COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW (COST) Factsheet
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COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW (COST) Stock Analysis
Analysis from 10-K filed 2026-10-07. Data as of Q3 2026.
Overall Grade: F (Concerning)
Grade F (Concerning). ROIC 22.7%. FCF margin 3.1%. D/E 0.2x. Source: 10-K filed 2026-10-07.
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| ROIC | 22.7% | Above industry average |
| FCF Margin | 3.1% | Cash flow pressure |
| Debt/Equity | 0.2x | Conservative leverage |
ROIC 22.7% — Top 25% of sector peers. FCF margin 3.1% — Bottom 50%.
Explore COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW: Earnings History | Overview
Programmatic access: Available via MCP at mcp.metricduck.com. Tools for COST: get_company_overview, get_filing_index (lens: debt_stress, management_outlook, risk_trajectory), get_filing_section, get_metric_history, compare_companies, screen_filing_signals.
Profitability: COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW earns 22.7% ROIC, Top 25% in Consumer Discretionary
ROIC TTM 22.7%, sector median 6.8%, Top 25%. DuPont: NOPAT margin 2.9% × asset turnover 3.6x. Gross margin 12.8%. Operating margin 3.9%. Source: 10-K filed 2026-10-07.
| Metric | COST | Rating | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) | 22.7% | Excellent | Above sector median of 6.8% |
| Return on Equity (ROE) | 28.7% | Excellent | Efficient use of shareholder equity |
| Gross Margin | 12.8% | Warning | Competitive pricing environment |
| Operating Margin | 3.9% | Warning | Moderate operational efficiency |
Cash Flow: COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW generates $9.4B FCF at 3.1% margin, positive NaN/8 quarters
FCF TTM $9.4B. FCF margin 3.1%, Bottom 50%. OCF/Net income 1.7x. Positive FCF in NaN/8 trailing quarters. Source: 10-K filed 2026-10-07.
| Metric | COST | Rating | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Cash Flow Margin | 3.1% | Warning | Thin cash margins |
| Free Cash Flow (TTM) | $9.4B | Good | Positive cash generation |
| OCF/Net Income | 1.7x | Excellent | High earnings quality |
| FCF Consistency (8Q) | N/A | Warning | Variable cash flow |
Balance Sheet: COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW at 0.2x leverage, 80.6x interest coverage
Debt/Equity 0.2x. Net cash $15.1B. Interest coverage 80.6x. Source: 10-K filed 2026-10-07.
| Metric | COST | Rating | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debt to Equity | 0.2x | Excellent | Conservative capital structure |
| Net Cash Position | $15.1B | Excellent | Net cash positive |
| Interest Coverage | 80.6x | Excellent | Comfortable debt service |
Valuation: COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW trades at 52.5x earnings
P/E 52.5x. EV/Sales 1.5x. FCF yield 1.9%. Dividend yield 0.5%. Source: 10-K filed 2026-10-07.
| Metric | COST | Rating | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio | 52.5x | Warning | Premium valuation |
| EV/Sales | 1.5x | Excellent | Attractive revenue multiple |
| FCF Yield | 1.9% | Warning | Lower cash yield |
| Dividend Yield | 0.5% | Adequate | Growth focus over income |
Capital Allocation: COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW returns 0.4% shareholder yield
Total shareholder yield 0.4% (div 0.5% + buyback 0.2%). Share count +0.0% YoY. Capital returned $2.0B TTM. Source: 10-K filed 2026-10-07.
| Metric | COST | Rating | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Shareholder Yield | 0.4% | Adequate | Dividend + buyback yield combined |
| Buyback Yield | 0.2% | Adequate | Minimal buyback activity |
| Share Count Change (YoY) | 0.0% | Adequate | Net dilution from issuance/SBC |
| Total Capital Returned (TTM) | $2.0B | Good | Dividends + buybacks returned to shareholders |
Sector Rankings
| Metric | Value | Percentile | vs Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) | 22.7% | Top 25% | 3.3x above |
| Free Cash Flow Margin | 3.1% | Bottom 50% | 1.0x below |
| Gross Margin | 12.8% | Bottom 25% | 0.3x below |
| Operating Margin | 3.9% | Bottom 50% | 0.9x below |
| Return on Equity (ROE) | 28.7% | Top 25% | 2.5x above |
| P/E Ratio | 52.5x | N/A | - |
Financial Scorecard
| Metric | COST | Rating | Sector Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) | 22.7% | Excellent | Top 25% of sector (median: 6.8%) |
| Free Cash Flow Margin | 3.1% | Warning | Bottom 50% of sector (median: 3.2%) |
| Gross Margin | 12.8% | Warning | Bottom 25% of sector (median: 38.1%) |
| Debt to Equity Ratio | 17.2% | Excellent | Conservative capital structure |
| P/E Ratio (Price-to-Earnings) | 52.5x | Warning | High expectations priced in |
| Free Cash Flow Yield | 1.9% | Warning | Growth-focused valuation |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW's Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)?
COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW (COST) has a trailing twelve-month Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) of 22.7%. The 8-quarter median ROIC is 21.7% with a improving trend. Sector median 6.8%. Source: 10-K filed 2026-10-07.
Q: What is COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW's Free Cash Flow Margin?
COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW (COST) has a free cash flow margin of 3.1%, generating $9.4 billion in free cash flow over the trailing twelve months. Source: 10-K filed 2026-10-07.
Q: What is COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW's P/E ratio and how does it compare to peers?
COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW (COST) trades at a P/E ratio of 52.5x, which is above the sector median of N/A. EV/Sales 1.5x. FCF yield 1.9%. Source: 10-K filed 2026-10-07.
Q: Does COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW pay a dividend?
COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW (COST) currently pays a dividend yield of 0.5%. Total shareholder yield (dividend + buybacks) 0.4%. Source: 10-K filed 2026-10-07.
Q: What is COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW's revenue and earnings growth?
COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW (COST) grew revenue by 10.1% year-over-year. EPS +14.0% YoY. Source: 10-K filed 2026-10-07.
Q: Is COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW buying back stock?
COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW (COST) repurchased $848.0 million of stock over the trailing twelve months. This represents a buyback yield of 0.2%. Share count +0.0% YoY. Source: 10-K filed 2026-10-07.
Q: How does COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW compare to competitors in Consumer Discretionary?
Compared to other companies in Consumer Discretionary, COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW (COST) shows: ROIC 22.7%, sector median 6.8% (Top 25%). FCF margin 3.1%, sector median 3.2% (Bottom 50%). Gross margin 12.8%, 25.3pp below sector median. These rankings are based on MetricDuck's analysis of all Consumer Discretionary companies with available SEC filings.
Q: What warning signs should I watch for with COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW?
Quantitative warning flags for COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW (COST): 1) FCF margin 3.1% (below 5%). Source: 10-K filed 2026-10-07.
Data Source: Data sourced from 10-K filed 2026-10-07. TTM metrics as of Q3 2026.
Methodology: Financial metrics calculated from SEC 10-K and 10-Q filings using standardized formulas. Sector comparisons use peer group based on SIC code.
Scope: This analysis covers SEC filing fundamentals — profitability, cash flow, balance sheet, and valuation metrics. For analyst estimates and price targets, consult sell-side research.
This analysis is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
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