COST vs. GS: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at COST and GS, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
| Symbol | COST | GS |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Costco Wholesale Corporation | The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. |
| Country | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Consumer Staples | Financials |
| GICS Industry | Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail | Capital Markets |
| Market Capitalization | 405.73 billion USD | 239.14 billion USD |
| Exchange | NasdaqGS | NYSE |
| Listing Date | July 9, 1986 | May 4, 1999 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of COST and GS by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | COST | GS |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | -0.16% | -1.76% |
| 13-Week Price Return | -7.26% | 9.16% |
| 26-Week Price Return | -3.21% | 44.61% |
| 52-Week Price Return | 4.19% | 60.57% |
| Month-to-Date Return | -1.11% | -0.80% |
| Year-to-Date Return | -0.10% | 37.96% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 3.02M | 1.54M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 2.24M | 1.93M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 15.96% | 20.80% |
| Beta | 1.00 | 1.38 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
COST
30.47%
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail Industry
- Max
- 36.53%
- Q3
- 21.48%
- Median
- 13.14%
- Q1
- 8.11%
- Min
- -9.87%
In the upper quartile for the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry, COST’s Return on Equity of 30.47% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
GS
12.67%
Capital Markets Industry
- Max
- 38.97%
- Q3
- 22.24%
- Median
- 13.52%
- Q1
- 8.61%
- Min
- -4.25%
GS’s Return on Equity of 12.67% is on par with the norm for the Capital Markets industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
COST
2.94%
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail Industry
- Max
- 7.25%
- Q3
- 3.98%
- Median
- 2.77%
- Q1
- 1.73%
- Min
- -0.70%
COST’s Net Profit Margin of 2.94% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
GS
12.29%
Capital Markets Industry
- Max
- 69.91%
- Q3
- 37.24%
- Median
- 24.30%
- Q1
- 13.06%
- Min
- -15.18%
Falling into the lower quartile for the Capital Markets industry, GS’s Net Profit Margin of 12.29% indicates weaker profitability. This means the company retains a smaller portion of each dollar in sales as profit compared to its competitors.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
COST
3.77%
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail Industry
- Max
- 9.42%
- Q3
- 5.61%
- Median
- 4.18%
- Q1
- 2.72%
- Min
- 0.23%
COST’s Operating Profit Margin of 3.77% is around the midpoint for the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
GS
15.68%
Capital Markets Industry
- Max
- 84.86%
- Q3
- 47.16%
- Median
- 32.23%
- Q1
- 18.65%
- Min
- -21.87%
GS’s Operating Profit Margin of 15.68% is in the lower quartile for the Capital Markets industry. This indicates weaker profitability from core operations, which may stem from inefficiencies or competitive pressures on pricing.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | COST | GS |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 30.47% | 12.67% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 10.83% | 0.89% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 2.94% | 12.29% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 3.77% | 15.68% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 12.84% | 38.58% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
COST
1.03
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail Industry
- Max
- 1.76
- Q3
- 1.28
- Median
- 0.98
- Q1
- 0.82
- Min
- 0.49
COST’s Current Ratio of 1.03 aligns with the median group of the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
GS
0.30
Capital Markets Industry
- Max
- 3.37
- Q3
- 1.81
- Median
- 1.01
- Q1
- 0.56
- Min
- 0.04
For the Capital Markets industry, the Current Ratio is often not the most suitable measure of short-term liquidity.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
COST
0.20
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail Industry
- Max
- 3.61
- Q3
- 1.64
- Median
- 1.00
- Q1
- 0.30
- Min
- 0.00
Falling into the lower quartile for the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry, COST’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.20 points to a conservative financing strategy. This results in lower financial risk but potentially limits strategic investments compared to more leveraged competitors.
GS
9.08
Capital Markets Industry
- Max
- 6.52
- Q3
- 2.79
- Median
- 0.96
- Q1
- 0.28
- Min
- 0.00
The Debt-to-Equity Ratio is often not the primary focus for assessing leverage in the Capital Markets industry.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
COST
91.27
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail Industry
- Max
- 24.36
- Q3
- 13.75
- Median
- 5.79
- Q1
- 3.04
- Min
- -5.51
With an Interest Coverage Ratio of 91.27, COST demonstrates a superior capacity to service its debt, placing it well above the typical range for the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry. This stems from either robust earnings or a conservative debt load.
GS
--
Capital Markets Industry
- Max
- 107.59
- Q3
- 48.41
- Median
- 10.85
- Q1
- 4.56
- Min
- -36.26
The Interest Coverage Ratio is often not a primary indicator of debt servicing capacity in the Capital Markets industry.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | COST | GS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.03 | 0.30 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 0.55 | 0.30 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.20 | 9.08 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 91.27 | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
COST
0.54%
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail Industry
- Max
- 6.08%
- Q3
- 3.33%
- Median
- 1.77%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
COST’s Dividend Yield of 0.54% is consistent with its peers in the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
GS
1.96%
Capital Markets Industry
- Max
- 9.02%
- Q3
- 4.54%
- Median
- 2.55%
- Q1
- 1.27%
- Min
- 0.00%
GS’s Dividend Yield of 1.96% is consistent with its peers in the Capital Markets industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
COST
34.59%
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail Industry
- Max
- 172.48%
- Q3
- 103.93%
- Median
- 54.70%
- Q1
- 24.82%
- Min
- 0.00%
COST’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 34.59% is within the typical range for the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
GS
29.94%
Capital Markets Industry
- Max
- 199.38%
- Q3
- 99.28%
- Median
- 60.67%
- Q1
- 32.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
GS’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 29.94% is in the lower quartile for the Capital Markets industry. This suggests a conservative dividend policy, with a strategic focus on reinvesting profits for future growth.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | COST | GS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.54% | 1.96% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 34.59% | 29.94% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
COST
50.20
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail Industry
- Max
- 47.99
- Q3
- 30.23
- Median
- 22.19
- Q1
- 16.85
- Min
- 4.52
At 50.20, COST’s P/E Ratio is exceptionally high, exceeding the typical maximum for the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry. This suggests the stock may be significantly overvalued compared to its peers and implies high market expectations that could be difficult to meet.
GS
15.27
Capital Markets Industry
- Max
- 51.69
- Q3
- 29.42
- Median
- 17.58
- Q1
- 12.55
- Min
- 5.59
GS’s P/E Ratio of 15.27 is within the middle range for the Capital Markets industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
COST
1.48
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail Industry
- Max
- 1.79
- Q3
- 0.96
- Median
- 0.53
- Q1
- 0.37
- Min
- 0.06
COST’s P/S Ratio of 1.48 is in the upper echelon for the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.
GS
1.88
Capital Markets Industry
- Max
- 14.65
- Q3
- 7.29
- Median
- 4.53
- Q1
- 2.26
- Min
- 0.04
In the lower quartile for the Capital Markets industry, GS’s P/S Ratio of 1.88 indicates its revenue is valued more conservatively than most of its peers. This could present a compelling opportunity if the market has overlooked its sales-generating capabilities.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
COST
14.34
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail Industry
- Max
- 8.68
- Q3
- 4.97
- Median
- 2.98
- Q1
- 1.86
- Min
- 0.46
At 14.34, COST’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.
GS
1.75
Capital Markets Industry
- Max
- 10.83
- Q3
- 5.12
- Median
- 2.66
- Q1
- 1.19
- Min
- 0.37
GS’s P/B Ratio of 1.75 is within the conventional range for the Capital Markets industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | COST | GS |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 50.20 | 15.27 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 1.48 | 1.88 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 14.34 | 1.75 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 51.88 | 4.62 |