Founded in 1983, Costco Wholesale now operates a global chain of membership-based warehouse clubs, delivering high-quality goods and services at consistently low prices.
It is a $419B consumer staples company. Revenue grew 10.1% over the last year, and it keeps 3¢ of every dollar of sales as profit. It trades at 45.5× earnings — around the middle of its own history.
- Website
- costco.com
- Location
- Issaquah, WA
- Employees
- 341 000
- Sector
- Consumer Defensive
- Founded
- 1976
Skills
Six independent scores, 0–100, built from reported numbers and valuation history. Click a row to see how it was scored.
Strong quality; Valuation, Profitability and Health lag behind.
Valuation47
- P/E vs own history52th pct · 12/25
- FCF yield2.2% · 5/25
- P/S1.4x · 25/25
- EV/EBITDA28.2x · 5/25
Growth64
- Revenue CAGR7.5% · 12/25
- Net income CAGR12.1% · 20/25
- EPS CAGR ~5Y13.0% · 20/25
- Fwd implied growth14.5% · 12/25
Profitability36
- ROICn/a · 0/25
- ROE28.0% · 25/25
- Net margin3.0% · 6/25
- Operating margin3.9% · 5/25
Health37
- Altman Zn/a · 0/25
- Current ratio1.06 · 12/25
- Interest coverage91.3x · 25/25
- Net cash / debtn/a · 0/25
Quality94
- Piotroski F7/9 · 22/25
- Beneish M-4.02 · 25/25
- FCF conversion100% · 22/25
- Margin stabilityσ 0.3% · 25/25
Moat62
- ROIC >12% years10/10 yrs · 25/25
- Median gross margin12.9% · 0/25
- FCF-positive years11/11 yrs · 25/25
- Worst-year net marginworst 2.0% · 12/25
Experience
The company's career so far — founding, the IPO, landmark products and acquisitions, plus revenue milestones and insider buying.
- FY2026FinancialBest year on record$9.23B net income
- 2023MilestoneIn some international markets, Costco also offers sushi that is made in-house
- 2020AcquisitionCostco announced the acquisition of Innovel, a logistics company, for one billion dollars
- FY2018FinancialBecame debt-freecash now exceeds total debt
- 2017ProductCostco launched same-day and two-day grocery delivery options for members
- FY2016FinancialProfitable every year on record11 consecutive profitable years in our data
- FY2016FinancialRevenue already above $100B$119B in first reported year
- FY2016FinancialPositive free cash flow every year since11-year streak
- Apr 1, 2016MilestoneIn the US, Citigroup became the exclusive issuer of Costco's branded credit cards
- 2005AcquisitionThe first Costco warehouse in Seattle was replaced with a new building on an adjacent lot to the north in March 2005
- 1998ProductThe company launched Costco Online, its online shopping site
- 1997MilestonePriceCostco officially reverted to using the Costco name and stock symbol in February 1997
- 1995ProductKirkland Signaturethe private label that became a $50B+ brand of its own
- Oct 21, 1993MilestonePriceCostco mergerthe two warehouse pioneers combine
- Dec 5, 1985IPOIPOwent public two years after the first warehouse
- Sep 15, 1983MilestoneFirst Costco warehouseJim Sinegal and Jeffrey Brotman in Seattle
- Jul 12, 1976FoundedPrice Club opens in San DiegoSol Price invents the members-only warehouse
Achievements
Verifiable track record, straight from the reported numbers.
Strengths & watch-outs
What a bull and a bear would each point to. Both lists come from the reported numbers, not opinions.
Strengths
- Revenue growing 10.1% year over year
- Interest covered 91.3× by operating earnings
- Piotroski F-Score 7/9 — fundamentally strong checklist
Watch-outs
Nothing stands out as a concern in the available data.
Qualifications
The basics a company should meet before you research it further. Each check uses the reported numbers.
- Revenue growing — the company sells more than a year ago+10.1% YoY
- Profitable — makes more than it spends$9.23B TTM
- Profit growing — earnings are higher than last year+13.6% YoY
- Generates cash — cash left after running and investing$9.38B TTM
- Debt under control — could handle its obligationscurrent ratio 1.06
- Established company — not a micro-cap — lower blow-up risk$419B market cap
- Not printing shares — share count not ballooning — you keep your slice+0.0% shares over ~5y
- Proven track record — years of profitability behind it11/11 profitable years
- Financially stable — balance sheet not near distresshealth score 37/100
- Pays a dividend — returns cash to shareholdersyield 0.59%
- Valuation not extreme — price not wildly above earningsP/E 45.5
Peer comparisonCostco Wholesale Corp vs 6 largest consumer defensive peers — cap, P/E, growth and margin side by sideOpen ▾Close ▴
| Company | Market cap | P/E | Revenue growth | Net margin | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COST this company | $419.2B | 45.5 | +10.1% | 3.0% | Mixed |
| WMT Walmart Inc. | $882.9B | 40.8 | +6.2% | 3.0% | Strained |
| KO Coca-Cola Company | $379.3B | 26.5 | +6.5% | 28.6% | Mixed |
| PG Procter & Gamble Company | $351.2B | 21.9 | +3.3% | 18.4% | Solid |
| PM Philip Morris International Inc. | $313.6B | 28.8 | +8.9% | 25.6% | Strained |
| PEP PepsiCo, Inc. | $171.8B | 16.5 | +6.4% | 11.1% | Strained |
| BUD Anheuser-Busch INBEV SA/NV | $152.3B | 16.3 | -0.7% | 11.5% | Strained |
Head-to-head: COST vs WMT · COST vs KO · COST vs PG
References
What covering analysts publish about the company — information only, not a recommendation.
Appendix · Financial records
The full statements behind this CV, FY2016–FY2026. For readers who want to check the numbers.
Live data and quarterly detail: stockcv.com/COST
Want the live picture — intraday moves, valuation history and full analysis?
Deeper analysis of COST on PreMarketPriceFigures are derived from company filings (quarterly values normalised from as-filed year-to-date data where applicable) and may be delayed, restated or incomplete. This page is information, not investment advice. Latest price $946.00 · market cap $419B.