Seek Returns

COST vs. SPCX: Costco Wholesale vs. Space Exploration Stock Comparison

How do Costco Wholesale (COST) and Space Exploration (SPCX) 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 Space Exploration (SPCX) belongs to Communication Services (Telecommunication Services) — their GICS classifications point to very different parts of the market.

Costco Wholesale (COST) has been public since July 9, 1986, giving it decades of market history across multiple cycles, while Space Exploration (SPCX) listed only on June 12, 2026 and lacks comparable through-cycle data.

Company profile comparison for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Space Exploration (SPCX)
Profile ItemCOSTSPCX
NameCostco Wholesale CorpSpace Exploration Technologies Corp. Class A Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer StaplesCommunication Services
GICS Industry GroupConsumer Staples Distribution & RetailTelecommunication Services
GICS IndustryConsumer Staples Distribution & RetailDiversified Telecommunication Services
GICS Sub-IndustryConsumer Staples Merchandise RetailAlternative Carriers
Market Capitalization466.86 billion USD1,823.53 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateJuly 9, 1986June 12, 2026
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

COST
SPCX
GSPC
Loading price history…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Space Exploration (SPCX), 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 Space Exploration (SPCX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Space Exploration (SPCX)
MetricCOSTSPCX
Total Return (1Y)14.87%--
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)24.84%--
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)16.92%--

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Space Exploration (SPCX) carries a highly aggressive beta of 5.69, 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 Space Exploration (SPCX)
MetricCOSTSPCX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)20.30%82.86%
Beta (5Y)0.845.69
Max Drawdown (5Y)-31.40%-48.78%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.15M97.49M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Both COST and SPCX need 1-year volatility and 1-year return to plot risk-return positioning.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Space Exploration (SPCX)
MetricCOSTSPCX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.52--
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.77--

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Costco Wholesale (COST) earns 28.40% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Space Exploration (SPCX) has no ROE this period.

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%

SPCX

Telecommunication Services industry group

--

Max
31.74%
Q3
17.02%
Median
7.32%
Q1
-5.16%
Min
-20.26%
SPCX
--
Loading chart…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Space Exploration (SPCX): SPCX does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; COST is benchmarked against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Space Exploration (SPCX) reports a negative net margin of -8.61%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Costco Wholesale (COST) reports 3.04%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

SPCX

Telecommunication Services industry group

-8.61%

Max
30.45%
Q3
11.78%
Median
7.20%
Q1
-3.86%
SPCX
-8.61%
Min
-18.49%
Loading chart…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Space Exploration (SPCX): A comparison of their net margin against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Telecommunication Services industry group benchmarks.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Space Exploration (SPCX) at 27.58% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Costco Wholesale (COST) at 3.79%, which runs 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%

SPCX

Telecommunication Services industry group

27.58%

Max
35.53%
SPCX
27.58%
Q3
22.79%
Median
12.87%
Q1
0.82%
Min
-29.20%
Loading chart…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Space Exploration (SPCX): A comparison of their operating margin against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Telecommunication Services industry group benchmarks.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Space Exploration (SPCX)
MetricCOSTSPCX
ROE (TTM)28.40%--
ROA (TTM)8.66%--
Net Margin (TTM)3.04%-8.61%
Operating Margin (TTM)3.79%27.58%
Gross Margin (TTM)12.77%56.76%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Space Exploration (SPCX) at 33.24% 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.

Loading chart…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Space Exploration (SPCX): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Space Exploration (SPCX) reports EPS growth of -25,600.00%, ranked against its industry; Costco Wholesale (COST) has no EPS growth figure this period.

Loading chart…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Space Exploration (SPCX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Space Exploration (SPCX)
MetricCOSTSPCX
Revenue Growth (YoY)10.14%33.24%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)7.76%--
EPS Growth (YoY)---25,600.00%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)----

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Costco Wholesale (COST) at 1.06 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Space Exploration (SPCX) at 3.08 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

SPCX

Telecommunication Services industry group

3.08

SPCX
3.08
Max
2.85
Q3
1.64
Median
0.97
Q1
0.78
Min
0.26
Loading chart…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Space Exploration (SPCX): A comparison of their current ratio against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Telecommunication Services industry group benchmarks.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 0.28 and Space Exploration (SPCX) at 0.22 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

SPCX

Telecommunication Services industry group

0.22

Max
3.94
Q3
2.11
Median
1.32
Q1
0.65
SPCX
0.22
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Space Exploration (SPCX): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Telecommunication Services industry group benchmarks.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Space Exploration (SPCX)
MetricCOSTSPCX
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.063.08
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.280.22
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.78-4.31

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Space Exploration (SPCX) 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%

SPCX

Telecommunication Services industry group

0.00%

Max
6.10%
Q3
2.63%
SPCX
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Space Exploration (SPCX): A comparison of their dividend yield against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Telecommunication Services industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Space Exploration (SPCX) 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%

SPCX

Telecommunication Services industry group

0.00%

Max
121.72%
Q3
68.18%
Median
4.06%
SPCX
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Space Exploration (SPCX): A comparison of their payout ratio against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Telecommunication Services industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Space Exploration (SPCX)
MetricCOSTSPCX
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.52%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)26.69%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on trailing earnings: Costco Wholesale (COST) at 50.75 sits in the richer P/E ratio quartile, and Space Exploration (SPCX) at 583.78 is richer still, above its industry range.

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

SPCX

Telecommunication Services industry group

583.78

SPCX
583.78
Max
30.40
Q3
23.75
Median
13.30
Q1
8.65
Min
2.50
Loading chart…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Space Exploration (SPCX): A comparison of their P/E ratio against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Telecommunication Services industry group benchmarks.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on sales: Costco Wholesale (COST) at 1.54 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Space Exploration (SPCX) at 56.91 prices even higher, above its industry range.

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

SPCX

Telecommunication Services industry group

56.91

SPCX
56.91
Max
3.01
Q3
1.73
Median
0.81
Q1
0.36
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Space Exploration (SPCX): A comparison of their P/S ratio against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Telecommunication Services industry group benchmarks.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 13.04 and Space Exploration (SPCX) at 10.31 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.

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

SPCX

Telecommunication Services industry group

10.31

SPCX
10.31
Max
8.10
Q3
3.98
Median
1.53
Q1
0.65
Min
-2.39
Loading chart…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Space Exploration (SPCX): A comparison of their P/B ratio against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Telecommunication Services industry group benchmarks.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Space Exploration (SPCX)
MetricCOSTSPCX
P/E Ratio (TTM)50.75583.78
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.5456.91
P/B Ratio (MRQ)13.0410.31
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.45%--