(COST) Costco Wholesale - Overview

Sector: Consumer Defensive | Industry: Discount Stores | Exchange: NASDAQ (USA) | Market Cap: 461.953m USD | Total Return: 4.7% in 12m

Groceries, Consumer Electronics, Gasoline, Memberships, Apparel
Total Rating 58
Safety 63
Buy Signal 0.18
Discount Stores
Industry Rotation: +11.0
Market Cap: 462B
Avg Turnover: 1.71B
Risk 3d forecast
Volatility21.4%
VaR 5th Pctl3.68%
VaR vs Median4.51%
Reward TTM
Sharpe Ratio0.15
Rel. Str. IBD54.6
Rel. Str. Peer Group58.9
Character TTM
Beta0.388
Beta Downside0.511
Hurst Exponent0.482
Drawdowns 3y
Max DD20.74%
CAGR/Max DD1.54
CAGR/Mean DD5.68
EPS (Earnings per Share) EPS (Earnings per Share) of COST over the last years for every Quarter: "2021-05": null, "2021-08": 3.9, "2021-11": 2.98, "2022-02": 3.17, "2022-05": null, "2022-08": 4.2, "2022-11": 3.1, "2023-02": 2.93, "2023-05": null, "2023-08": 4.86, "2023-11": 3.58, "2024-02": 3.71, "2024-05": 3.78, "2024-08": 5.29, "2024-11": 4.04, "2025-02": 4.28, "2025-05": 4.28, "2025-08": 5.87, "2025-11": 4.5, "2026-02": 4.58,
EPS CAGR: 12.14%
EPS Trend: 71.3%
Last SUE: 0.47
Qual. Beats: 0
Revenue Revenue of COST over the last years for every Quarter: 2021-05: 45277, 2021-08: 62675, 2021-11: 50363, 2022-02: 51904, 2022-05: 52596, 2022-08: 72091, 2022-11: 54437, 2023-02: 55266, 2023-05: 53648, 2023-08: 78939, 2023-11: 57799, 2024-02: 58442, 2024-05: 58515, 2024-08: 79697, 2024-11: 62151, 2025-02: 63723, 2025-05: 63205, 2025-08: 86156, 2025-11: 67307, 2026-02: 69597,
Rev. CAGR: 7.75%
Rev. Trend: 48.6%
Last SUE: 0.61
Qual. Beats: 0

Warnings

Extended 1w

Tailwinds

Confidence

Description: COST Costco Wholesale

Costco Wholesale Corporation operates a global network of membership-only warehouses across North America, Europe, and Asia. The company utilizes a high-volume, low-margin business model, generating significant revenue from annual membership fees rather than traditional retail markups. This structure allows the company to offer a curated selection of bulk groceries, electronics, and apparel at competitive prices.

The company maintains diverse revenue streams through ancillary services, including gasoline stations, pharmacies, and optical centers, which drive recurring foot traffic. Within the Consumer Staples Merchandise Retail sector, this membership model creates high customer loyalty and predictable cash flows. For a deeper look into these financial metrics, evaluate the companys performance trends on ValueRay. Costco’s operations also extend to e-commerce and specialized business centers to capture both individual and commercial market segments.

Headlines to Watch Out For
  • High membership renewal rates and fee increases drive core operating income
  • Low product margins and bulk purchasing power sustain competitive market share
  • Gasoline price volatility and volume fluctuations impact short term revenue growth
  • International warehouse expansion strategy accelerates long term top line diversification
  • Consumer shift toward private label Kirkland Signature brand improves gross margins
Piotroski VR‑10 (Strict) 5.5
Net Income: 8.55b TTM > 0 and > 6% of Revenue
FCF/TA: 0.11 > 0.02 and ΔFCF/TA 1.42 > 1.0
NWC/Revenue: 0.83% < 20% (prev -0.04%; Δ 0.87% < -1%)
CFO/TA 0.18 > 3% & CFO 15.01b > Net Income 8.55b
Net Debt (-9.15b) to EBITDA (14.07b): -0.65 < 3
Current Ratio: 1.06 > 1.5 & < 3
Outstanding Shares: last quarter (444.5m) vs 12m ago -0.08% < -2%
Gross Margin: 12.93% > 18% (prev 0.13%; Δ 1.28k% > 0.5%)
Asset Turnover: 365.0% > 50% (prev 360.7%; Δ 4.33% > 0%)
Interest Coverage Ratio: 77.52 > 6 (EBITDA TTM 14.07b / Interest Expense TTM 149.0m)
Altman Z'' 2.63
A: 0.03 (Total Current Assets 43.13b - Total Current Liabilities 40.76b) / Total Assets 83.64b
B: 0.30 (Retained Earnings 25.12b / Total Assets 83.64b)
C: 0.15 (EBIT TTM 11.55b / Avg Total Assets 78.43b)
D: 0.46 (Book Value of Equity 23.52b / Total Liabilities 51.55b)
Altman-Z'' Score: 2.63 = A
Beneish M -3.01
DSRI: 1.14 (Receivables 3.78b/3.06b, Revenue 286.26b/264.09b)
GMI: 0.98 (GM 12.93% / 12.67%)
AQI: 0.90 (AQ_t 0.05 / AQ_t-1 0.05)
SGI: 1.08 (Revenue 286.26b / 264.09b)
TATA: -0.08 (NI 8.55b - CFO 15.01b) / TA 83.64b)
Beneish M-Score: -3.01 (Cap -4..+1) = AA
What is the price of COST shares? As of May 19, 2026, the stock is trading at USD 1076.47 with a total of 2,175,849 shares traded.
Over the past week, the price has changed by +7.70%, over one month by +8.04%, over three months by +8.23% and over the past year by +4.66%.
Is COST a buy, sell or hold? Costco Wholesale has received a consensus analysts rating of 3.97. Therefore, it is recommended to buy COST.
  • StrongBuy: 17
  • Buy: 5
  • Hold: 15
  • Sell: 0
  • StrongSell: 1
What are the forecasts/targets for the COST price?
Analysts Target Price 1072.9 -0.3%
Costco Wholesale (COST) - Fundamental Data Overview as of 16 May 2026
P/E Trailing = 54.0628
P/E Forward = 45.6621
P/S = 1.6011
P/B = 13.9481
P/EG = 5.1219
Revenue TTM = 286.26b USD
EBIT TTM = 11.55b USD
EBITDA TTM = 14.07b USD
Long Term Debt = 5.69b USD (from longTermDebt, last quarter)
Short Term Debt = 72.0m USD (from shortTermDebt, last quarter)
Debt = 8.24b USD (from shortLongTermDebtTotal, last quarter)
Net Debt = -9.15b USD (from netDebt column, last quarter)
Enterprise Value = 452.81b USD (461.95b + Debt 8.24b - CCE 17.38b)
Interest Coverage Ratio = 77.52 (Ebit TTM 11.55b / Interest Expense TTM 149.0m)
EV/FCF = 49.76x (Enterprise Value 452.81b / FCF TTM 9.10b)
FCF Yield = 2.01% (FCF TTM 9.10b / Enterprise Value 452.81b)
FCF Margin = 3.18% (FCF TTM 9.10b / Revenue TTM 286.26b)
Net Margin = 2.99% (Net Income TTM 8.55b / Revenue TTM 286.26b)
Gross Margin = 12.93% ((Revenue TTM 286.26b - Cost of Revenue TTM 249.26b) / Revenue TTM)
Gross Margin QoQ = 12.76% (prev 13.07%)
Tobins Q-Ratio = 5.41 (Enterprise Value 452.81b / Total Assets 83.64b)
Interest Expense / Debt = 0.40% (Interest Expense 33.0m / Debt 8.24b)
Taxrate = 25.21% (686.0m / 2.72b)
NOPAT = 8.64b (EBIT 11.55b * (1 - 25.21%))
Current Ratio = 1.06 (Total Current Assets 43.13b / Total Current Liabilities 40.76b)
Debt / Equity = 0.26 (Debt 8.24b / totalStockholderEquity, last quarter 32.09b)
Debt / EBITDA = -0.65 (Net Debt -9.15b / EBITDA 14.07b)
Debt / FCF = -1.01 (Net Debt -9.15b / FCF TTM 9.10b)
Total Stockholder Equity = 29.67b (last 4 quarters mean from totalStockholderEquity)
RoA = 10.90% (Net Income 8.55b / Total Assets 83.64b)
RoE = 28.81% (Net Income TTM 8.55b / Total Stockholder Equity 29.67b)
RoCE = 32.67% (EBIT 11.55b / Capital Employed (Equity 29.67b + L.T.Debt 5.69b))
RoIC = 24.43% (NOPAT 8.64b / Invested Capital 35.37b)
WACC = 7.23% (E(461.95b)/V(470.19b) * Re(7.35%) + D(8.24b)/V(470.19b) * Rd(0.40%) * (1-Tc(0.25)))
Discount Rate = 7.35% (= CAPM, Blume Beta Adj.) -> floored to rf + 0.7*ERP = 7.92%
Shares (quarterly) Correlation: -20.46 | Cagr: 0.01%
[DCF] Terminal Value 83.97% ; FCFF base≈8.23b ; Y1≈9.99b ; Y5≈16.40b
[DCF] Fair Price = 777.4 (EV 335.77b - Net Debt -9.15b = Equity 344.91b / Shares 443.7m; r=7.23% [WACC]; 5y FCF grow 22.80% → 3.0% )
EPS Correlation: 71.35 | EPS CAGR: 12.14% | SUE: 0.47 | # QB: 0
Revenue Correlation: 48.62 | Revenue CAGR: 7.75% | SUE: 0.61 | # QB: 0
EPS current Quarter (2026-05-31): EPS=4.91 | Chg30d=+0.15% | Revisions=+33% | Analysts=29
EPS current Year (2026-08-31): EPS=20.53 | Chg30d=+0.18% | Revisions=+45% | GrowthEPS=+12.8% | GrowthRev=+8.8%
EPS next Year (2027-08-31): EPS=22.55 | Chg30d=+0.24% | Revisions=+67% | GrowthEPS=+9.8% | GrowthRev=+7.8%
[Analyst] Revisions Ratio: +67%