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COST vs. DLTR: Costco Wholesale vs. Dollar Tree Stock Comparison

How do Costco Wholesale (COST) and Dollar Tree (DLTR) 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 Tree (DLTR) 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 Tree (DLTR)
Profile ItemCOSTDLTR
NameCostco Wholesale CorpDollar Tree Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer StaplesConsumer Staples
GICS Industry GroupConsumer Staples Distribution & RetailConsumer Staples Distribution & Retail
GICS IndustryConsumer Staples Distribution & RetailConsumer Staples Distribution & Retail
GICS Sub-IndustryConsumer Staples Merchandise RetailConsumer Staples Merchandise Retail
Market Capitalization466.86 billion USD24.61 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateJuly 9, 1986March 7, 1995
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

COST
DLTR
GSPC
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Dollar Tree (DLTR), 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 Tree (DLTR). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Dollar Tree (DLTR). 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 Tree (DLTR)
MetricCOSTDLTR
Total Return (1Y)14.87%29.48%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)24.84%6.42%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)16.92%4.26%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

COST
DLTR
GSPC
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Dollar Tree (DLTR), 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 Tree (DLTR). 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 Tree (DLTR)
MetricCOSTDLTR
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)20.30%43.63%
Beta (5Y)0.840.67
Max Drawdown (5Y)-31.40%-64.84%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.15M2.40M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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COST and DLTR 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 Tree (DLTR)
MetricCOSTDLTR
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.520.58
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.770.95

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Dollar Tree (DLTR) at 46.03% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Costco Wholesale (COST) at 28.40% also sits in the top quartile.

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%

DLTR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

46.03%

DLTR
46.03%
Max
33.48%
Q3
22.31%
Median
15.57%
Q1
7.66%
Min
-2.27%
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Dollar Tree (DLTR): A comparison of their ROE against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Dollar Tree (DLTR) at 8.04% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 3.04% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.

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%

DLTR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

8.04%

DLTR
8.04%
Max
5.45%
Q3
3.42%
Median
2.44%
Q1
1.86%
Min
-0.06%
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Dollar Tree (DLTR): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Dollar Tree (DLTR) at 6.21% 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
6.81%
Q3
5.49%
Median
3.84%
COST
3.79%
Q1
2.00%
Min
0.97%

DLTR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

6.21%

Max
6.81%
DLTR
6.21%
Q3
5.49%
Median
3.84%
Q1
2.00%
Min
0.97%
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Dollar Tree (DLTR): 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 Tree (DLTR)
MetricCOSTDLTR
ROE (TTM)28.40%46.03%
ROA (TTM)8.66%8.26%
Net Margin (TTM)3.04%8.04%
Operating Margin (TTM)3.79%6.21%
Gross Margin (TTM)12.77%37.18%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Dollar Tree (DLTR) at 10.43% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 10.14% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for DLTR.

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

EPS Growth

Neither Costco Wholesale (COST) nor Dollar Tree (DLTR) reports a EPS growth value for this period, so a direct comparison isn't possible.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Dollar Tree (DLTR)
MetricCOSTDLTR
Revenue Growth (YoY)10.14%10.43%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)7.76%8.00%
EPS Growth (YoY)----
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)---4.80%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 1.06 and Dollar Tree (DLTR) at 1.13 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

DLTR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.13

Max
2.04
Q3
1.45
Median
1.17
DLTR
1.13
Q1
1.00
Min
0.69
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Dollar Tree (DLTR): 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 quartile, while Dollar Tree (DLTR) at 2.24 sits in the higher-leverage quartile.

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

DLTR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

2.24

Max
2.59
DLTR
2.24
Q3
1.83
Median
1.24
Q1
0.63
Min
0.01
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Dollar Tree (DLTR): 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 Tree (DLTR)
MetricCOSTDLTR
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.061.13
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.282.24
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.782.64

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Dollar Tree (DLTR) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Costco Wholesale (COST) reports a yield of 0.52%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

DLTR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.00%

Max
2.90%
Q3
1.72%
Median
0.43%
DLTR
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Dollar Tree (DLTR): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Dollar Tree (DLTR) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Costco Wholesale (COST) reports a payout of 26.69%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

DLTR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.00%

Max
57.98%
Q3
30.05%
Median
11.72%
DLTR
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Dollar Tree (DLTR): 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 Tree (DLTR)
MetricCOSTDLTR
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.52%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)26.69%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Dollar Tree (DLTR) at 15.97 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 50.75 sits in the richer quartile — a clear split in what investors pay for each dollar of trailing earnings.

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

DLTR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

15.97

Max
50.75
Q3
33.64
Median
22.19
Q1
16.09
DLTR
15.97
Min
9.28
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Dollar Tree (DLTR): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 1.54 and Dollar Tree (DLTR) at 1.23 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

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

DLTR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.23

Max
1.54
DLTR
1.23
Q3
0.81
Median
0.47
Q1
0.26
Min
0.02
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Dollar Tree (DLTR): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Dollar Tree (DLTR) at 7.19 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Costco Wholesale (COST) at 13.04 prices even higher, above its industry range.

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

DLTR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

7.19

Max
10.15
DLTR
7.19
Q3
6.27
Median
3.70
Q1
1.85
Min
0.93
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Dollar Tree (DLTR): 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 Tree (DLTR)
MetricCOSTDLTR
P/E Ratio (TTM)50.7515.97
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.541.23
P/B Ratio (MRQ)13.047.19
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.45%4.27%