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COST vs. USFD: Costco Wholesale vs. US Foods Stock Comparison

How do Costco Wholesale (COST) and US Foods (USFD) 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 US Foods (USFD) both belong to the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry, though COST is classified under Consumer Staples Merchandise Retail while USFD falls under Food Distributors.

Company profile comparison for Costco Wholesale (COST) and US Foods (USFD)
Profile ItemCOSTUSFD
NameCostco Wholesale CorpUS Foods Holding Corp.
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 Capitalization466.86 billion USD22.90 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateJuly 9, 1986May 26, 2016
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

COST
USFD
GSPC
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. US Foods (USFD), 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 US Foods (USFD). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and US Foods (USFD)
MetricCOSTUSFD
Total Return (1Y)14.87%50.01%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)24.84%38.72%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)16.92%25.33%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

COST
USFD
GSPC
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. US Foods (USFD), 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 US Foods (USFD). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and US Foods (USFD)
MetricCOSTUSFD
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)20.30%31.84%
Beta (5Y)0.840.84
Max Drawdown (5Y)-31.40%-32.80%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.15M2.26M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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COST and USFD 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 US Foods (USFD)
MetricCOSTUSFD
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.521.44
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.772.55

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Costco Wholesale (COST) at 28.40% sits in the top ROE quartile, while US Foods (USFD) at 18.01% 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%

USFD

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

18.01%

Max
33.48%
Q3
22.31%
USFD
18.01%
Median
15.57%
Q1
7.66%
Min
-2.27%
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. US Foods (USFD): A comparison of their ROE against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 3.04% and US Foods (USFD) at 1.97% 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%

USFD

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.97%

Max
5.45%
Q3
3.42%
Median
2.44%
USFD
1.97%
Q1
1.86%
Min
-0.06%
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. US Foods (USFD): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 3.79% and US Foods (USFD) at 3.89% 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%

USFD

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.89%

Max
6.81%
Q3
5.49%
USFD
3.89%
Median
3.84%
Q1
2.00%
Min
0.97%
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. US Foods (USFD): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and US Foods (USFD)
MetricCOSTUSFD
ROE (TTM)28.40%18.01%
ROA (TTM)8.66%6.25%
Net Margin (TTM)3.04%1.97%
Operating Margin (TTM)3.79%3.89%
Gross Margin (TTM)12.77%17.84%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 10.14% and US Foods (USFD) at 4.08% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. US Foods (USFD): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: US Foods (USFD) reports EPS growth of 45.54%, ranked against its industry; Costco Wholesale (COST) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. US Foods (USFD): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and US Foods (USFD)
MetricCOSTUSFD
Revenue Growth (YoY)10.14%4.08%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)7.76%5.00%
EPS Growth (YoY)--45.54%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--42.78%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Costco Wholesale (COST) at 1.06 and US Foods (USFD) at 1.11 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

USFD

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.11

Max
2.04
Q3
1.45
Median
1.17
USFD
1.11
Q1
1.00
Min
0.69
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. US Foods (USFD): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Costco Wholesale (COST) at 0.28 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while US Foods (USFD) at 1.22 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

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

USFD

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.22

Max
2.59
Q3
1.83
Median
1.24
USFD
1.22
Q1
0.63
Min
0.01
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. US Foods (USFD): 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 US Foods (USFD)
MetricCOSTUSFD
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.061.11
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.281.22
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.782.75

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

US Foods (USFD) 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%

USFD

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.00%

Max
2.90%
Q3
1.72%
Median
0.43%
USFD
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. US Foods (USFD): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

US Foods (USFD) 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%

USFD

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.00%

Max
57.98%
Q3
30.05%
Median
11.72%
USFD
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. US Foods (USFD): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Costco Wholesale (COST) and US Foods (USFD)
MetricCOSTUSFD
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.52%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)26.69%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

US Foods (USFD) at 29.80 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 50.75 sits in the richer quartile — COST needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

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

USFD

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

29.80

Max
50.75
Q3
33.64
USFD
29.80
Median
22.19
Q1
16.09
Min
9.28
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. US Foods (USFD): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

US Foods (USFD) at 0.57 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 1.54 sits in the pricier quartile — COST costs more per dollar of sales.

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

USFD

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.57

Max
1.54
Q3
0.81
USFD
0.57
Median
0.47
Q1
0.26
Min
0.02
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. US Foods (USFD): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

US Foods (USFD) at 5.28 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Costco Wholesale (COST) at 13.04 prices above its benchmark range — COST looks rich relative to book.

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

USFD

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

5.28

Max
10.15
Q3
6.27
USFD
5.28
Median
3.70
Q1
1.85
Min
0.93
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Costco Wholesale (COST) vs. US Foods (USFD): 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 US Foods (USFD)
MetricCOSTUSFD
P/E Ratio (TTM)50.7529.80
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.540.57
P/B Ratio (MRQ)13.045.28
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.45%4.17%