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COST vs. TSLA: Costco Wholesale vs. Tesla Stock Comparison

How do Costco Wholesale (COST) and Tesla (TSLA) 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) is classified in the Consumer Staples sector (Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail), whereas Tesla (TSLA) belongs to Consumer Discretionary (Automobiles & Components) — their GICS classifications point to very different parts of the market.

Company profile comparison for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Tesla (TSLA)
Profile ItemCOSTTSLA
NameCostco Wholesale CorpTesla, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer StaplesConsumer Discretionary
GICS Industry GroupConsumer Staples Distribution & RetailAutomobiles & Components
GICS IndustryConsumer Staples Distribution & RetailAutomobiles
GICS Sub-IndustryConsumer Staples Merchandise RetailAutomobile Manufacturers
Market Capitalization466.86 billion USD1,415.96 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateJuly 9, 1986June 29, 2010
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

COST
TSLA
GSPC
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Tesla (TSLA), 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

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

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Tesla (TSLA)
MetricCOSTTSLA
Total Return (1Y)14.87%-12.23%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)24.84%21.54%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)16.92%2.02%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

COST
TSLA
GSPC
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Tesla (TSLA), 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

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Tesla (TSLA)
MetricCOSTTSLA
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)20.30%45.89%
Beta (5Y)0.841.75
Max Drawdown (5Y)-31.40%-72.97%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.15M37.45M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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COST and TSLA are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. Each dashed Capital Allocation Line uses that stock's own industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Tesla (TSLA)
MetricCOSTTSLA
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.52-0.36
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.77-0.49

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Costco Wholesale (COST) at 28.40% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Tesla (TSLA) at 3.84% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for COST.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

28.40%

Max
33.48%
COST
28.40%
Q3
22.31%
Median
15.57%
Q1
7.66%
Min
-2.27%

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

3.84%

Max
43.84%
Q3
11.73%
TSLA
3.84%
Median
3.48%
Q1
-19.67%
Min
-54.88%
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their ROE against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Automobiles & Components industry group benchmarks.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 3.04% and Tesla (TSLA) at 3.11% 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

3.04%

Max
5.45%
Q3
3.42%
COST
3.04%
Median
2.44%
Q1
1.86%
Min
-0.06%

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

3.11%

Max
15.15%
Q3
4.78%
TSLA
3.11%
Median
1.56%
Q1
-4.16%
Min
-9.55%
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their net margin against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Automobiles & Components industry group benchmarks.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 3.79% and Tesla (TSLA) at 5.36% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.79%

Max
6.81%
Q3
5.49%
Median
3.84%
COST
3.79%
Q1
2.00%
Min
0.97%

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

5.36%

Max
18.35%
Q3
8.67%
TSLA
5.36%
Median
4.42%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-8.50%
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their operating margin against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Automobiles & Components industry group benchmarks.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Tesla (TSLA)
MetricCOSTTSLA
ROE (TTM)28.40%3.84%
ROA (TTM)8.66%1.35%
Net Margin (TTM)3.04%3.11%
Operating Margin (TTM)3.79%5.36%
Gross Margin (TTM)12.77%19.29%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Costco Wholesale (COST) at 10.14% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Tesla (TSLA) at -2.93% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Tesla (TSLA) reports EPS growth of -47.06%, ranked against its industry; Costco Wholesale (COST) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Tesla (TSLA)
MetricCOSTTSLA
Revenue Growth (YoY)10.14%-2.93%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)7.76%5.19%
EPS Growth (YoY)---47.06%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)---33.18%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 1.06 and Tesla (TSLA) at 1.74 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.06

Max
2.04
Q3
1.45
Median
1.17
COST
1.06
Q1
1.00
Min
0.69

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

1.74

Max
3.65
Q3
2.31
TSLA
1.74
Median
1.65
Q1
1.13
Min
0.32
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their current ratio against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Automobiles & Components industry group benchmarks.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 0.28 and Tesla (TSLA) at 0.18 keep leverage in the lower quartile of their industries, with less balance-sheet debt relative to equity than most peers.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.28

Max
2.59
Q3
1.83
Median
1.24
Q1
0.63
COST
0.28
Min
0.01

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

0.18

Max
2.03
Q3
1.13
Median
0.76
Q1
0.33
TSLA
0.18
Min
0.01
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Automobiles & Components industry group benchmarks.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Tesla (TSLA)
MetricCOSTTSLA
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.061.74
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.280.18
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.78-2.95

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Tesla (TSLA) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Costco Wholesale (COST) reports a yield of 0.52%, ranking against industry peers normally.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.52%

Max
2.90%
Q3
1.72%
COST
0.52%
Median
0.43%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

0.00%

Max
4.79%
Q3
2.24%
TSLA
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their dividend yield against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Automobiles & Components industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Tesla (TSLA) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Costco Wholesale (COST) reports a payout of 26.69%, ranking against industry peers normally.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

26.69%

Max
57.98%
Q3
30.05%
COST
26.69%
Median
11.72%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

0.00%

Max
64.17%
Q3
36.51%
TSLA
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their payout ratio against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Automobiles & Components industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Tesla (TSLA)
MetricCOSTTSLA
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.52%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)26.69%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on trailing earnings: Costco Wholesale (COST) at 50.75 sits in the richer P/E ratio quartile, and Tesla (TSLA) at 393.65 is richer still, above its industry range.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

50.75

COST
50.75
Max
50.75
Q3
33.64
Median
22.19
Q1
16.09
Min
9.28

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

393.65

TSLA
393.65
Max
40.42
Q3
24.40
Median
19.50
Q1
11.03
Min
6.05
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their P/E ratio against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Automobiles & Components industry group benchmarks.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on sales: Costco Wholesale (COST) at 1.54 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Tesla (TSLA) at 13.67 prices even higher, above its industry range.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.54

COST
1.54
Max
1.54
Q3
0.81
Median
0.47
Q1
0.26
Min
0.02

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

13.67

TSLA
13.67
Max
2.03
Q3
0.99
Median
0.51
Q1
0.23
Min
0.00
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their P/S ratio against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Automobiles & Components industry group benchmarks.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 13.04 and Tesla (TSLA) at 15.86 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

13.04

COST
13.04
Max
10.15
Q3
6.27
Median
3.70
Q1
1.85
Min
0.93

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

15.86

TSLA
15.86
Max
4.18
Q3
2.39
Median
1.33
Q1
0.72
Min
-1.23
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their P/B ratio against their respective Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Automobiles & Components industry group benchmarks.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and Tesla (TSLA)
MetricCOSTTSLA
P/E Ratio (TTM)50.75393.65
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.5413.67
P/B Ratio (MRQ)13.0415.86
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.45%0.35%