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Costco (COST) vs. Walmart (WMT)

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

Company Profile

Costco (COST) and Walmart (WMT) 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.

SymbolCOSTWMT
Company NameCostco Wholesale CorporationWalmart Inc.
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 Capitalization466.03 billion USD967.20 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqGSNasdaqGS
Listing DateJuly 9, 1986August 25, 1972
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Historical Performance

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

Historical Performance at a Glance

SymbolCOSTWMT
5-Day Price Return0.14%-1.22%
13-Week Price Return6.34%3.34%
26-Week Price Return13.55%26.50%
52-Week Price Return2.45%33.79%
Month-to-Date Return3.54%-0.82%
Year-to-Date Return21.81%17.45%
10-Day Avg. Volume2.08M18.27M
3-Month Avg. Volume2.02M26.29M
3-Month Volatility18.93%23.47%
Beta0.920.65

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Both Costco (COST) at 28.81% and Walmart (WMT) at 23.69% 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
22.26%
Median
14.31%
Q1
8.17%
Min
-4.97%

WMT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

23.69%

Max
36.06%
Q3
22.26%
Median
14.31%
Q1
8.17%
Min
-4.97%
Costco (COST) vs. Walmart (WMT): 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 Walmart (WMT) at 3.07% 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%

WMT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.07%

Max
6.61%
Q3
3.54%
Median
2.37%
Q1
1.17%
Min
-0.25%
Costco (COST) vs. Walmart (WMT): 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 Walmart (WMT) at 4.18% 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
4.77%
Median
3.65%
Q1
1.28%
Min
-1.18%

WMT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

4.18%

Max
8.84%
Q3
4.77%
Median
3.65%
Q1
1.28%
Min
-1.18%
Costco (COST) vs. Walmart (WMT): A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolCOSTWMT
Return on Equity (TTM)28.81%23.69%
Return on Assets (TTM)10.72%7.91%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)2.99%3.07%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)3.82%4.18%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)12.93%24.93%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Costco (COST) at 1.06 keeps Current Ratio (MRQ) within its industry mid-range, while Walmart (WMT) at 0.79 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for WMT.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.06

Max
1.93
Q3
1.37
Median
1.14
Q1
0.93
Min
0.60

WMT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.79

Max
1.93
Q3
1.37
Median
1.14
Q1
0.93
Min
0.60
Costco (COST) vs. Walmart (WMT): 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 Walmart (WMT) at 0.52 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

WMT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.52

Max
2.56
Q3
1.23
Median
0.54
Q1
0.18
Min
0.00
Costco (COST) vs. Walmart (WMT): 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 Walmart (WMT) at 13.12 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

WMT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

13.12

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

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolCOSTWMT
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.060.79
Quick Ratio (MRQ)0.590.20
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)0.180.52
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)91.2713.12

Growth

Revenue Growth

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

Revenue Growth at a Glance

SymbolCOSTWMT
Revenue Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)9.22%5.60%
Revenue Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)8.40%4.73%
3-Year Revenue CAGR6.64%5.27%
5-Year Revenue CAGR10.54%4.99%

EPS Growth

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

EPS Growth at a Glance

SymbolCOSTWMT
EPS Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)13.93%-18.67%
EPS Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)12.26%13.49%
3-Year EPS CAGR11.51%24.21%
5-Year EPS CAGR15.10%11.53%

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Costco (COST) at 0.61% and Walmart (WMT) at 0.76% report Dividend Yield (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on cash yield relative to share price.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.61%

Max
4.01%
Q3
1.95%
Median
0.76%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

WMT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.76%

Max
4.01%
Q3
1.95%
Median
0.76%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Costco (COST) vs. Walmart (WMT): A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Costco (COST) at 33.01% and Walmart (WMT) at 34.29% maintain Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) around their industries’ median — balanced dividend policy on both sides, returning cash while leaving part of reported earnings available for reinvestment or balance-sheet flexibility.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

33.01%

Max
59.68%
Q3
34.35%
Median
20.99%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

WMT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

34.29%

Max
59.68%
Q3
34.35%
Median
20.99%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Costco (COST) vs. Walmart (WMT): A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend at a Glance

SymbolCOSTWMT
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.61%0.76%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)33.01%34.29%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Both Costco (COST) at 54.03 and Walmart (WMT) at 45.31 trade in the higher-multiple quartile for Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) among industry peers, indicating higher trailing earnings multiples than typical peers.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

54.03

Max
54.03
Q3
39.03
Median
20.43
Q1
15.85
Min
12.19

WMT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

45.31

Max
54.03
Q3
39.03
Median
20.43
Q1
15.85
Min
12.19
Costco (COST) vs. Walmart (WMT): A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

Both Costco (COST) at 1.61 and Walmart (WMT) at 1.39 trade in the higher-multiple quartile for Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) among industry peers, indicating higher trailing revenue multiples than typical peers.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.61

Max
1.76
Q3
0.91
Median
0.52
Q1
0.29
Min
0.10

WMT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.39

Max
1.76
Q3
0.91
Median
0.52
Q1
0.29
Min
0.10
Costco (COST) vs. Walmart (WMT): A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

Walmart (WMT) at 9.93 sits in the higher-multiple quartile for Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ), but Costco (COST) at 14.09 is higher still, above its industry benchmark range — both carry elevated book-value multiples relative to peers, with COST higher.

COST

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

14.09

Max
9.93
Q3
5.88
Median
3.71
Q1
1.93
Min
0.79

WMT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

9.93

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

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolCOSTWMT
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)54.0345.31
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)1.611.39
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)14.099.93
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)50.7666.47