COST

NASDAQ · Retail

Costco Wholesale Corp.

Q: What does Costco Wholesale Corp. do?

Costco operates a membership-based warehouse club model, selling bulk groceries, electronics, appliances, and services to members who pay annual fees. The business model relies on high inventory turnover and razor-thin product margins, with membership fees contributing the majority of operating profit. Costco focuses on a limited selection of high-volume SKUs, negotiating bulk discounts from suppliers and passing savings to members. Ancillary services like gas stations, pharmacies, and optical centers drive traffic and reinforce membership value.

Q: Is COST stock a good investment?

Costco demonstrates consistent membership renewal rates above 90% and steady comparable sales growth, even during economic downturns. The stock trades at a premium P/E due to reliable earnings and customer loyalty. Risks include low operating margins that leave little room for error, labor cost inflation, competition from Amazon and traditional retailers, and saturation in mature markets. Fee increases or economic pressures could impact membership growth and renewal rates.

Q: Who are Costco Wholesale Corp.'s main competitors?

Costco competes with Sam's Club (Walmart's warehouse division) in membership clubs, Walmart and Target in general merchandise and groceries, Amazon in e-commerce and bulk buying, and BJ's Wholesale Club in regional warehouse operations. Aldi and Lidl also compete on low-price grocery formats without membership requirements.

Q: What makes COST stock unique?

Costco's membership fee model creates predictable recurring revenue and customer lock-in, differentiating it from traditional retailers. The company's relentless focus on low prices and high product quality has built exceptional brand loyalty—members view Costco as a value partner rather than just a store. This pricing discipline, combined with limited SKU selection and high-volume purchasing power, creates a moat that discourages direct competition and sustains profitability despite minimal product margins.

Q: What is COST's stock price today?

COST last closed at $973.82, up 0.84% in the most recent trading session. Over the past 52 weeks, the stock has traded between a low of $844.06 and a high of $1,067.08. The current price represents 58% of its 52-week range, which helps investors gauge where the stock sits relative to its recent trading history.

Q: What do Wall Street analysts say about COST?

Among 44 analysts covering COST, the consensus rating is Buy — 30 rate it a buy, 13 hold, and 1 sell. The average price target sits at $1,292.44, implying 33% upside from the current price. Keep in mind that analyst targets reflect 12-month expectations and can shift quickly after earnings reports or major company events.

Q: Is Costco Wholesale Corp. profitable?

Costco Wholesale Corp. generated $275.76B in revenue during fiscal year 2026, with $8.11B reaching the bottom line as net income. The net profit margin of 2.9% reflects the competitive nature of its industry.

Q: What is COST's P/E ratio?

COST trades at a P/E ratio of 53.47 on trailing earnings of $18.67 per share. That's well above the S&P 500 historical average of ~20-25x, which typically signals that investors are pricing in aggressive future growth. Comparing this multiple against Retail sector peers gives better context than the broad market alone, since P/E norms vary significantly across industries.

S&P 500 Nasdaq 100 Mega-Cap Stocks Blue Chip Stocks Best Dividend Stocks

$973.82

+8.09 (+0.84%)

As of Mar 24, 9:30 PM ET ·

Day Range $961.00 — $981.28

52W Range $844.06 — $1,067.08

Performance

1D —

1W —

1M —

3M +11.50%

6M +6.32%

1Y +4.68%

YTD +13.96%

Open$962.06

Previous Close$965.73

Day High$981.28

Day Low$961.00

52W High$1,067.08

52W Low$844.06

Volume—

Avg Volume2.18M

Market Cap443.90B

P/E Ratio53.47

EPS$18.67

SectorRetail

Technical Indicators

Full analysis →

SMA 50 $928.88 Above

SMA 200 $951.89 Above

RSI (14) 59.6 Neutral

Trend Death Cross Bearish

Analyst Ratings

Buy

44 analysts

30 Buy 13 Hold 1 Sell

Price Target +32.7% upside

Current
$973.82

Target
$1,292.44

$750.94 $1,292.44 avg $1,407.32

Key Financials

	FY 2026	FY 2025	FY 2024
Revenue	275.76B	258.59B	105.92B
Net Income	8.11B	6.85B	7.43B
Profit Margin	2.9%	2.8%	7.0%
EBITDA	12.87B	11.46B	11.99B
Free Cash Flow	—	—	3.58B
Rev Growth	+6.6%	+6.6%	+9.2%
Debt/Equity	0.25	0.25	0.44

Dividend

Dividend Yield0.53%

Annual Dividend$4.93

Payout Ratio27.0%

Frequencyquarterly

Ex-Dividend—

Pay Date—

Recent Insider Activity

All Insiders →

Date	Insider	Type	Shares	Price	Value
Mar 11	Adamo Claudine	Sale	6,121	$1,003.02	$6.14M
Jan 23	Jones Teresa A.	Sale	4,228	$986.26	$4.17M
Jan 20	DECKER SUSAN L	Sale	8,532	$955.00	$8.15M
Jan 15	Klauer James C	Sale	44,837	$939.00	$42.10M
Jan 12	Miller Russell D	Sale	8,240	$916.32	$7.55M

About Costco Wholesale Corp.

Costco Wholesale Corp., headquartered in Issaquah, Washington, is a membership-based warehouse retailer operating hundreds of stores internationally. The company operates a high-volume, low-margin business model selling general merchandise, food, and other products to members. Costco is a leading warehouse retailer known for competitive pricing and strong member loyalty. The company operates facilities across North America, Europe, and Asia, serving millions of business and individual members.

Retail Peers

Symbol	Name	Price	Change	P/E	Mkt Cap
AMZN	Amazon.com Inc	$207.24	-1.38%	28.2	2.19T
WMT	Walmart Inc	$122.05	+1.10%	45.7	1.05T
HD	Home Depot Inc	$330.91	+0.00%	26.0	379.51B
TJX	Tjx Companies Inc	$158.38	+1.20%	33.6	172.10B
LOW	Lowe'S Cos Inc	$234.43	+0.08%	18.9	126.03B
MELI	Mercadolibre Inc	$1,612.02	-3.24%	42.2	84.30B

COST Frequently Asked Questions

What does Costco Wholesale Corp. do?

Costco operates a membership-based warehouse club model, selling bulk groceries, electronics, appliances, and services to members who pay annual fees. The business model relies on high inventory turnover and razor-thin product margins, with membership fees contributing the majority of operating profit. Costco focuses on a limited selection of high-volume SKUs, negotiating bulk discounts from suppliers and passing savings to members. Ancillary services like gas stations, pharmacies, and optical centers drive traffic and reinforce membership value.

Is COST stock a good investment?

Costco demonstrates consistent membership renewal rates above 90% and steady comparable sales growth, even during economic downturns. The stock trades at a premium P/E due to reliable earnings and customer loyalty. Risks include low operating margins that leave little room for error, labor cost inflation, competition from Amazon and traditional retailers, and saturation in mature markets. Fee increases or economic pressures could impact membership growth and renewal rates.

Who are Costco Wholesale Corp.'s main competitors?

Costco competes with Sam's Club (Walmart's warehouse division) in membership clubs, Walmart and Target in general merchandise and groceries, Amazon in e-commerce and bulk buying, and BJ's Wholesale Club in regional warehouse operations. Aldi and Lidl also compete on low-price grocery formats without membership requirements.

What makes COST stock unique?

Costco's membership fee model creates predictable recurring revenue and customer lock-in, differentiating it from traditional retailers. The company's relentless focus on low prices and high product quality has built exceptional brand loyalty—members view Costco as a value partner rather than just a store. This pricing discipline, combined with limited SKU selection and high-volume purchasing power, creates a moat that discourages direct competition and sustains profitability despite minimal product margins.

What is COST's stock price today?

COST last closed at $973.82, up 0.84% in the most recent trading session. Over the past 52 weeks, the stock has traded between a low of $844.06 and a high of $1,067.08. The current price represents 58% of its 52-week range, which helps investors gauge where the stock sits relative to its recent trading history.

What do Wall Street analysts say about COST?

Among 44 analysts covering COST, the consensus rating is Buy — 30 rate it a buy, 13 hold, and 1 sell. The average price target sits at $1,292.44, implying 33% upside from the current price. Keep in mind that analyst targets reflect 12-month expectations and can shift quickly after earnings reports or major company events.

Is Costco Wholesale Corp. profitable?

Costco Wholesale Corp. generated $275.76B in revenue during fiscal year 2026, with $8.11B reaching the bottom line as net income. The net profit margin of 2.9% reflects the competitive nature of its industry.

What is COST's P/E ratio?

COST trades at a P/E ratio of 53.47 on trailing earnings of $18.67 per share. That's well above the S&P 500 historical average of ~20-25x, which typically signals that investors are pricing in aggressive future growth. Comparing this multiple against Retail sector peers gives better context than the broad market alone, since P/E norms vary significantly across industries.

How has COST stock performed recently?

Performance varies across timeframes, reflecting shifting market conditions. Returns by timeframe: +11.50% (3M), +6.32% (6M), +4.68% (1Y), +13.96% (YTD). Comparing these figures against the S&P 500 and sector benchmarks helps determine whether COST is outperforming or lagging the broader market.