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COST vs. MU: Costco Wholesale vs. Micron Stock Comparison

How do Costco Wholesale (COST) and Micron (MU) 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) is classified in the Consumer Staples sector (Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail), whereas Micron (MU) belongs to Information Technology (Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment) — their GICS classifications point to very different parts of the market.

Company profile comparison for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Micron (MU)
Profile ItemCOSTMU
NameCostco Wholesale CorpMicron Technology Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer StaplesInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupConsumer Staples Distribution & RetailSemiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS IndustryConsumer Staples Distribution & RetailSemiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS Sub-IndustryConsumer Staples Merchandise RetailSemiconductors
Market Capitalization466.86 billion USD780.68 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateJuly 9, 1986June 1, 1984
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

COST
MU
GSPC
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Micron (MU), 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 Micron (MU). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Micron (MU)
MetricCOSTMU
Total Return (1Y)14.87%208.53%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)24.84%115.89%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)16.92%58.28%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Micron (MU) carries a highly aggressive beta of 2.44, indicating much higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, whereas Costco Wholesale (COST) is closer to market-like at 0.84 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.

Risk profile metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Micron (MU)
MetricCOSTMU
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)20.30%83.85%
Beta (5Y)0.842.44
Max Drawdown (5Y)-31.40%-57.63%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.15M27.63M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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COST and MU 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 Micron (MU)
MetricCOSTMU
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.522.44
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.773.87

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Micron (MU) at 88.26% 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
33.48%
COST
28.40%
Q3
22.31%
Median
15.57%
Q1
7.66%
Min
-2.27%

MU

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

88.26%

MU
88.26%
Max
52.82%
Q3
22.26%
Median
10.58%
Q1
1.29%
Min
-16.89%
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Micron (MU): A comparison of their ROE against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Net Margin (TTM)

Micron (MU) at 63.80% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Costco Wholesale (COST) at 3.04%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.04%

Max
5.45%
Q3
3.42%
COST
3.04%
Median
2.44%
Q1
1.86%
Min
-0.06%

MU

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

63.80%

MU
63.80%
Max
63.80%
Q3
28.36%
Median
11.44%
Q1
0.90%
Min
-37.77%
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Micron (MU): A comparison of their net margin against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Micron (MU) at 80.68% turns sales into operating profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 3.79% operates around its industry’s norm.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.79%

Max
6.81%
Q3
5.49%
Median
3.84%
COST
3.79%
Q1
2.00%
Min
0.97%

MU

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

80.68%

MU
80.68%
Max
58.66%
Q3
30.23%
Median
15.91%
Q1
7.54%
Min
-25.74%
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Micron (MU): A comparison of their operating margin against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Micron (MU)
MetricCOSTMU
ROE (TTM)28.40%88.26%
ROA (TTM)8.66%44.56%
Net Margin (TTM)3.04%63.80%
Operating Margin (TTM)3.79%80.68%
Gross Margin (TTM)12.77%80.72%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Micron (MU) at 256.33% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than Costco Wholesale (COST) at 10.14%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Micron (MU) reports EPS growth of 879.31%, ranked against its industry; Costco Wholesale (COST) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Micron (MU)
MetricCOSTMU
Revenue Growth (YoY)10.14%256.33%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)7.76%104.65%
EPS Growth (YoY)--879.31%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)----

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 1.06 and Micron (MU) at 3.31 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
2.04
Q3
1.45
Median
1.17
COST
1.06
Q1
1.00
Min
0.69

MU

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

3.31

Max
10.33
Q3
5.62
Median
3.33
MU
3.31
Q1
2.35
Min
1.03
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Micron (MU): A comparison of their current ratio against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 0.28 and Micron (MU) at 0.04 keep leverage in the lower quartile of their industries, with less balance-sheet debt relative to equity than most peers.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.28

Max
2.59
Q3
1.83
Median
1.24
Q1
0.63
COST
0.28
Min
0.01

MU

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.04

Max
1.46
Q3
0.65
Median
0.27
Q1
0.04
MU
0.04
Min
0.00
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Micron (MU): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Micron (MU)
MetricCOSTMU
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.063.31
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.280.04
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.78-0.35

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 0.52% and Micron (MU) at 0.09% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.52%

Max
2.90%
Q3
1.72%
COST
0.52%
Median
0.43%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

MU

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.09%

Max
1.37%
Q3
0.65%
MU
0.09%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Micron (MU): A comparison of their dividend yield against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 26.69% and Micron (MU) at 0.71% 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
57.98%
Q3
30.05%
COST
26.69%
Median
11.72%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

MU

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.71%

Max
49.64%
Q3
21.71%
MU
0.71%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Micron (MU): A comparison of their payout ratio against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Micron (MU)
MetricCOSTMU
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.52%0.09%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)26.69%0.71%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Micron (MU) at 9.28 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 50.75 sits in the richer quartile — a clear split in what investors pay for each dollar of trailing earnings.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

50.75

COST
50.75
Max
50.75
Q3
33.64
Median
22.19
Q1
16.09
Min
9.28

MU

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

9.28

Max
110.34
Q3
66.81
Median
37.02
Q1
23.96
MU
9.28
Min
8.12
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Micron (MU): A comparison of their P/E ratio against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Micron (MU) at 5.86 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 1.54 sits in the pricier quartile — COST costs more per dollar of sales.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.54

COST
1.54
Max
1.54
Q3
0.81
Median
0.47
Q1
0.26
Min
0.02

MU

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

5.86

Max
21.42
Q3
12.27
MU
5.86
Median
5.76
Q1
2.73
Min
0.00
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Micron (MU): A comparison of their P/S ratio against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Micron (MU) at 5.64 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 13.04 prices above its benchmark range — COST looks rich relative to book.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

13.04

COST
13.04
Max
10.15
Q3
6.27
Median
3.70
Q1
1.85
Min
0.93

MU

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

5.64

Max
14.06
Q3
7.44
MU
5.64
Median
4.29
Q1
2.30
Min
0.20
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Micron (MU): A comparison of their P/B ratio against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Micron (MU)
MetricCOSTMU
P/E Ratio (TTM)50.759.28
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.545.86
P/B Ratio (MRQ)13.045.64
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.45%3.73%