COST vs. KR: Costco Wholesale vs. Kroger Stock Comparison

July 2, 2026

How do Costco Wholesale (COST) and Kroger (KR) 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 Kroger (KR) both belong to the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry, though COST is classified under Consumer Staples Merchandise Retail while KR falls under Food Retail.

Company profile comparison for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Kroger (KR)
Profile Item	COST	KR
Name	Costco Wholesale Corporation	Kroger Co.
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	Food Retail
Market Capitalization	414.86 billion USD	34.02 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	NYSE
Listing Date	July 9, 1986	January 2, 1962
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

COST

Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Kroger (KR): 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 Kroger (KR). Returns over one year are annualized.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Kroger (KR)
Metric	COST	KR
Total Return (1Y)	-4.97%	-20.97%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

COST

Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Kroger (KR): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Kroger (KR)
Metric	COST	KR
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	18.91%	27.55%
Beta (5Y)	0.88	0.44
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.23M	6.66M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

COST and KR 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.

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Costco Wholesale (COST) at 29.15% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Kroger (KR) at 13.78% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for COST.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

29.15%

Max: 37.28%
COST: 29.15%
Q3: 22.55%
Median: 14.81%
Q1: 8.71%
Min: -2.30%

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

13.78%

Max: 37.28%
Q3: 22.55%
Median: 14.81%
KR: 13.78%
Q1: 8.71%
Min: -2.30%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

Costco Wholesale (COST) at 3.01% keeps about the industry-typical share of revenue as profit, while Kroger (KR) at 0.71% retains only a bottom-quartile share.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.01%

Max: 6.51%
Q3: 3.51%
COST: 3.01%
Median: 2.17%
Q1: 1.27%
Min: -0.12%

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.71%

Max: 6.51%
Q3: 3.51%
Median: 2.17%
Q1: 1.27%
KR: 0.71%
Min: -0.12%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 3.67% and Kroger (KR) at 3.22% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.67%

Max: 9.24%
Q3: 5.28%
COST: 3.67%
Median: 3.45%
Q1: 1.19%
Min: -0.11%

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.22%

Max: 9.24%
Q3: 5.28%
Median: 3.45%
KR: 3.22%
Q1: 1.19%
Min: -0.11%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Kroger (KR)
Metric	COST	KR
ROE (TTM)	29.15%	13.78%
ROA (TTM)	8.67%	5.77%
Net Margin (TTM)	3.01%	0.71%
Operating Margin (TTM)	3.67%	3.22%
Gross Margin (TTM)	12.88%	23.98%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

Revenue Growth Metrics

Revenue growth metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Kroger (KR)
Metric	COST	KR
Revenue Growth (YoY)	8.17%	0.35%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	6.64%	-0.14%

EPS Growth

Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth Metrics

EPS growth metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Kroger (KR)
Metric	COST	KR
EPS Growth (YoY)	9.96%	-58.04%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	11.49%	-20.46%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Costco Wholesale (COST) at 1.07 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Kroger (KR) at 0.79 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for KR.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.07

Max: 1.52
Q3: 1.36
Median: 1.17
COST: 1.07
Q1: 0.95
Min: 0.60

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.79

Max: 1.52
Q3: 1.36
Median: 1.17
Q1: 0.95
KR: 0.79
Min: 0.60

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Costco Wholesale (COST) at 0.60 keeps leverage in the lower quartile, while Kroger (KR) at 3.73 sits in the higher-leverage quartile.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.60

Max: 3.73
Q3: 1.93
Median: 1.29
Q1: 0.65
COST: 0.60
Min: 0.00

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.73

KR: 3.73
Max: 3.73
Q3: 1.93
Median: 1.29
Q1: 0.65
Min: 0.00

Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Kroger (KR): 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 Kroger (KR)
Metric	COST	KR
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.07	0.79
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.60	3.73
Net Debt / EBITDA	-0.07	2.64

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Kroger (KR) at 1.88% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 0.57% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, KR the richer one.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.57%

Max: 3.39%
Q3: 1.72%
COST: 0.57%
Median: 0.43%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.88%

Max: 3.39%
KR: 1.88%
Q3: 1.72%
Median: 0.43%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Costco Wholesale (COST) at 27.01% keeps its payout in the industry’s typical band, while Kroger (KR) at 80.12% pays out more than any of its peers — the most stretched cover in its group.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

27.01%

Max: 60.00%
Q3: 31.85%
COST: 27.01%
Median: 16.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

80.12%

KR: 80.12%
Max: 60.00%
Q3: 31.85%
Median: 16.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Kroger (KR)
Metric	COST	KR
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.57%	1.88%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	27.01%	80.12%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Kroger (KR) at 32.47 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 46.94 sits in the richer quartile — COST needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

46.94

Max: 53.23
COST: 46.94
Q3: 36.44
Median: 20.05
Q1: 16.76
Min: 11.49

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

32.47

Max: 53.23
Q3: 36.44
KR: 32.47
Median: 20.05
Q1: 16.76
Min: 11.49

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Kroger (KR) at 0.23 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 1.41 sits in the pricier quartile — COST costs more per dollar of sales.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.41

Max: 1.67
COST: 1.41
Q3: 0.92
Median: 0.51
Q1: 0.23
Min: 0.02

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.23

Max: 1.67
Q3: 0.92
Median: 0.51
KR: 0.23
Q1: 0.23
Min: 0.02

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Kroger (KR) at 6.00 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 25.09 prices above its benchmark range — COST looks rich relative to book.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

25.09

COST: 25.09
Max: 9.56
Q3: 6.33
Median: 4.05
Q1: 1.97
Min: 0.73

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

6.00

Max: 9.56
Q3: 6.33
KR: 6.00
Median: 4.05
Q1: 1.97
Min: 0.73

Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Kroger (KR): 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 Kroger (KR)
Metric	COST	KR
P/E Ratio (TTM)	46.94	32.47
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.41	0.23
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	25.09	6.00
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.68%	8.80%