Seek Returns

COST vs. CVX: Costco Wholesale vs. Chevron Stock Comparison

How do Costco Wholesale (COST) and Chevron (CVX) 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

Costco Wholesale (COST) is classified in the Consumer Staples sector (Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail), whereas Chevron (CVX) belongs to Energy (Energy) — their GICS classifications point to very different parts of the market.

Company profile comparison for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Chevron (CVX)
Profile ItemCOSTCVX
NameCostco Wholesale CorpChevron Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer StaplesEnergy
GICS Industry GroupConsumer Staples Distribution & RetailEnergy
GICS IndustryConsumer Staples Distribution & RetailOil, Gas & Consumable Fuels
GICS Sub-IndustryConsumer Staples Merchandise RetailIntegrated Oil & Gas
Market Capitalization466.86 billion USD414.86 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateJuly 9, 1986January 2, 1962
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

COST
CVX
GSPC
Loading price history…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Chevron (CVX), 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

Loading price history…
Trailing total returns for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Chevron (CVX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Chevron (CVX). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Chevron (CVX)
MetricCOSTCVX
Total Return (1Y)14.87%42.24%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)24.84%19.22%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)16.92%17.45%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

COST
CVX
GSPC
Loading price history…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Chevron (CVX), 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

Loading price history…
Distribution of monthly total returns for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Chevron (CVX). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Chevron (CVX)
MetricCOSTCVX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)20.30%24.66%
Beta (5Y)0.840.50
Max Drawdown (5Y)-31.40%-24.95%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.15M8.39M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
COST and CVX 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 Costco Wholesale (COST) and Chevron (CVX)
MetricCOSTCVX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.521.54
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.772.26

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Costco Wholesale (COST) at 28.40% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Chevron (CVX) at 13.85% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for COST.

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%

CVX

Energy industry group

13.85%

Max
53.85%
Q3
24.79%
CVX
13.85%
Median
12.85%
Q1
2.03%
Min
-29.09%
Loading chart…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Chevron (CVX): A comparison of their ROE against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Energy industry group benchmarks.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 3.04% and Chevron (CVX) at 11.92% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

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%

CVX

Energy industry group

11.92%

Max
56.92%
Q3
22.92%
CVX
11.92%
Median
10.10%
Q1
0.07%
Min
-27.38%
Loading chart…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Chevron (CVX): A comparison of their net margin against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Energy industry group benchmarks.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 3.79% and Chevron (CVX) at 17.89% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

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%

CVX

Energy industry group

17.89%

Max
71.31%
Q3
33.75%
Median
18.73%
CVX
17.89%
Q1
6.94%
Min
-24.52%
Loading chart…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Chevron (CVX): A comparison of their operating margin against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Energy industry group benchmarks.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Chevron (CVX)
MetricCOSTCVX
ROE (TTM)28.40%13.85%
ROA (TTM)8.66%6.47%
Net Margin (TTM)3.04%11.92%
Operating Margin (TTM)3.79%17.89%
Gross Margin (TTM)12.77%44.39%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 10.14% and Chevron (CVX) at -4.64% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Loading chart…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Chevron (CVX): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Chevron (CVX) reports EPS growth of -31.79%, ranked against its industry; Costco Wholesale (COST) has no EPS growth figure this period.

Loading chart…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Chevron (CVX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Chevron (CVX)
MetricCOSTCVX
Revenue Growth (YoY)10.14%-4.64%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)7.76%-7.85%
EPS Growth (YoY)---31.79%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)---28.69%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 1.06 and Chevron (CVX) at 1.34 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

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

CVX

Energy industry group

1.34

Max
3.64
Q3
2.21
Median
1.41
CVX
1.34
Q1
0.88
Min
0.24
Loading chart…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Chevron (CVX): A comparison of their current ratio against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Energy industry group benchmarks.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 0.28 and Chevron (CVX) at 0.17 keep leverage in the lower quartile of their industries, with less balance-sheet debt relative to equity than most peers.

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

CVX

Energy industry group

0.17

Max
1.75
Q3
0.93
Median
0.54
Q1
0.30
CVX
0.17
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Chevron (CVX): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Energy industry group benchmarks.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Chevron (CVX)
MetricCOSTCVX
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.061.34
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.280.17
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.780.36

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 0.52% and Chevron (CVX) at 3.31% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

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%

CVX

Energy industry group

3.31%

Max
8.57%
Q3
3.58%
CVX
3.31%
Median
1.71%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Chevron (CVX): A comparison of their dividend yield against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Energy industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 26.69% and Chevron (CVX) at 51.76% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

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%

CVX

Energy industry group

51.76%

Max
133.24%
Q3
53.31%
CVX
51.76%
Median
25.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Chevron (CVX): A comparison of their payout ratio against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Energy industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Chevron (CVX)
MetricCOSTCVX
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.52%3.31%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)26.69%51.76%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Chevron (CVX) at 15.61 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.

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

CVX

Energy industry group

15.61

Max
39.54
Q3
21.72
CVX
15.61
Median
12.19
Q1
7.71
Min
2.99
Loading chart…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Chevron (CVX): A comparison of their P/E ratio against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Energy industry group benchmarks.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Chevron (CVX) at 1.83 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 1.54 sits in the pricier quartile — COST costs more per dollar of sales.

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

CVX

Energy industry group

1.83

Max
5.40
Q3
2.85
CVX
1.83
Median
1.69
Q1
0.88
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Chevron (CVX): A comparison of their P/S ratio against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Energy industry group benchmarks.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Chevron (CVX) at 2.13 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 13.04 prices above its benchmark range — COST looks rich relative to book.

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

CVX

Energy industry group

2.13

Max
4.21
Q3
2.38
CVX
2.13
Median
1.51
Q1
1.08
Min
0.01
Loading chart…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Chevron (CVX): A comparison of their P/B ratio against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Energy industry group benchmarks.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Chevron (CVX)
MetricCOSTCVX
P/E Ratio (TTM)50.7515.61
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.541.83
P/B Ratio (MRQ)13.042.13
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.45%6.28%