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Costco (COST) vs. Target (TGT)

This page compares Costco (COST) with Target (TGT) using historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation metrics.

Company Profile

Costco (COST) and Target (TGT) are both classified in the Consumer Staples Merchandise Retail sub-industry within the broader Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

SymbolCOSTTGT
Company NameCostco Wholesale CorporationTarget 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 RetailConsumer Staples Merchandise Retail
Market Capitalization485.50 billion USD57.79 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqGSNYSE
Listing DateJuly 9, 1986February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Historical Performance

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

Historical Performance at a Glance

SymbolCOSTTGT
5-Day Price Return5.93%4.74%
13-Week Price Return8.13%9.18%
26-Week Price Return19.75%38.94%
52-Week Price Return5.80%29.85%
Month-to-Date Return7.86%-1.93%
Year-to-Date Return26.90%30.17%
10-Day Avg. Volume2.10M5.51M
3-Month Avg. Volume2.04M5.83M
3-Month Volatility18.32%29.68%
Beta0.921.01

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Both Costco (COST) at 28.81% and Target (TGT) at 23.89% rank in the top quartile for Return on Equity (TTM) among industry peers, indicating strong returns on shareholders’ equity.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

28.81%

Max
36.06%
Q3
23.69%
Median
14.31%
Q1
8.17%
Min
-4.97%

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

23.89%

Max
36.06%
Q3
23.69%
Median
14.31%
Q1
8.17%
Min
-4.97%
Costco (COST) vs. Target (TGT): A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

Both Costco (COST) at 2.99% and Target (TGT) at 3.54% post Net Profit Margin (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on net profitability.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

2.99%

Max
6.61%
Q3
3.54%
Median
2.37%
Q1
1.17%
Min
-0.25%

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.54%

Max
6.61%
Q3
3.54%
Median
2.37%
Q1
1.17%
Min
-0.25%
Costco (COST) vs. Target (TGT): A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

Both Costco (COST) at 3.82% and Target (TGT) at 4.88% post Operating Profit Margin (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on operating profitability.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.82%

Max
8.84%
Q3
4.88%
Median
3.65%
Q1
1.28%
Min
-1.18%

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

4.88%

Max
8.84%
Q3
4.88%
Median
3.65%
Q1
1.28%
Min
-1.18%
Costco (COST) vs. Target (TGT): A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolCOSTTGT
Return on Equity (TTM)28.81%23.89%
Return on Assets (TTM)10.72%6.35%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)2.99%3.54%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)3.82%4.88%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)12.93%27.93%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Costco (COST) at 1.06 and Target (TGT) at 0.94 carry Current Ratio (MRQ) within their industry mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.06

Max
1.93
Q3
1.37
Median
1.14
Q1
0.94
Min
0.60

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.94

Max
1.93
Q3
1.37
Median
1.14
Q1
0.94
Min
0.60
Costco (COST) vs. Target (TGT): A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

Both Costco (COST) at 0.18 and Target (TGT) at 1.02 post Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on leverage.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.18

Max
2.56
Q3
1.23
Median
0.54
Q1
0.18
Min
0.00

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.02

Max
2.56
Q3
1.23
Median
0.54
Q1
0.18
Min
0.00
Costco (COST) vs. Target (TGT): A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

Costco (COST) posts Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) of 91.27, above its industry benchmark range, while Target (TGT) at 11.71 sits closer to the industry mid-range.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

91.27

Max
20.24
Q3
20.10
Median
9.06
Q1
3.31
Min
-8.07

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

11.71

Max
20.24
Q3
20.10
Median
9.06
Q1
3.31
Min
-8.07
Costco (COST) vs. Target (TGT): A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolCOSTTGT
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.060.94
Quick Ratio (MRQ)0.590.35
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)0.181.02
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)91.2711.71

Growth

Revenue Growth

Costco (COST) vs. Target (TGT): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

Revenue Growth at a Glance

SymbolCOSTTGT
Revenue Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)9.22%-1.49%
Revenue Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)8.40%-1.68%
3-Year Revenue CAGR6.64%-1.34%
5-Year Revenue CAGR10.54%2.29%

EPS Growth

Costco (COST) vs. Target (TGT): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth at a Glance

SymbolCOSTTGT
EPS Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)13.93%-4.59%
EPS Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)12.26%-8.21%
3-Year EPS CAGR11.51%10.78%
5-Year EPS CAGR15.10%-1.21%

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Target (TGT) at 3.59% reports Dividend Yield (TTM) in the top quartile of industry peers, ahead of Costco (COST) at 0.59%, which sits around the industry mid-range.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.59%

Max
3.79%
Q3
1.97%
Median
0.71%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.59%

Max
3.79%
Q3
1.97%
Median
0.71%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Costco (COST) vs. Target (TGT): A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Costco (COST) at 33.01% maintains Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) around its industry median — a balanced dividend policy. Target (TGT) at 55.41% sits outside the typical mid-range, leaning toward more retention or more distribution than the industry median.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

33.01%

Max
59.10%
Q3
34.35%
Median
20.99%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

55.41%

Max
59.10%
Q3
34.35%
Median
20.99%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Costco (COST) vs. Target (TGT): A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend at a Glance

SymbolCOSTTGT
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.59%3.59%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)33.01%55.41%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Target (TGT) at 15.42 trades in the lower-multiple quartile for Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM), while Costco (COST) at 56.23 sits in the higher-multiple quartile — a clear gap in trailing earnings multiples.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

56.23

Max
56.23
Q3
39.93
Median
20.28
Q1
15.79
Min
12.13

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

15.42

Max
56.23
Q3
39.93
Median
20.28
Q1
15.79
Min
12.13
Costco (COST) vs. Target (TGT): A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

Target (TGT) at 0.55 carries typical industry Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM), while Costco (COST) at 1.68 sits in the higher-multiple quartile — COST carries a higher trailing revenue multiple relative to peers.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.68

Max
1.68
Q3
0.91
Median
0.53
Q1
0.29
Min
0.10

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.55

Max
1.68
Q3
0.91
Median
0.53
Q1
0.29
Min
0.10
Costco (COST) vs. Target (TGT): A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

Target (TGT) at 3.07 hovers around the typical industry Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ), while Costco (COST) at 14.09 sits above its industry benchmark range — an elevated book-value multiple for COST relative to peers.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

14.09

Max
9.93
Q3
5.88
Median
3.71
Q1
1.93
Min
0.79

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.07

Max
9.93
Q3
5.88
Median
3.71
Q1
1.93
Min
0.79
Costco (COST) vs. Target (TGT): A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolCOSTTGT
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)56.2315.42
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)1.680.55
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)14.093.07
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)52.8317.05