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

September 27, 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	The 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	409.03 billion USD	34.69 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

GSPC

Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Kroger (KR), 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

Loading price history…

Trailing total returns for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Kroger (KR). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Kroger (KR)
Metric	COST	KR
Total Return (1Y)	-1.61%	-8.27%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	19.79%	11.17%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	15.79%	10.37%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

COST

GSPC

Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Kroger (KR), 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

Loading price history…

Distribution of monthly total returns for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Kroger (KR). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Kroger (KR)
Metric	COST	KR
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	20.11%	28.85%
Beta (5Y)	0.88	0.36
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-31.40%	-31.07%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.25M	7.13M

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.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Kroger (KR)
Metric	COST	KR
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.30	-0.44
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.43	-0.62

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Costco Wholesale (COST) at 28.40% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Kroger (KR) at 14.44% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for COST.

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%

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

14.44%

Max: 35.20%
Q3: 22.31%
Median: 15.25%
KR: 14.44%
Q1: 7.33%
Min: 1.04%

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 3.04% keeps about the industry-typical share of revenue as profit, while Kroger (KR) at 0.73% retains only a bottom-quartile share.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.04%

Max: 5.59%
Q3: 3.42%
COST: 3.04%
Median: 2.44%
Q1: 1.67%
Min: 0.08%

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.73%

Max: 5.59%
Q3: 3.42%
Median: 2.44%
Q1: 1.67%
KR: 0.73%
Min: 0.08%

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 3.97% and Kroger (KR) at 2.98% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.97%

Max: 7.49%
Q3: 5.61%
COST: 3.97%
Median: 3.93%
Q1: 1.85%
Min: 0.97%

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

2.98%

Max: 7.49%
Q3: 5.61%
Median: 3.93%
KR: 2.98%
Q1: 1.85%
Min: 0.97%

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)	28.40%	14.44%
ROA (TTM)	8.79%	5.80%
Net Margin (TTM)	3.04%	0.73%
Operating Margin (TTM)	3.97%	2.98%
Gross Margin (TTM)	12.82%	23.90%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Costco Wholesale (COST) at 8.17% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Kroger (KR) at 0.35% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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

EPS Growth

Costco Wholesale (COST) at 9.96% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Kroger (KR) at -58.04% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

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 (YoY)	9.96%	-58.04%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	11.49%	-20.46%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Costco Wholesale (COST) at 1.06 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Kroger (KR) at 0.70 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for KR.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.06

Max: 2.03
Q3: 1.44
Median: 1.19
COST: 1.06
Q1: 1.00
Min: 0.68

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.70

Max: 2.03
Q3: 1.44
Median: 1.19
Q1: 1.00
KR: 0.70
Min: 0.68

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 0.24 keeps leverage in the lower quartile, while Kroger (KR) at 4.13 is above its industry debt-to-equity ratio range.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.24

Max: 2.65
Q3: 1.83
Median: 1.26
Q1: 0.63
COST: 0.24
Min: 0.01

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

4.13

KR: 4.13
Max: 2.65
Q3: 1.83
Median: 1.26
Q1: 0.63
Min: 0.01

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)	1.06	0.70
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.24	4.13
Net Debt / EBITDA	-0.89	2.80

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Costco Wholesale (COST) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Kroger (KR) reports a yield of 2.44%, ranking against industry peers normally.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.00%

Max: 2.92%
Q3: 1.90%
Median: 0.20%
COST: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

2.44%

Max: 2.92%
KR: 2.44%
Q3: 1.90%
Median: 0.20%
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 75.68% 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: 59.29%
Q3: 29.94%
COST: 27.01%
Median: 11.72%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

75.68%

KR: 75.68%
Max: 59.29%
Q3: 29.94%
Median: 11.72%
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)	0.00%	2.44%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	27.01%	75.68%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Kroger (KR) at 31.75 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 46.37 sits in the richer quartile — COST needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

46.37

Max: 52.51
COST: 46.37
Q3: 33.91
Median: 21.15
Q1: 15.77
Min: 12.06

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

31.75

Max: 52.51
Q3: 33.91
KR: 31.75
Median: 21.15
Q1: 15.77
Min: 12.06

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 1.35 sits in the pricier quartile — COST costs more per dollar of sales.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.35

COST: 1.35
Max: 1.35
Q3: 0.88
Median: 0.47
Q1: 0.23
Min: 0.03

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.23

Max: 1.35
Q3: 0.88
Median: 0.47
KR: 0.23
Q1: 0.23
Min: 0.03

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 5.99 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 12.21 prices above its benchmark range — COST looks rich relative to book.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

12.21

COST: 12.21
Max: 9.11
Q3: 5.99
Median: 3.99
Q1: 2.26
Min: 0.94

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

5.99

Max: 9.11
KR: 5.99
Q3: 5.99
Median: 3.99
Q1: 2.26
Min: 0.94

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)	46.37	31.75
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.35	0.23
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	12.21	5.99
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.52%	7.31%