Seek Returns

COST vs. PFGC: Costco Wholesale vs. Performance Food Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Performance Food (PFGC)
Profile ItemCOSTPFGC
NameCostco Wholesale CorpPerformance Food Group 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 Distributors
Market Capitalization466.86 billion USD16.96 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateJuly 9, 1986September 30, 2015
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

COST
PFGC
GSPC
Loading price history…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Performance Food (PFGC), 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 Performance Food (PFGC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Performance Food (PFGC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Performance Food (PFGC)
MetricCOSTPFGC
Total Return (1Y)14.87%12.65%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)24.84%22.76%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)16.92%19.12%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

COST
PFGC
GSPC
Loading price history…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Performance Food (PFGC), 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 Performance Food (PFGC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Performance Food (PFGC)
MetricCOSTPFGC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)20.30%32.67%
Beta (5Y)0.840.85
Max Drawdown (5Y)-31.40%-32.34%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.15M1.67M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
COST and PFGC 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 Performance Food (PFGC)
MetricCOSTPFGC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.520.26
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.770.41

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Costco Wholesale (COST) at 28.40% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Performance Food (PFGC) at 8.21% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for COST.

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%

PFGC

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

8.21%

Max
33.48%
Q3
22.31%
Median
15.57%
PFGC
8.21%
Q1
7.66%
Min
-2.27%
Loading chart…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Performance Food (PFGC): 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 Performance Food (PFGC) at 0.61% retains only a bottom-quartile 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%

PFGC

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.61%

Max
5.45%
Q3
3.42%
Median
2.44%
Q1
1.86%
PFGC
0.61%
Min
-0.06%
Loading chart…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Performance Food (PFGC): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Costco Wholesale (COST) at 3.79% runs core operations around its industry’s norm, while Performance Food (PFGC) at 1.51% operates in the bottom quartile.

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%

PFGC

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.51%

Max
6.81%
Q3
5.49%
Median
3.84%
Q1
2.00%
PFGC
1.51%
Min
0.97%
Loading chart…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Performance Food (PFGC): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Performance Food (PFGC)
MetricCOSTPFGC
ROE (TTM)28.40%8.21%
ROA (TTM)8.66%3.14%
Net Margin (TTM)3.04%0.61%
Operating Margin (TTM)3.79%1.51%
Gross Margin (TTM)12.77%12.66%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 10.14% and Performance Food (PFGC) at 7.17% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Loading chart…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Performance Food (PFGC): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Performance Food (PFGC) reports EPS growth of 5.05%, ranked against its industry; Costco Wholesale (COST) has no EPS growth figure this period.

Loading chart…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Performance Food (PFGC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Performance Food (PFGC)
MetricCOSTPFGC
Revenue Growth (YoY)10.14%7.17%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)7.76%5.82%
EPS Growth (YoY)--5.05%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)---3.39%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Costco Wholesale (COST) at 1.06 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Performance Food (PFGC) at 1.61 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets 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

PFGC

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.61

Max
2.04
PFGC
1.61
Q3
1.45
Median
1.17
Q1
1.00
Min
0.69
Loading chart…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Performance Food (PFGC): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Costco Wholesale (COST) at 0.28 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Performance Food (PFGC) at 1.57 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

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

PFGC

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.57

Max
2.59
Q3
1.83
PFGC
1.57
Median
1.24
Q1
0.63
Min
0.01
Loading chart…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Performance Food (PFGC): 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 Performance Food (PFGC)
MetricCOSTPFGC
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.061.61
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.281.57
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.784.46

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Performance Food (PFGC) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Costco Wholesale (COST) reports a yield of 0.52%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

PFGC

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.00%

Max
2.90%
Q3
1.72%
Median
0.43%
PFGC
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Performance Food (PFGC): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Performance Food (PFGC) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Costco Wholesale (COST) reports a payout of 26.69%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

PFGC

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.00%

Max
57.98%
Q3
30.05%
Median
11.72%
PFGC
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Performance Food (PFGC): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Performance Food (PFGC)
MetricCOSTPFGC
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.52%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)26.69%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 50.75 and Performance Food (PFGC) at 42.83 sit in the richer earnings-multiple quartile for P/E ratio, so investors are paying more for TTM earnings than they pay for typical peers.

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

PFGC

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

42.83

Max
50.75
PFGC
42.83
Q3
33.64
Median
22.19
Q1
16.09
Min
9.28
Loading chart…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Performance Food (PFGC): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Performance Food (PFGC) at 0.26 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

PFGC

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.26

Max
1.54
Q3
0.81
Median
0.47
PFGC
0.26
Q1
0.26
Min
0.02
Loading chart…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Performance Food (PFGC): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Performance Food (PFGC) at 3.32 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

PFGC

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.32

Max
10.15
Q3
6.27
Median
3.70
PFGC
3.32
Q1
1.85
Min
0.93
Loading chart…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Performance Food (PFGC): 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 Performance Food (PFGC)
MetricCOSTPFGC
P/E Ratio (TTM)50.7542.83
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.540.26
P/B Ratio (MRQ)13.043.32
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.45%4.90%