How Does COST Stack Up Against Its Peers?
Here is how Costco Wholesale (COST) stacks up against its peers in size, valuation, growth and margin.
- COST’s operating margin of 3.8% is modest, lowest among peers; AMZN has 11.4%.
- COST’s revenue growth of 5.9% in the last 12 months is moderate, outpacing WMT, TGT, DG, BJ but lagging AMZN.
- COST’s stock gained 2.1% over the past year and trades at a PE of 51.8, though peers like AMZN, WMT, DG, BJ delivered stronger returns.
As a quick background, Costco Wholesale operates membership warehouses worldwide, offering groceries, sundries, liquor, deli products, and services like pharmacies, opticals, food courts, hearing aids, and tire installations.
| COST | AMZN | WMT | TGT | DG | BJ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap ($ Bil) | 406.6 | 2,337.8 | 823.0 | 39.9 | 22.5 | 12.3 |
| Revenue ($ Bil) | 268.8 | 670.0 | 693.2 | 105.6 | 41.7 | 20.9 |
| PE Ratio | 51.8 | 33.1 | 38.6 | 10.2 | 18.9 | 21.2 |
| LTM Revenue Growth | 5.9% | 10.9% | 4.2% | -1.5% | 5.0% | 2.5% |
| LTM Operating Margin | 3.8% | 11.4% | 4.2% | 5.1% | 4.3% | 4.1% |
| LTM FCF Margin | 2.7% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.8% | 4.4% | 1.3% |
| 12M Market Return | 2.1% | 15.0% | 30.3% | -41.5% | 20.6% | 13.5% |
Why does this matter? COST just went down -3.7% in a week – peer comparison puts stock performance, valuation, and financials in context – highlighting whether it is truly outperforming, lagging behind, and above all – can this continue? Read Buy or Sell COST Stock to see if Costco Wholesale is really a falling knife. Sharp dips often come with rebound opportunities – see how the stock has dipped and recovered in the past through COST Dip Buyer Analysis lens.
While peer comparison is critical Trefis High Quality Portfolio evaluates much more, and is designed to reduce stock-specific risks while giving upside exposure.
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- S&P 500 Movers | Winners: EA, PCAR, CDW | Losers: COST, ORCL, EBAY
- What’s Next For Costco Stock?
- How Will Costco’s Stock React To Its Upcoming Earnings?
Revenue Growth Comparison
| LTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COST | 5.9% | – | 5.0% | 6.8% | 15.8% |
| AMZN | 10.9% | – | 11.0% | 11.8% | 9.4% |
| WMT | 4.2% | 5.1% | 6.0% | 6.7% | |
| TGT | -1.5% | -0.8% | -1.6% | 2.9% | |
| DG | 5.0% | 5.0% | 2.2% | 10.6% | |
| BJ | 2.5% | 2.7% | 3.4% | 15.9% |
Operating Margin Comparison
| LTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COST | 3.8% | – | 3.6% | 3.3% | 3.4% |
| AMZN | 11.4% | – | 10.8% | 6.4% | 2.4% |
| WMT | 4.2% | 4.3% | 4.2% | 3.3% | |
| TGT | 5.1% | 5.2% | 5.3% | 3.5% | |
| DG | 4.3% | 4.2% | 6.3% | 8.8% | |
| BJ | 4.1% | 3.9% | 4.1% | 3.9% |
PE Ratio Comparison
| LTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COST | 51.8 | – | 55.2 | 46.6 | 34.7 |
| AMZN | 33.1 | – | 38.8 | 51.5 | -314.4 |
| WMT | 38.6 | 37.4 | 27.4 | 33.1 | |
| TGT | 10.2 | 15.2 | 15.9 | 24.8 | |
| DG | 18.9 | 14.8 | 18.0 | 22.9 | |
| BJ | 21.2 | 22.1 | 16.9 | 17.3 |
The Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio, with a collection of 30 stocks, has a track record of comfortably outperforming its benchmark that includes all 3 – the S&P 500, S&P mid-cap, and Russell 2000 indices. Why is that? As a group, HQ Portfolio stocks provided better returns with less risk versus the benchmark index; less of a roller-coaster ride, as evident in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.