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.
| Profile Item | COST | SPCX |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Costco Wholesale Corp | Space Exploration Technologies Corp. Class A Common Stock |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Consumer Staples | Communication Services |
| GICS Industry Group | Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail | Telecommunication Services |
| GICS Industry | Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail | Diversified Telecommunication Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Consumer Staples Merchandise Retail | Alternative Carriers |
| Market Capitalization | 466.86 billion USD | 1,823.53 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | July 9, 1986 | June 12, 2026 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | COST | SPCX |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 14.87% | -- |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 24.84% | -- |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 16.92% | -- |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
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.
| Metric | COST | SPCX |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 20.30% | 82.86% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.84 | 5.69 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -31.40% | -48.78% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.15M | 97.49M |
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
| Metric | COST | SPCX |
|---|---|---|
| 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
- --
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%
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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | COST | SPCX |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | COST | SPCX |
|---|---|---|
| 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
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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | COST | SPCX |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.06 | 3.08 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.28 | 0.22 |
| 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%
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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | COST | SPCX |
|---|---|---|
| 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
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
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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | COST | SPCX |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 50.75 | 583.78 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.54 | 56.91 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 13.04 | 10.31 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.45% | -- |