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COST vs. SYY: Costco Wholesale vs. Sysco Stock Comparison

How do Costco Wholesale (COST) and Sysco (SYY) 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 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.

Company profile comparison for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Sysco (SYY)
Profile ItemCOSTSYY
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 Capitalization414.86 billion USD39.97 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateJuly 9, 1986May 8, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

COST
SYY
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Sysco (SYY): 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 Sysco (SYY). Returns over one year are annualized.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Sysco (SYY)
MetricCOSTSYY
Total Return (1Y)-4.97%13.52%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

COST
SYY
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Sysco (SYY): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Sysco (SYY)
MetricCOSTSYY
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)18.91%27.04%
Beta (5Y)0.880.64
Avg. Volume (3M)2.23M4.84M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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COST and SYY 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.

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Sysco (SYY) at 81.90% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Costco Wholesale (COST) at 29.15% also sits in the top quartile.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

29.15%

Max
37.28%
COST
29.15%
Q3
22.55%
Median
14.81%
Q1
8.71%
Min
-2.30%

SYY

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

81.90%

SYY
81.90%
Max
37.28%
Q3
22.55%
Median
14.81%
Q1
8.71%
Min
-2.30%
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Sysco (SYY): A comparison of their ROE against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Net 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%
COST
3.01%
Median
2.17%
Q1
1.27%
Min
-0.12%

SYY

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

2.08%

Max
6.51%
Q3
3.51%
Median
2.17%
SYY
2.08%
Q1
1.27%
Min
-0.12%
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Sysco (SYY): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Operating 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
5.28%
COST
3.67%
Median
3.45%
Q1
1.19%
Min
-0.11%

SYY

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.75%

Max
9.24%
Q3
5.28%
SYY
3.75%
Median
3.45%
Q1
1.19%
Min
-0.11%
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Sysco (SYY): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Sysco (SYY)
MetricCOSTSYY
ROE (TTM)29.15%81.90%
ROA (TTM)8.67%8.29%
Net Margin (TTM)3.01%2.08%
Operating Margin (TTM)3.67%3.75%
Gross Margin (TTM)12.88%18.54%

Growth

Revenue Growth

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

Revenue Growth Metrics

Revenue growth metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Sysco (SYY)
MetricCOSTSYY
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.17%3.20%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)6.64%5.84%

EPS Growth

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

EPS Growth Metrics

EPS growth metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Sysco (SYY)
MetricCOSTSYY
EPS Growth (YoY)9.96%-4.11%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)11.49%12.21%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 1.07 and Sysco (SYY) at 1.33 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.07

Max
1.52
Q3
1.36
Median
1.17
COST
1.07
Q1
0.95
Min
0.60

SYY

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.33

Max
1.52
Q3
1.36
SYY
1.33
Median
1.17
Q1
0.95
Min
0.60
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Sysco (SYY): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Costco Wholesale (COST) at 0.60 keeps leverage in the lower quartile, while Sysco (SYY) at 6.70 is above its industry debt-to-equity ratio range.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.60

Max
3.73
Q3
1.93
Median
1.29
Q1
0.65
COST
0.60
Min
0.00

SYY

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

6.70

SYY
6.70
Max
3.73
Q3
1.93
Median
1.29
Q1
0.65
Min
0.00
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Sysco (SYY): 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 Sysco (SYY)
MetricCOSTSYY
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.071.33
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.606.70
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.072.96

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Sysco (SYY) at 2.59% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 0.57% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, SYY the richer one.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.57%

Max
3.39%
Q3
1.72%
COST
0.57%
Median
0.43%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

SYY

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

2.59%

Max
3.39%
SYY
2.59%
Q3
1.72%
Median
0.43%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Sysco (SYY): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Costco Wholesale (COST) at 27.01% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Sysco (SYY) at 60.00% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

27.01%

Max
60.00%
Q3
31.85%
COST
27.01%
Median
16.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

SYY

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

60.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Sysco (SYY)
MetricCOSTSYY
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.57%2.59%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)27.01%60.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Sysco (SYY) at 23.22 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 46.94 sits in the richer quartile — COST needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

46.94

Max
53.23
COST
46.94
Q3
36.44
Median
20.05
Q1
16.76
Min
11.49

SYY

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

23.22

Max
53.23
Q3
36.44
SYY
23.22
Median
20.05
Q1
16.76
Min
11.49
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Sysco (SYY): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Sysco (SYY) at 0.48 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 1.41 sits in the pricier quartile — COST costs more per dollar of sales.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.41

Max
1.67
COST
1.41
Q3
0.92
Median
0.51
Q1
0.23
Min
0.02

SYY

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.48

Max
1.67
Q3
0.92
Median
0.51
SYY
0.48
Q1
0.23
Min
0.02
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Sysco (SYY): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 25.09 and Sysco (SYY) at 17.40 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

25.09

COST
25.09
Max
9.56
Q3
6.33
Median
4.05
Q1
1.97
Min
0.73

SYY

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

17.40

SYY
17.40
Max
9.56
Q3
6.33
Median
4.05
Q1
1.97
Min
0.73
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Sysco (SYY): 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 Sysco (SYY)
MetricCOSTSYY
P/E Ratio (TTM)46.9423.22
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.410.48
P/B Ratio (MRQ)25.0917.40
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.68%4.67%