
0.04
Min
0.00

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.28

Max
2.59
Q3
1.83
Median
1.24
Q1
0.63
COST
0.28
Min
0.01
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Broadcom (AVGO) vs. Costco Wholesale (COST): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmarks.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Broadcom (AVGO) and Costco Wholesale (COST)
MetricAVGOCOST
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.501.06
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.600.28
Net Debt / EBITDA0.68-0.78

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Broadcom (AVGO) at 0.89% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 0.52% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, AVGO the richer one.

AVGO

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.89%

Max
1.37%
AVGO
0.89%
Q3
0.65%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.52%

Max
2.90%
Q3
1.72%
COST
0.52%
Median
0.43%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Broadcom (AVGO) vs. Costco Wholesale (COST): A comparison of their dividend yield against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Costco Wholesale (COST) at 26.69% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Broadcom (AVGO) at 32.44% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

AVGO

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

32.44%

Max
49.64%
AVGO
32.44%
Q3
21.71%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

26.69%

Max
57.98%
Q3
30.05%
COST
26.69%
Median
11.72%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Broadcom (AVGO) vs. Costco Wholesale (COST): A comparison of their payout ratio against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Broadcom (AVGO) and Costco Wholesale (COST)
MetricAVGOCOST
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.89%0.52%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)32.44%26.69%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Broadcom (AVGO) at 37.51 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 50.75 sits in the richer quartile — COST needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

AVGO

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

37.51

Max
110.34
Q3
66.81
AVGO
37.51
Median
37.02
Q1
23.96
Min
8.12

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

50.75

COST
50.75
Max
50.75
Q3
33.64
Median
22.19
Q1
16.09
Min
9.28
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Broadcom (AVGO) vs. Costco Wholesale (COST): A comparison of their P/E ratio against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmarks.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Broadcom (AVGO) at 15.73 and Costco Wholesale (COST) at 1.54 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

AVGO

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

15.73

Max
21.42
AVGO
15.73
Q3
12.27
Median
5.76
Q1
2.73
Min
0.00

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.54

COST
1.54
Max
1.54
Q3
0.81
Median
0.47
Q1
0.26
Min
0.02
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Broadcom (AVGO) vs. Costco Wholesale (COST): A comparison of their P/S ratio against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmarks.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Broadcom (AVGO) at 14.06 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Costco Wholesale (COST) at 13.04 prices even higher, above its industry range.

AVGO

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

14.06

AVGO
14.06
Max
14.06
Q3
7.44
Median
4.29
Q1
2.30
Min
0.20

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

13.04

COST
13.04
Max
10.15
Q3
6.27
Median
3.70
Q1
1.85
Min
0.93
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Broadcom (AVGO) vs. Costco Wholesale (COST): A comparison of their P/B ratio against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmarks.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Broadcom (AVGO) and Costco Wholesale (COST)
MetricAVGOCOST
P/E Ratio (TTM)37.5150.75
P/S Ratio (TTM)15.731.54
P/B Ratio (MRQ)14.0613.04
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.18%1.45%