COST vs. DG: Costco Wholesale vs. Dollar General Stock Comparison

October 26, 2026

How do Costco Wholesale (COST) and Dollar General (DG) 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) and Dollar General (DG) are both classified in the Consumer Staples Merchandise Retail sub-industry within the broader Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Dollar General (DG)
Profile Item	COST	DG
Name	Costco Wholesale Corp	Dollar General Corp.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Consumer Staples	Consumer Staples
GICS Industry Group	Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail	Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail
GICS Industry	Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail	Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail
GICS Sub-Industry	Consumer Staples Merchandise Retail	Consumer Staples Merchandise Retail
Market Capitalization	444.60 billion USD	29.27 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	NYSE
Listing Date	July 9, 1986	November 13, 2009
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

COST

GSPC

Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Dollar General (DG), 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 Costco Wholesale (COST) and Dollar General (DG). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Dollar General (DG)
Metric	COST	DG
Total Return (1Y)	7.13%	31.31%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	23.65%	6.63%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	17.04%	-8.06%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

COST

GSPC

Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Dollar General (DG), 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 Costco Wholesale (COST) and Dollar General (DG). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Dollar General (DG)
Metric	COST	DG
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	19.80%	38.16%
Beta (5Y)	0.85	0.20
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-31.40%	-72.61%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.08M	2.28M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

COST and DG are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Dollar General (DG)
Metric	COST	DG
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.14	0.70
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.20	1.10

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Costco Wholesale (COST) at 28.40% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Dollar General (DG) at 19.69% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for COST.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

28.40%

Max: 35.20%
COST: 28.40%
Q3: 22.31%
Median: 15.25%
Q1: 7.33%
Min: -2.27%

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

19.69%

Max: 35.20%
Q3: 22.31%
DG: 19.69%
Median: 15.25%
Q1: 7.33%
Min: -2.27%

Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Dollar General (DG): A comparison of their ROE against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Dollar General (DG) at 3.90% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Costco Wholesale (COST) at 3.04%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.04%

Max: 5.59%
Q3: 3.42%
COST: 3.04%
Median: 2.39%
Q1: 1.67%
Min: -0.06%

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.90%

Max: 5.59%
DG: 3.90%
Q3: 3.42%
Median: 2.39%
Q1: 1.67%
Min: -0.06%

Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Dollar General (DG): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Dollar General (DG) at 6.81% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Costco Wholesale (COST) at 3.79%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.79%

Max: 7.49%
Q3: 5.61%
Median: 3.84%
COST: 3.79%
Q1: 2.10%
Min: 0.97%

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

6.81%

Max: 7.49%
DG: 6.81%
Q3: 5.61%
Median: 3.84%
Q1: 2.10%
Min: 0.97%

Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Dollar General (DG): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Dollar General (DG)
Metric	COST	DG
ROE (TTM)	28.40%	19.69%
ROA (TTM)	8.66%	4.89%
Net Margin (TTM)	3.04%	3.90%
Operating Margin (TTM)	3.79%	6.81%
Gross Margin (TTM)	12.77%	31.16%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Costco Wholesale (COST) at 10.14% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Dollar General (DG) at 5.20% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for COST.

Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Dollar General (DG): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Dollar General (DG) reports EPS growth of 34.05%, ranked against its industry; Costco Wholesale (COST) has no EPS growth figure this period.

Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Dollar General (DG): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Dollar General (DG)
Metric	COST	DG
Revenue Growth (YoY)	10.14%	5.20%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	7.76%	4.13%
EPS Growth (YoY)	--	34.05%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	-13.76%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 1.06 and Dollar General (DG) at 1.21 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: 2.03
Q3: 1.44
Median: 1.17
COST: 1.06
Q1: 1.00
Min: 0.68

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.21

Max: 2.03
Q3: 1.44
DG: 1.21
Median: 1.17
Q1: 1.00
Min: 0.68

Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Dollar General (DG): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Costco Wholesale (COST) at 0.28 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Dollar General (DG) at 1.70 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.28

Max: 2.65
Q3: 1.83
Median: 1.26
Q1: 0.62
COST: 0.28
Min: 0.01

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.70

Max: 2.65
Q3: 1.83
DG: 1.70
Median: 1.26
Q1: 0.62
Min: 0.01

Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Dollar General (DG): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Dollar General (DG)
Metric	COST	DG
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.06	1.21
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.28	1.70
Net Debt / EBITDA	-0.78	3.96

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Dollar General (DG) at 1.70% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 0.54% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, DG the richer one.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.54%

Max: 2.88%
Q3: 1.70%
COST: 0.54%
Median: 0.44%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.70%

Max: 2.88%
DG: 1.70%
Q3: 1.70%
Median: 0.44%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Dollar General (DG): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Costco Wholesale (COST) at 26.69% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Dollar General (DG) at 30.65% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

26.69%

Max: 59.29%
Q3: 30.05%
COST: 26.69%
Median: 11.72%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

30.65%

Max: 59.29%
DG: 30.65%
Q3: 30.05%
Median: 11.72%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Dollar General (DG): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Dollar General (DG)
Metric	COST	DG
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.54%	1.70%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	26.69%	30.65%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Dollar General (DG) at 17.23 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 48.33 sits in the richer quartile — COST needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

48.33

Max: 50.42
COST: 48.33
Q3: 34.66
Median: 22.23
Q1: 15.91
Min: 12.53

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

17.23

Max: 50.42
Q3: 34.66
Median: 22.23
DG: 17.23
Q1: 15.91
Min: 12.53

Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Dollar General (DG): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Dollar General (DG) at 0.67 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 1.47 sits in the pricier quartile — COST costs more per dollar of sales.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.47

COST: 1.47
Max: 1.47
Q3: 0.87
Median: 0.51
Q1: 0.26
Min: 0.02

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.67

Max: 1.47
Q3: 0.87
DG: 0.67
Median: 0.51
Q1: 0.26
Min: 0.02

Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Dollar General (DG): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Dollar General (DG) at 3.15 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 12.42 carries an above-peer premium to book — COST is pricier on assets.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

12.42

COST: 12.42
Max: 12.42
Q3: 6.58
Median: 4.06
Q1: 1.96
Min: 0.99

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.15

Max: 12.42
Q3: 6.58
Median: 4.06
DG: 3.15
Q1: 1.96
Min: 0.99

Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Dollar General (DG): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Dollar General (DG)
Metric	COST	DG
P/E Ratio (TTM)	48.33	17.23
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.47	0.67
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	12.42	3.15
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.52%	5.94%