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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Target (TGT)

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

Company Profile

Costco Wholesale (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
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 Capitalization431.00 billion USD55.67 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateJuly 9, 1986February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Target (TGT) at 16.19 trades in the lower-multiple quartile for Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM), while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 48.79 sits in the higher-multiple quartile — a clear gap in trailing earnings multiples.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

48.79

Max
48.79
Q3
41.09
Median
21.19
Q1
16.40
Min
10.90

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

16.19

Max
48.79
Q3
41.09
Median
21.19
Q1
16.40
Min
10.90
Costco Wholesale (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 0.52 is priced about in line with its industry on Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM), while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 1.47 sits in the pricier quartile — COST costs more per dollar of sales.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.47

Max
1.66
Q3
0.88
Median
0.47
Q1
0.24
Min
0.02

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.52

Max
1.66
Q3
0.88
Median
0.47
Q1
0.24
Min
0.02
Costco Wholesale (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 3.43 sits near its industry’s typical Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ), while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 26.07 prices above its benchmark range — COST looks rich relative to book.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

26.07

Max
9.51
Q3
5.68
Median
4.01
Q1
2.28
Min
0.74

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.43

Max
9.51
Q3
5.68
Median
4.01
Q1
2.28
Min
0.74
Costco Wholesale (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)48.7916.19
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)1.470.52
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)26.073.43
Free Cash Flow Yield1.61%5.64%

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Costco Wholesale (COST) at 29.15% ranks in the top quartile for Return on Equity (TTM), ahead of Target (TGT) at 22.02%, which sits closer to the industry mid-range.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

29.15%

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

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

22.02%

Max
37.28%
Q3
22.55%
Median
14.81%
Q1
8.71%
Min
-4.85%
Costco Wholesale (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 Wholesale (COST) at 3.01% and Target (TGT) at 3.24% 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%

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.24%

Max
6.51%
Q3
3.51%
Median
2.17%
Q1
1.27%
Min
-0.25%
Costco Wholesale (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 Wholesale (COST) at 3.67% and Target (TGT) at 4.52% 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%

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

4.52%

Max
9.24%
Q3
5.05%
Median
3.55%
Q1
1.17%
Min
-0.11%
Costco Wholesale (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)29.15%22.02%
Return on Assets (TTM)8.67%5.68%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)3.01%3.24%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)3.67%4.52%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)12.88%28.14%

Growth

Revenue Growth

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

Revenue Growth at a Glance

SymbolCOSTTGT
1-Year Revenue Growth8.17%-1.68%
3-Year Revenue CAGR6.64%-1.34%

EPS Growth

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

EPS Growth at a Glance

SymbolCOSTTGT
1-Year EPS Growth9.96%-8.24%
3-Year EPS CAGR11.49%10.78%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Costco Wholesale (COST) at 1.07 keeps Current Ratio (MRQ) within its industry mid-range, while Target (TGT) at 0.93 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for TGT.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.07

Max
1.52
Q3
1.36
Median
1.17
Q1
0.96
Min
0.60

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.93

Max
1.52
Q3
1.36
Median
1.17
Q1
0.96
Min
0.60
Costco Wholesale (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)

Costco Wholesale (COST) at 0.60 maintains Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) in the lower-leverage quartile of industry peers, ahead of Target (TGT) at 1.18, which sits around the industry mid-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

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.18

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

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolCOSTTGT
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.070.93
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)0.601.18
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.071.89

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Target (TGT) at 3.72% 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
4.16%
Q3
2.15%
Median
0.67%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.72%

Max
4.16%
Q3
2.15%
Median
0.67%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Costco Wholesale (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 Wholesale (COST) at 27.01% maintains Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) around its industry median — a balanced dividend policy. Target (TGT) at 59.97% 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
16.88%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

59.97%

Max
60.00%
Q3
31.85%
Median
16.88%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Target (TGT): A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividends at a Glance

SymbolCOSTTGT
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.61%3.72%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)27.01%59.97%

Performance & Risk

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

Performance & Risk at a Glance

SymbolCOSTTGT
1-Year Return-3.31%36.80%
1-Year Volatility18.79%30.36%
Beta0.871.00
3-Month Avg. Volume2.00M5.50M