Costco Wholesale Corporation
COSTConsumer DefensiveNASDAQDiscount Stores · Last scanned May 29, 2026
Scan Results
Daily timeframePart of the consumer defensive sector, Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) is listed under Discount Stores. The $441.52B market capitalization puts COST squarely in mega-cap range for its industry. It offers merchandise, including sundries, dry groceries, candies, coolers, freezers, deli, liquor, and tobacco; non-food merchandise comprising appliances, small electronics, 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, produce, service deli, and bakery products.
Market Cap
$441.52B
Beta
0.91
P/E (TTM)
52.08
P/E (Fwd)
44.14
EPS (TTM)
$19.11
EPS (Fwd)
$22.54
ROE
29.6%
ROA
8.7%
Cash
$11.13B
Total Debt
$10.23B
Free CF
$6.69B
52W Change
-4.3%
Annual Financials
Cash vs Debt
Costco Wholesale Corporation holds $11.13B in cash against $10.23B in total debt, giving it a net cash position. This means the company could theoretically pay off all its debt and still have cash remaining. Annual free cash flow of $6.69B supports ongoing capital allocation decisions and provides a cushion against unexpected expenses or downturns. Return on equity stands at 29.6%, which is strong for the sector. ROE measures how effectively a company uses shareholder capital to generate profits. An ROA of 8.7% suggests reasonable efficiency in deploying the company's asset base. Revenue has grown from $226.95B (2022) to $275.24B (2025), reflecting a 21% increase over the period.
At over 50x earnings, COST carries valuation risk — any slowdown in growth expectations could lead to meaningful price adjustments. It is important to consider these factors alongside broader market conditions and individual financial goals when reviewing COST.