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COST vs. KO: Costco Wholesale vs. Coca-Cola Stock Comparison

How do Costco Wholesale (COST) and Coca-Cola (KO) 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 Coca-Cola (KO) share the Consumer Staples sector but sit in different industry groups — COST in Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and KO in Food, Beverage & Tobacco.

Company profile comparison for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Coca-Cola (KO)
Profile ItemCOSTKO
NameCostco Wholesale CorpThe Coca-Cola Company
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer StaplesConsumer Staples
GICS Industry GroupConsumer Staples Distribution & RetailFood, Beverage & Tobacco
GICS IndustryConsumer Staples Distribution & RetailBeverages
GICS Sub-IndustryConsumer Staples Merchandise RetailSoft Drinks & Non-alcoholic Beverages
Market Capitalization425.16 billion USD386.33 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateJuly 9, 1986January 2, 1962
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

COST
KO
GSPC
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Coca-Cola (KO), 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 Coca-Cola (KO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Coca-Cola (KO)
MetricCOSTKO
Total Return (1Y)3.10%38.58%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)20.75%22.95%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)17.84%13.99%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

COST
KO
GSPC
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Coca-Cola (KO), 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 Coca-Cola (KO). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Coca-Cola (KO)
MetricCOSTKO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)19.73%18.91%
Beta (5Y)0.870.30
Max Drawdown (5Y)-31.40%-17.27%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.03M15.65M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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COST and KO 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 Coca-Cola (KO)
MetricCOSTKO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.071.81
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.103.12

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Coca-Cola (KO) at 42.05% 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
35.20%
COST
28.40%
Q3
22.31%
Median
15.25%
Q1
7.33%
Min
1.04%

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

42.05%

KO
42.05%
Max
32.81%
Q3
17.07%
Median
10.05%
Q1
3.26%
Min
-16.01%
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Coca-Cola (KO): A comparison of their ROE against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmarks.

Net Margin (TTM)

Coca-Cola (KO) at 28.56% 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
5.59%
Q3
3.42%
COST
3.04%
Median
2.39%
Q1
1.67%
Min
0.08%

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

28.56%

KO
28.56%
Max
25.56%
Q3
11.09%
Median
4.24%
Q1
1.03%
Min
-13.81%
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Coca-Cola (KO): A comparison of their net margin against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmarks.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Coca-Cola (KO) at 34.87% 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%

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

34.87%

Max
34.91%
KO
34.87%
Q3
17.00%
Median
11.06%
Q1
3.93%
Min
-15.06%
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Coca-Cola (KO): A comparison of their operating margin against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmarks.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Coca-Cola (KO)
MetricCOSTKO
ROE (TTM)28.40%42.05%
ROA (TTM)8.66%9.40%
Net Margin (TTM)3.04%28.56%
Operating Margin (TTM)3.79%34.87%
Gross Margin (TTM)12.77%61.89%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 8.17% and Coca-Cola (KO) at 1.87% 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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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Coca-Cola (KO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Coca-Cola (KO) at 23.58% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 9.96% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for KO.

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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Coca-Cola (KO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Coca-Cola (KO)
MetricCOSTKO
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.17%1.87%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)6.64%3.69%
EPS Growth (YoY)9.96%23.58%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)11.49%11.55%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 1.06 and Coca-Cola (KO) at 1.31 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

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

1.31

Max
4.01
Q3
2.39
Median
1.50
KO
1.31
Q1
1.01
Min
0.33
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Coca-Cola (KO): A comparison of their current ratio against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmarks.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Costco Wholesale (COST) at 0.28 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Coca-Cola (KO) at 1.16 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

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

1.16

Max
2.31
Q3
1.16
KO
1.16
Median
0.71
Q1
0.32
Min
0.00
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Coca-Cola (KO): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmarks.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Coca-Cola (KO)
MetricCOSTKO
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.061.31
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.281.16
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.781.64

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 0.59% and Coca-Cola (KO) at 2.36% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.59%

Max
2.97%
Q3
1.86%
COST
0.59%
Median
0.48%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

2.36%

Max
9.08%
Q3
4.07%
KO
2.36%
Median
2.28%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Coca-Cola (KO): A comparison of their dividend yield against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 26.69% and Coca-Cola (KO) at 62.46% 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
59.29%
Q3
30.05%
COST
26.69%
Median
11.72%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

62.46%

Max
205.61%
Q3
83.97%
KO
62.46%
Median
45.95%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Coca-Cola (KO): A comparison of their payout ratio against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Coca-Cola (KO)
MetricCOSTKO
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.59%2.36%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)26.69%62.46%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Coca-Cola (KO) at 26.96 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 46.22 sits in the richer quartile — COST needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

46.22

Max
52.28
COST
46.22
Q3
34.09
Median
21.84
Q1
15.64
Min
12.30

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

26.96

Max
56.08
Q3
31.12
KO
26.96
Median
17.93
Q1
13.97
Min
5.99
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Coca-Cola (KO): A comparison of their P/E ratio against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmarks.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on sales: Costco Wholesale (COST) at 1.40 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Coca-Cola (KO) at 7.71 prices even higher, above its industry range.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.40

COST
1.40
Max
1.40
Q3
0.85
Median
0.49
Q1
0.24
Min
0.03

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

7.71

KO
7.71
Max
4.73
Q3
2.22
Median
0.98
Q1
0.53
Min
0.00
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Coca-Cola (KO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmarks.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Costco Wholesale (COST) at 11.88 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Coca-Cola (KO) at 10.69 prices even higher, above its industry range.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

11.88

COST
11.88
Max
11.88
Q3
6.25
Median
3.86
Q1
1.83
Min
0.96

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

10.69

KO
10.69
Max
6.00
Q3
2.99
Median
1.66
Q1
0.90
Min
0.00
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Coca-Cola (KO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmarks.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Coca-Cola (KO)
MetricCOSTKO
P/E Ratio (TTM)46.2226.96
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.407.71
P/B Ratio (MRQ)11.8810.69
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.59%1.35%