Costco Wholesale Corporation (cost)
COST — Company Overview
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) trades on NMS as part of the Consumer Defensive peer group (Discount Stores).
| Ticker | COST |
| Sector | Consumer Defensive |
| Industry | Discount Stores |
| Exchange | NMS |
| Market cap | $401.22B |
| Last price | $904.70 |
| Size category | Mega Cap |
COST — Business Description
COST represents a Discount Stores business in the Consumer Defensive segment. Costco Wholesale Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the operation of membership warehouses in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Japan, the United Kingdom, Korea, Australia, Taiwan, China, Spain, France, Iceland, New Zealand, and Sweden. It offers merchandise, including sundries, dry groceries, candies, coolers, freezers, deli, liquor, and tobacco; non-food merchandise comprising appliances, small electronics, health and beauty aids, hardware, lawn and garden, sporting goods, tires, toys and seasonal, automotive, stamps, tickets, apparel, furniture, domestics, housewares, special order kiosks, and jewelry; and fresh food, such as meat, produce, service deli, and bakery product…
Official website: https://www.costco.com.
COST — Investment Thesis
At a high level, COST offers exposure to Consumer Defensive with metrics outlined below from public market data.
- Revenue is expanding at roughly 11.6% year-over-year (public data).
- Trailing P/E of 45.51× implies elevated growth expectations at the current price.
- Forward P/E (39.99×) is below trailing P/E — earnings may be expected to improve.
- Dividend yield near 0.7% adds an income component to total return.
- Equity market capitalization is approximately $401.22B.
See the free estimates and earnings pages for public targets and growth metrics. Ownership, live news, and deeper models remain in Vest Terminal.
COST — Financial Health
Key financial health indicators for Costco Wholesale Corporation are derived exclusively from public data — no proprietary estimates.
Profit margin near 3.0% leaves a narrower cushion versus higher-margin peers. Positive free cash flow of $6.95B supports balance-sheet flexibility.
| Trailing P/E | 45.51× |
| Forward P/E | 39.99× |
| Price / Sales | 1.37× |
| Price / Book | 11.97× |
| Gross margin | 12.9% |
| Operating margin | 4.0% |
| Profit margin | 3.0% |
| Return on equity | 29.2% |
| Debt / Equity | 24.57 |
| Free cash flow | $6.95B |
COST — Growth Outlook
Growth outlook for Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) depends on demand trends in Discount Stores and the company's ability to convert revenue into sustainable earnings.
- Revenue growth of 11.6% indicates strong top-line momentum.
- Earnings growth of 15.2% year-over-year supports improving profitability.
- Price is 17.5% below the 52-week high.
- Shares trade 7.2% above the 52-week low — limited rebound so far.
COST — Competitive Position
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) is evaluated against peers on scale, margin structure, and capital efficiency within Consumer Defensive.
- Competes within Consumer Defensive, specifically in Discount Stores.
- Market capitalization of $401.22B places COST among mega-cap peers.
- Gross margin of 12.9% should be benchmarked against direct competitors.
COST — Strengths
Strengths for Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) inferred from public financial metrics:
- Revenue growth of 11.6% year-over-year.
- Earnings growth of 15.2% year-over-year.
- Return on equity near 29.2% — efficient use of shareholder capital.
- Positive free cash flow ($6.95B).
- Moderate leverage (debt/equity 24.57).
- Mega Cap scale ($401.22B) may provide distribution and funding advantages.
COST — Weaknesses
Weaknesses and pressure points for Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) based on available data:
- Elevated trailing P/E (45.51×) limits valuation margin of safety.
- Thin profit margin (3.0%).
COST — Opportunities
- Sustained revenue growth (11.6%) could support multiple expansion if margins hold.
- Trading 7.2% above the 52-week low — potential recovery if fundamentals stabilize.
- Positive free cash flow enables reinvestment, debt reduction, or shareholder returns.
COST — Risks
- Rich valuation (P/E 45.51×) increases downside if growth slows.
- Thin margins leave less room for operational missteps.
COST — Summary
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) is a mega-cap Consumer Defensive company focused on Discount Stores, listed on NMS. Last price $904.70 with market cap $401.22B. Trailing P/E 45.51×. Revenue grew 11.6% year-over-year per public data. Notable strengths include revenue growth of 11.6% year-over-year. Key watch items include elevated trailing p/e (45.51×) limits valuation margin of safety. Premium Terminal tools for Costco Wholesale Corporation add ownership analytics, news, and richer estimate history beyond this public summary.
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Costco Wholesale Corporation FAQ
What does Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) do?
Costco Wholesale Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the operation of membership warehouses in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Japan, the United Kingdom, Korea, Australia, Taiwan, China, Spain, France, Iceland, New Zealand, and Sweden. It offe…
What is COST's P/E ratio?
Costco Wholesale Corporation has a trailing P/E of 45.51× based on publicly available market data.
Does COST pay a dividend?
Indicated dividend yield: 0.7%. Confirm ex-dates and payout history in Vest Terminal.
What sector is COST in?
Costco Wholesale Corporation is classified in Consumer Defensive (Discount Stores) on NMS.
What is COST's market capitalization?
Approximate market cap: $401.22B.
What are the main risks for COST?
Key risks include elevated valuation, among factors on this page.
What are the strengths of COST?
Potential positives include revenue growth of 11.6% year-over-year, earnings growth of 15.2% year-over-year.
Where can I get analyst estimates for COST?
Public analyst price targets and consensus for Costco Wholesale Corporation are on the free /stocks/cost/estimates page. Deeper estimate history and models are available in Vest Terminal.