Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) — Stock Score Summary

Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) has a MoatMap StockRank of 60/100 based on Quality (68/100), Value (11/100), and Momentum (65/100) factor scores. The current signal is HOLD. Costco is the ultimate 'scale economics shared with customers' compounder, boasting incredible customer loyalty and pricing power. However, at current elevated valuations, the margin of safety is thin, and it lacks a direct, explosive tailwind from our core 18-month macro themes to justify a high-conviction buy right now.

Costco Wholesale Corporation operates an international chain of membership-only warehouse clubs, offering a wide selection of branded and private-label products at competitive prices to businesses and individuals. Its significant competitive moat is anchored by its high-volume, low-margin business model, strong customer loyalty driven by membership fees, and efficient supply chain management. Costco is a global retail giant, renowned for its value proposition and ability to drive recurring revenue through its loyal member base.

Key Financial Metrics

Price$973.60
Market Cap$441.5B
P/E (TTM)49.01
P/E (Forward)42.97
Price/Book26.08
Return on Equity29.2%
Return on Invested Capital27.4%
Debt/Equity60.26
Gross Margin12.9%
Operating Margin3.7%
Revenue Growth21.5%
Dividend Yield0.6%
Free Cash Flow$7.1B

Costco Wholesale Corporation operates in the Discount Stores industry, part of the Consumer Defensive sector (United States).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Costco Wholesale Corporation’s (COST) StockRank?
MoatMap’s StockRank for Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) is 60/100, with a Hold signal. It is a composite of Quality (68), Value (11), and Momentum (65) factor ranks across MoatMap’s 19,000+ stock universe.
Does Costco Wholesale Corporation have an economic moat?
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) has a Quality factor score of 68/100. The Quality factor combines ROIC, Piotroski F-Score, and leverage — the financial fingerprints of a durable competitive advantage. A Quality score above 70 typically indicates a company with the characteristics of a moated business.
Is Costco Wholesale Corporation a buy, hold, or sell?
MoatMap’s current signal for Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) is Hold, based on a StockRank of 60/100. Signals are derived mechanically from the StockRank composite and should be one input among many — combine with your own thesis on management, competitive position, and valuation.
What sector is Costco Wholesale Corporation in?
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) operates in the Consumer Defensive sector, specifically the Discount Stores industry (United States).