Is COST a good stock to buy?
Costco Wholesale Corporation · end-of-day data as of Nov 13, 2026
- ConsensusBuy · 42
- News
- MAs4 of 4
- MACD5.89
- Sector▲ +6.0%
- Earnings in27d
- P/E53.3x
- Support-2.5%
- Off 52w high-0.3%
- Volume0.8x
- Bollingerupper half
- FCF yield+1.9%
- P/E vs own+8.0%
- Trendsideways
- 52w range$844–$1,110
- ATR+1.8%
- Off ATH-0.3%
- PT$1,080.37 -2.3%
- P/E vs sector+140.2%
- Insiders-$5.61M
- RSI76
Updates with the 15-min delayed price. Not a forecast or investment advice.
Is Costco a good stock to buy?
Costco is strong on 2 of the 5 questions about the business; weak on economics. The price is about usual: 53.3 times its earnings, near its 3-year median of 51.3 (Nov 13, 2026). pretickt does not say whether to buy or sell.
- Demand steady
- Advantage some edge
- Economics thin margins
- Execution delivers
- Fragility sturdy
- Price about usual
COST sales growth revenue growth
+8%a year, for the last 3 yearsCostco's sales grew 8% a year for 3 years, to $303B in fiscal 2026.
COST analysts' forecast revenue estimates
+9%the sales they expect next fiscal year, on the lastAnalysts expect Costco's sales to grow 9% to $330B in fiscal 2027 (27 analysts).
COST competitors
pretickt analysis+10%its sales in 12 months, on a year before
Costco's sales grew 10% in the 12 months to Aug 30, 2026, faster than Walmart (+6%), Dollar General (+5%), Target (+2%) and Dollar Tree (-8%).
COST sales by business revenue by segment
39%of its sales from Food and SundriesFood and Sundries brought Costco 39% of its sales in fiscal 2026; Non-Foods 26%.
COST return on capital ROIC
pretickt analysis45%earned before tax on the money invested in itCostco earned 45% before tax on the capital invested in it in the 12 months to Aug 30, 2026; Dollar Tree 21%, Walmart 20%, Target 19% and Dollar General 10%.
COST margin on each sale gross margin
13%left after making the productCostco kept 13% of each sale after making the product in the 12 months to Aug 30, 2026; its competitors' median is 30%.
COST margin after costs profit margin
4%of sales left after running the businessCostco's operating margin was 4% in the 12 months to Aug 30, 2026, against 3% in fiscal 2023.
COST cash generated free cash flow
$9.39Bcash left after investing, last 12 monthsCostco generated $9.39B of free cash flow in the 12 months to Aug 30, 2026, about as much as its reported profit.
COST earnings vs estimates
6 of 7quarters above the analysts' estimateCostco beat the analysts' profit estimate in 6 of 7 quarters, the latest on Sep 24, 2026; 1 quarter the sources disagree on is left out.
COST insider selling
-$14.2Msold, net, by its executives in 12 monthsCostco's executives and directors sold a net $14.2M of shares in the 12 months to Nov 13, 2026; none bought.
COST number of employees
+4%more people in a yearCostco had 355,000 employees at the end of fiscal 2026, 4% more than a year before.
COST CEO pay
$13.93Mfor fiscal 2025, 86% of it in stock and optionsCostco paid its CEO $13.93M for fiscal 2025, 86% of it in stock and options.
COST financial health Altman Z-score
9.9Altman Z-score, safe above 3Costco's Altman Z-score is 9.9 (Nov 13, 2026), above 3, where the safe zone starts.
COST quality checks Piotroski score
6 of 9checks passedCostco passes 6 of the 9 Piotroski checks in the 12 months to Aug 30, 2026; it misses on return on assets, gross margin and sales for its assets.
COST in past recessions
pretickt analysis-1%its sales in the worst oneCostco's sales fell in 1 of the last 2 US recessions, by as much as 1% in fiscal 2009.
COST price vs profit P/E ratio
53.3×a year's earningsCostco's P/E ratio is 53.3 (Nov 13, 2026), near its 3-year median of 51.3.
COST price vs competitors
pretickt analysis53.3×a year's earnings, against its competitorsInvestors pay 53.3 times Costco's earnings (Nov 13, 2026), more than for Walmart (46.4), Dollar General (17.4), Dollar Tree (16.9) or Target (16.8).
COST analysts' target price target
-2%to their average targetAnalysts' average price target for Costco is $1,080, 2% below the Nov 13, 2026 close of $1,106.21.
COST analyst ratings, 90 days
pretickt analysisFreedom Brokerupgrade
In the 90 days to Nov 13, 2026, Freedom Broker upgraded Costco.
COST growth priced in fair value
pretickt analysis+20%a year, for ten years, to be worth the priceAt $1,106.21 a share, Costco's free cash flow must grow about 20% a year for ten years to be worth the price (Nov 13, 2026).
What is Costco's P/E ratio?
Costco's P/E ratio is 53.3 (Nov 13, 2026), near its 3-year median of 51.3. Investors pay 53.3 times Costco's earnings (Nov 13, 2026), more than for Walmart (46.4), Dollar General (17.4), Dollar Tree (16.9) or Target (16.8).
Who are Costco's biggest competitors?
pretickt compares Costco with Walmart, Target, Dollar General and Dollar Tree. Costco's sales grew 10% in the 12 months to Aug 30, 2026, faster than Walmart (+6%), Dollar General (+5%), Target (+2%) and Dollar Tree (-8%).
Is Costco profitable?
Costco's operating margin was 4% in the 12 months to Aug 30, 2026, against 3% in fiscal 2023. Costco generated $9.39B of free cash flow in the 12 months to Aug 30, 2026, about as much as its reported profit.
Are insiders selling Costco stock?
Costco's executives and directors sold a net $14.2M of shares in the 12 months to Nov 13, 2026; none bought.
How does Costco make money?
Food and Sundries brought Costco 39% of its sales in fiscal 2026; Non-Foods 26%.
Who owns Costco stock?
4,377 institutions hold 74% of Costco's shares (Jun 30, 2026); State Street added shares that quarter, Vanguard and BlackRock sold some.
How many employees does Costco have?
Costco had 355,000 employees at the end of fiscal 2026, 4% more than a year before.
From the companies' statements (FMP), their filings read by pretickt, the analysts and the insiders, as of Nov 13, 2026. Each card says what a fact means for its question, never what to do with the stock: for information only, not investment advice.