COST vs. TGT: Costco Wholesale vs. Target Stock Comparison

August 16, 2026

How do Costco Wholesale (COST) and Target (TGT) 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 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.

Company profile comparison for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Target (TGT)
Profile Item	COST	TGT
Name	Costco Wholesale Corporation	Target Corporation
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Consumer Staples	Consumer Staples
GICS Industry Group	Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail	Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail
GICS Industry	Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail	Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail
GICS Sub-Industry	Consumer Staples Merchandise Retail	Consumer Staples Merchandise Retail
Market Capitalization	426.23 billion USD	70.16 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	NYSE
Listing Date	July 9, 1986	February 21, 1973
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

COST

TGT

GSPC

Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Target (TGT), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

Loading price history…

Trailing total returns for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Target (TGT). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…

Calendar-year total returns for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Target (TGT). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Target (TGT)
Metric	COST	TGT
Total Return (1Y)	-0.89%	54.18%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	21.29%	10.35%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	17.76%	-7.08%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

COST

TGT

GSPC

Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Target (TGT), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

Loading price history…

Distribution of monthly total returns for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Target (TGT). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Target (TGT)
Metric	COST	TGT
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	19.72%	30.64%
Beta (5Y)	0.86	1.00
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-31.40%	-64.40%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.36M	4.69M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

COST and TGT 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.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Target (TGT)
Metric	COST	TGT
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.25	1.64
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.34	2.47

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 29.15% and Target (TGT) at 22.02% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

29.15%

Max: 35.20%
COST: 29.15%
Q3: 21.90%
Median: 15.63%
Q1: 8.48%
Min: -2.30%

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

22.02%

Max: 35.20%
TGT: 22.02%
Q3: 21.90%
Median: 15.63%
Q1: 8.48%
Min: -2.30%

Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Target (TGT): 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 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: 5.59%
Q3: 3.39%
COST: 3.01%
Median: 2.27%
Q1: 1.59%
Min: -0.12%

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.24%

Max: 5.59%
Q3: 3.39%
TGT: 3.24%
Median: 2.27%
Q1: 1.59%
Min: -0.12%

Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Target (TGT): 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 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: 9.09%
Q3: 5.18%
Median: 3.89%
COST: 3.67%
Q1: 1.70%
Min: 0.00%

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

4.52%

Max: 9.09%
Q3: 5.18%
TGT: 4.52%
Median: 3.89%
Q1: 1.70%
Min: 0.00%

Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Target (TGT): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Target (TGT)
Metric	COST	TGT
ROE (TTM)	29.15%	22.02%
ROA (TTM)	8.67%	5.68%
Net Margin (TTM)	3.01%	3.24%
Operating Margin (TTM)	3.67%	4.52%
Gross Margin (TTM)	12.88%	28.14%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Costco Wholesale (COST) at 8.17% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Target (TGT) at -1.68% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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

EPS Growth

Both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 9.96% and Target (TGT) at -8.24% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Target (TGT)
Metric	COST	TGT
Revenue Growth (YoY)	8.17%	-1.68%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	6.64%	-1.34%
EPS Growth (YoY)	9.96%	-8.24%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	11.49%	10.78%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Costco Wholesale (COST) at 1.07 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical 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: 2.15
Q3: 1.50
Median: 1.17
COST: 1.07
Q1: 1.00
Min: 0.68

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.93

Max: 2.15
Q3: 1.50
Median: 1.17
Q1: 1.00
TGT: 0.93
Min: 0.68

Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Target (TGT): 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 industry quartile, while Target (TGT) at 1.18 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.60

Max: 3.73
Q3: 1.88
Median: 1.26
Q1: 0.64
COST: 0.60
Min: 0.00

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.18

Max: 3.73
Q3: 1.88
Median: 1.26
TGT: 1.18
Q1: 0.64
Min: 0.00

Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Target (TGT): 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 Target (TGT)
Metric	COST	TGT
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.07	0.93
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.60	1.18
Net Debt / EBITDA	-0.07	1.89

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Target (TGT) at 2.92% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 0.56% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, TGT the richer one.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.56%

Max: 2.92%
Q3: 1.87%
COST: 0.56%
Median: 0.27%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

2.92%

TGT: 2.92%
Max: 2.92%
Q3: 1.87%
Median: 0.27%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Target (TGT): 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 Target (TGT) at 59.97% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

27.01%

Max: 80.12%
Q3: 33.46%
COST: 27.01%
Median: 12.07%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

59.97%

Max: 80.12%
TGT: 59.97%
Q3: 33.46%
Median: 12.07%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Target (TGT): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Target (TGT)
Metric	COST	TGT
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.56%	2.92%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	27.01%	59.97%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Target (TGT) at 20.41 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 48.32 sits in the richer quartile — COST needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

48.32

Max: 51.70
COST: 48.32
Q3: 37.59
Median: 21.47
Q1: 16.83
Min: 11.73

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

20.41

Max: 51.70
Q3: 37.59
Median: 21.47
TGT: 20.41
Q1: 16.83
Min: 11.73

Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Target (TGT): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Target (TGT) at 0.66 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 1.45 sits in the pricier quartile — COST costs more per dollar of sales.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.45

Max: 1.78
COST: 1.45
Q3: 0.95
Median: 0.48
Q1: 0.24
Min: 0.02

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.66

Max: 1.78
Q3: 0.95
TGT: 0.66
Median: 0.48
Q1: 0.24
Min: 0.02

Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Target (TGT): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Target (TGT) at 4.28 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 25.78 prices above its benchmark range — COST looks rich relative to book.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

25.78

COST: 25.78
Max: 9.73
Q3: 6.68
Median: 4.09
Q1: 2.08
Min: 0.63

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

4.28

Max: 9.73
Q3: 6.68
TGT: 4.28
Median: 4.09
Q1: 2.08
Min: 0.63

Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Target (TGT): 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 Target (TGT)
Metric	COST	TGT
P/E Ratio (TTM)	48.32	20.41
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.45	0.66
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	25.78	4.28
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.63%	4.48%