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Costco (COST) vs. Kroger (KR)

This page compares Costco (COST) with Kroger (KR) using historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation metrics.

Company Profile

Costco (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.

SymbolCOSTKR
Company NameCostco Wholesale CorporationThe Kroger Co.
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 RetailFood Retail
Market Capitalization485.50 billion USD43.53 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqGSNYSE
Listing DateJuly 9, 1986January 2, 1962
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Historical Performance

COST
KR
Loading price history…
Costco (COST) vs. Kroger (KR): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Historical Performance at a Glance

SymbolCOSTKR
5-Day Price Return5.93%5.73%
13-Week Price Return8.13%-4.11%
26-Week Price Return19.75%6.02%
52-Week Price Return5.80%-0.77%
Month-to-Date Return7.86%0.37%
Year-to-Date Return26.90%9.35%
10-Day Avg. Volume2.10M4.86M
3-Month Avg. Volume2.04M6.21M
3-Month Volatility18.32%28.83%
Beta0.920.45

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Costco (COST) at 28.81% ranks in the top quartile for Return on Equity (TTM), ahead of Kroger (KR) at 9.42%, which sits closer to the industry mid-range.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

28.81%

Max
36.06%
Q3
23.69%
Median
14.31%
Q1
8.17%
Min
-4.97%

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

9.42%

Max
36.06%
Q3
23.69%
Median
14.31%
Q1
8.17%
Min
-4.97%
Costco (COST) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

Costco (COST) at 2.99% posts Net Profit Margin (TTM) around its industry mid-range, while Kroger (KR) at 0.69% drops into the bottom quartile.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

2.99%

Max
6.61%
Q3
3.54%
Median
2.37%
Q1
1.17%
Min
-0.25%

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.69%

Max
6.61%
Q3
3.54%
Median
2.37%
Q1
1.17%
Min
-0.25%
Costco (COST) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

Both Costco (COST) at 3.82% and Kroger (KR) at 1.28% post Operating Profit Margin (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on operating profitability.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.82%

Max
8.84%
Q3
4.88%
Median
3.65%
Q1
1.28%
Min
-1.18%

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.28%

Max
8.84%
Q3
4.88%
Median
3.65%
Q1
1.28%
Min
-1.18%
Costco (COST) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolCOSTKR
Return on Equity (TTM)28.81%9.42%
Return on Assets (TTM)10.72%1.50%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)2.99%0.69%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)3.82%1.28%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)12.93%23.30%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Costco (COST) at 1.06 keeps Current Ratio (MRQ) within its industry mid-range, while Kroger (KR) at 0.88 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for KR.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.06

Max
1.93
Q3
1.37
Median
1.14
Q1
0.94
Min
0.60

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.88

Max
1.93
Q3
1.37
Median
1.14
Q1
0.94
Min
0.60
Costco (COST) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

Costco (COST) at 0.18 carries Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) around its industry mid-range, while Kroger (KR) at 2.56 sits in the higher-leverage quartile.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.18

Max
2.56
Q3
1.23
Median
0.54
Q1
0.18
Min
0.00

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

2.56

Max
2.56
Q3
1.23
Median
0.54
Q1
0.18
Min
0.00
Costco (COST) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

Costco (COST) reports Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) of 91.27, above its industry benchmark range, while Kroger (KR) at 2.76 lands in the bottom quartile relative to peers.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

91.27

Max
20.24
Q3
20.10
Median
9.06
Q1
3.31
Min
-8.07

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

2.76

Max
20.24
Q3
20.10
Median
9.06
Q1
3.31
Min
-8.07
Costco (COST) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolCOSTKR
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.060.88
Quick Ratio (MRQ)0.590.41
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)0.182.56
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)91.272.76

Growth

Revenue Growth

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

Revenue Growth at a Glance

SymbolCOSTKR
Revenue Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)9.22%1.22%
Revenue Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)8.40%0.35%
3-Year Revenue CAGR6.64%-0.14%
5-Year Revenue CAGR10.54%2.19%

EPS Growth

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

EPS Growth at a Glance

SymbolCOSTKR
EPS Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)13.93%49.08%
EPS Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)12.26%-57.80%
3-Year EPS CAGR11.51%-20.50%
5-Year EPS CAGR15.10%-14.07%

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Kroger (KR) at 2.03% reports Dividend Yield (TTM) in the top quartile of industry peers, ahead of Costco (COST) at 0.59%, which sits around the industry mid-range.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.59%

Max
3.79%
Q3
1.97%
Median
0.71%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

2.03%

Max
3.79%
Q3
1.97%
Median
0.71%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Costco (COST) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Costco (COST) at 33.01% and Kroger (KR) at 27.74% maintain Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) around their industries’ median — balanced dividend policy on both sides, returning cash while leaving part of reported earnings available for reinvestment or balance-sheet flexibility.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

33.01%

Max
59.10%
Q3
34.35%
Median
20.99%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

27.74%

Max
59.10%
Q3
34.35%
Median
20.99%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Costco (COST) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend at a Glance

SymbolCOSTKR
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.59%2.03%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)33.01%27.74%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Both Costco (COST) at 56.23 and Kroger (KR) at 42.81 trade in the higher-multiple quartile for Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) among industry peers, indicating higher trailing earnings multiples than typical peers.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

56.23

Max
56.23
Q3
39.93
Median
20.28
Q1
15.79
Min
12.13

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

42.81

Max
56.23
Q3
39.93
Median
20.28
Q1
15.79
Min
12.13
Costco (COST) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

Kroger (KR) at 0.29 carries typical industry Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM), while Costco (COST) at 1.68 sits in the higher-multiple quartile — COST carries a higher trailing revenue multiple relative to peers.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.68

Max
1.68
Q3
0.91
Median
0.53
Q1
0.29
Min
0.10

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.29

Max
1.68
Q3
0.91
Median
0.53
Q1
0.29
Min
0.10
Costco (COST) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

Kroger (KR) at 5.88 hovers around the typical industry Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ), while Costco (COST) at 14.09 sits above its industry benchmark range — an elevated book-value multiple for COST relative to peers.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

14.09

Max
9.93
Q3
5.88
Median
3.71
Q1
1.93
Min
0.79

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

5.88

Max
9.93
Q3
5.88
Median
3.71
Q1
1.93
Min
0.79
Costco (COST) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolCOSTKR
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)56.2342.81
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)1.680.29
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)14.095.88
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)52.8312.58