Key facts, as of
As of October 22, 2026, Costco Wholesale (COST) trades at $1,018.21, up 7.8% over the past year. Its 52-week range runs from $844.06 to $1,096.50; the price is 7.1% below that high. It is 7.1% below its all-time high of $1,096.50, reached in May 2026. Over the 10 years to the end of September 2026, with dividends reinvested, it returned +606.6%, against +312.9% for the S&P 500 (SPY). It sits 5.1% above its 200-day average of $968.74, the usual sign of a long-term uptrend. Its 30-day volatility is 16.5% annualized, which we rate medium risk. It has a trailing P/E of 49.0 and a dividend yield of 0.59%. Costco Wholesale (COST) has confirmed its next earnings report for December 10, 2026, after the market closes (date from Yahoo Finance, listed on our December 2026 earnings calendar).
Cite: Portfolio Terminal, "Costco Wholesale (COST) stock analysis", 2026-10-22. https://portfolio-terminal.com/analyse/cost
Where it trades today
trading 69% of the way up its 52-week range
How the price has moved
How far it is from its record
Costco Wholesale (COST) is 7.1% below its all-time high of $1,096.50, reached in May 2026. Over the 10 years to the end of September 2026, with dividends reinvested, it returned +606.6%, against +312.9% for the S&P 500 (SPY).
What to weigh before acting
What Matters Now
- The key question is whether steady demand and pricing discipline can protect margins even if growth stays modest.
- COST trades at 49.0x earnings, well above the consumer defensive average of 21.0x, so the market is already pricing in above-consensus execution.
- COST carries a beta of 0.87, which means the stock should be judged on how it affects total portfolio swings, not just on standalone upside.
- COST is in a bullish short-term regime and only 7.1% below its 52-week high, so the question is whether fundamentals can keep pace with that stronger tape.
Portfolio Use Case
- COST is more useful for investors comparing conviction names inside consumer defensive than for someone looking for a passive “set and forget” holding.
- The beta profile suggests it can fit a quality or lower-volatility sleeve more naturally than a high-octane tactical basket.
- This page is most useful for deciding whether the stock deserves a permanent slot in the portfolio or just a place on the watchlist.
What Would Change the View
- A reset in earnings expectations or a faster peer catch-up could compress the premium valuation currently embedded in COST.
- If the short-term trend rolls over while volume fades, the market may stop paying up for momentum before the fundamentals change.
- The view would need revisiting if peers such as PG, KO, PEP start winning the marginal flow or posting cleaner operating momentum.
Methodology
- Price, market cap, beta, yield, and liquidity fields for COST come from Yahoo Finance quote and summary data.
- 30-day volatility is calculated from recent daily returns and annualized using a 252-trading-day convention.
- Sector context uses stored benchmark averages for Consumer Defensive so each page compares the ticker against a stable peer baseline rather than against the whole market.
- Peer comparisons use the Portfolio Terminal coverage set and highlight nearby listed alternatives such as PG, KO, PEP.
Sources
- Yahoo Finance quote dataopen →
Live quote, valuation, beta, yield, and volume fields used for COST. Last refresh: Oct 22, 2026, 10:45 PM.
- Portfolio Terminal methodologyopen →
Explains how analytics, refresh cadence, and portfolio interpretation work across the product.
- Peer set and coverage context
Comparative context for this page is anchored around nearby tracked names such as PG, KO, PEP.
What Costco Wholesale does
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, Sweden, Iceland, and New Zealand. It offers merchandise, including sundries, dry groceries, candies, coolers, freezers, liquor, and tobacco; non-food merchandise comprising consumer electronics, appliances, small electrics, 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,…
What analysts expect
COST carries a buy consensus from 37 analysts, with an average price target of $1067.59 versus $1018.21 today (+4.9%). Targets are estimates and can move quickly after earnings.
Consensus aggregated by Yahoo Finance. Targets are estimates, not forecasts.
How the business is doing
COST generated $303.15B in trailing revenue (11.1% year over year), with a 3.0% net margin, and $6.75B of free cash flow, supported by $11.12B of net cash.
The numbers, year by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Gross profit | Operating income | Net income | EPS | Free cash flow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $275.24B | $35.35B | $10.38B | $8.10B | $18.24 | $7.84B |
| 2024 | $254.45B | $32.09B | $9.29B | $7.37B | $16.59 | $6.63B |
| 2023 | $242.29B | $29.70B | $8.11B | $6.29B | $14.18 | $6.75B |
| 2022 | $226.95B | $27.57B | $7.79B | $5.84B | $13.17 | $3.50B |
When it reports next
Estimates aggregated by Yahoo Finance. Dates move and estimates change until the report lands.
Which ETFs hold it
COST is in 21 of the 54 ETFs we track. It weighs most in XLP: 9.05% of the fund, holding #2 of 35.
Famous investors who hold it
COST is in the latest 13F of 1 of the 15 famous investors we follow. Ray Dalio (Bridgewater Associates) holds the most of it: 0.10% of the portfolio, position #165 of 992, as of Q2 2026.
How it sits in consumer defensive
Stable sector with essential products like food, beverages, and household goods.
The companies it competes with
COST beside the consumer defensive names it is usually measured against.
What the chart is saying
Back above its 50-day average, still under the long-term trend.
recovering- Price is 8.5% above its 50-day average and 5.1% above its 200-day.
- The 50-day crossed below the 200-day on 2026-08-03 (a “death cross”).
- RSI at 79 is overbought: strong momentum, and stretched.
- Nothing above has stopped it this year; the nearest floor is $989.24 (-2.8%).
A description of the chart, not advice. Indicators describe what the price has done; none of them knows what it does next.
Questions people ask about it
Is COST a good investment in 2026?
Costco Wholesale trades at a P/E ratio of 49.0, with medium volatility (16.5% annualized). Recent momentum is positive.
What is the risk level of COST?
Based on 30-day volatility of 16.5%, COST has MEDIUM risk. Beta of 0.87 indicates lower sensitivity to market movements than average.
Does COST pay dividends?
Yes, Costco Wholesale has a dividend yield of 0.59%.
How far is COST from its all-time high?
Costco Wholesale is 7.1% below its all-time high of $1,096.50, reached in May 2026. Over the 10 years to the end of September 2026, with dividends reinvested, it returned +606.6%, against +312.9% for the S&P 500 (SPY).
When does Costco Wholesale report earnings?
Costco Wholesale (COST) reports its next quarterly earnings on Thursday, December 10, 2026, after the market closes. The company has confirmed the date; it comes from Yahoo Finance's earnings data and is listed on the Portfolio Terminal December 2026 earnings calendar. For that quarter, the analysts' consensus Yahoo Finance reports is earnings of $4.94 per share.
Which ETFs hold COST?
21 of the 54 popular ETFs we track hold Costco Wholesale. The largest weights: XLP (9.05%), CNDX (1.92%), QQQM (1.91%), QQQ (1.91%) and VIG (1.79%). Measured on each issuer's full holdings file, dated September 30 to October 18, 2026.
How much of VOO is COST?
0.61%, as of September 30, 2026: COST is holding #26 of 505 in Vanguard's file for VOO. $1,000 in VOO puts about $6.13 in Costco Wholesale.
Which famous investors own COST?
Ray Dalio (0.10% of Bridgewater Associates's 13F), according to their latest Form 13F filings with the SEC (Q2 2026). A 13F lists US long positions 45 days after the quarter ends, so it can be out of date.
What is the analyst price target for COST?
The average analyst price target for Costco Wholesale (COST) is $1067.59 based on 37 analyst estimates, about 4.9% above the current price of $1018.21. The published range runs from $770.00 to $1315.00.
How much revenue does COST generate?
Costco Wholesale reported $303.15B in trailing twelve-month revenue. Revenue growth is running at 11.1% year over year. Net margin sits at 3.0%. Figures are aggregated from company filings by Yahoo Finance and refresh on an hourly cadence.
Compare COST with anything
Five years side by side: what $10,000 became, how far each fell, whether they move together.