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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Sysco (SYY)

This page compares Costco Wholesale (COST) with Sysco (SYY) using performance and risk, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividends, and valuation metrics.

Company Profile

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

SymbolCOSTSYY
NameCostco Wholesale CorporationSysco Corporation
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 Capitalization429.55 billion USD37.08 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateJuly 9, 1986May 8, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Sysco (SYY) at 21.54 carries typical industry Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM), while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 48.77 sits in the higher-multiple quartile — COST carries a higher trailing earnings multiple relative to peers.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

48.77

Max
48.77
Q3
39.42
Median
21.54
Q1
16.82
Min
10.82

SYY

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

21.54

Max
48.77
Q3
39.42
Median
21.54
Q1
16.82
Min
10.82
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Sysco (SYY): A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

Sysco (SYY) at 0.44 is priced about in line with its industry on Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM), while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 1.46 sits in the pricier quartile — COST costs more per dollar of sales.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.46

Max
1.66
Q3
0.90
Median
0.50
Q1
0.25
Min
0.02

SYY

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.44

Max
1.66
Q3
0.90
Median
0.50
Q1
0.25
Min
0.02
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Sysco (SYY): A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 25.98 and Sysco (SYY) at 16.27 look expensive — each Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) sits above its industry’s benchmark range.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

25.98

Max
9.51
Q3
6.04
Median
4.08
Q1
2.12
Min
0.75

SYY

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

16.27

Max
9.51
Q3
6.04
Median
4.08
Q1
2.12
Min
0.75
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Sysco (SYY): A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolCOSTSYY
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)48.7721.54
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)1.460.44
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)25.9816.27
Free Cash Flow Yield1.62%5.04%

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Sysco (SYY) leads with Return on Equity (TTM) of 81.90%, above its industry benchmark range, while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 29.15% also ranks strongly in the top quartile.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

29.15%

Max
37.28%
Q3
22.55%
Median
14.81%
Q1
8.71%
Min
-4.85%

SYY

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

81.90%

Max
37.28%
Q3
22.55%
Median
14.81%
Q1
8.71%
Min
-4.85%
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Sysco (SYY): A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

Both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 3.01% and Sysco (SYY) at 2.08% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.01%

Max
6.51%
Q3
3.51%
Median
2.17%
Q1
1.27%
Min
-0.25%

SYY

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

2.08%

Max
6.51%
Q3
3.51%
Median
2.17%
Q1
1.27%
Min
-0.25%
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Sysco (SYY): A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

Both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 3.67% and Sysco (SYY) at 3.75% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.67%

Max
9.24%
Q3
5.05%
Median
3.55%
Q1
1.17%
Min
-0.11%

SYY

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.75%

Max
9.24%
Q3
5.05%
Median
3.55%
Q1
1.17%
Min
-0.11%
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Sysco (SYY): A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolCOSTSYY
Return on Equity (TTM)29.15%81.90%
Return on Assets (TTM)8.67%8.29%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)3.01%2.08%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)3.67%3.75%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)12.88%18.54%

Growth

Revenue Growth

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

Revenue Growth at a Glance

SymbolCOSTSYY
1-Year Revenue Growth8.17%3.20%
3-Year Revenue CAGR6.64%5.84%

EPS Growth

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

EPS Growth at a Glance

SymbolCOSTSYY
1-Year EPS Growth9.96%-4.11%
3-Year EPS CAGR11.49%12.21%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 1.07 and Sysco (SYY) at 1.33 carry Current Ratio (MRQ) within their industry mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.07

Max
1.52
Q3
1.36
Median
1.17
Q1
0.96
Min
0.60

SYY

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.33

Max
1.52
Q3
1.36
Median
1.17
Q1
0.96
Min
0.60
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Sysco (SYY): A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

Costco Wholesale (COST) at 0.60 maintains Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) in the lower-leverage quartile, while Sysco (SYY) at 6.70 sits above its industry benchmark range.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.60

Max
3.40
Q3
2.01
Median
1.29
Q1
0.65
Min
0.00

SYY

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

6.70

Max
3.40
Q3
2.01
Median
1.29
Q1
0.65
Min
0.00
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Sysco (SYY): A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolCOSTSYY
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.071.33
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)0.606.70
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.072.96

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Sysco (SYY) at 2.84% reports Dividend Yield (TTM) in the top quartile of industry peers, ahead of Costco Wholesale (COST) at 0.61%, which sits around the industry mid-range.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.61%

Max
4.34%
Q3
2.11%
Median
0.66%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

SYY

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

2.84%

Max
4.34%
Q3
2.11%
Median
0.66%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Sysco (SYY): A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Costco Wholesale (COST) at 27.01% maintains Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) around its industry median — a balanced dividend policy. Sysco (SYY) at 60.00% sits outside the typical mid-range, leaning toward more retention or more distribution than the industry median.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

27.01%

Max
60.00%
Q3
31.85%
Median
16.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

SYY

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

60.00%

Max
60.00%
Q3
31.85%
Median
16.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Sysco (SYY): A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividends at a Glance

SymbolCOSTSYY
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.61%2.84%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)27.01%60.00%

Performance & Risk

COST
SYY
Loading price history…
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Sysco (SYY): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Performance & Risk at a Glance

SymbolCOSTSYY
1-Year Return-3.42%5.61%
1-Year Volatility18.81%26.96%
Beta0.870.65
3-Month Avg. Volume1.98M4.63M