Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) Stock: Price, Forecast & Analyst Target
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) — MoonshotScore 74/100 (Strong band), calculated Oct 5, 2026. Price $923.52 (+0.31%), as of the Oct 5, 2026 trading session; market cap $410B. Expected results Dec 10, 2026.
Educational signal · not a buy or sell recommendation · How to read this
Market value / cash and short-term investments: 19.25× (market value Oct 5, 2026; cash Aug 30, 2026) · expected results Dec 10, 2026
Costco Wholesale Corporation · COST · NASDAQ · Consumer Defensive · Discount Stores
Research dated 2026-09-13: Costco is a membership-gated warehouse retailer whose revenue still comes overwhelmingly from merchandise, with membership fees reported as a separate stream. Sales, profit and cash generation have advanced, but the valuation assumes that this low-margin model can preserve its operating discipline as the warehouse network expands.
Price as of Oct 5, 2026
Key Statistics
MoonshotScore v2 · Costco Wholesale (COST)
StrongWhy this rating? Method, drivers & history
Bands for the MoonshotScore: Exceptional 80-100 · Strong 65-79 · Fair 45-64 · Weak below 45.
- Business Quality — Is this a genuinely good business?
- Financial Safety — Could this blow up on me?
- Valuation — Am I paying a fair price?
- Growth Durability — Is the growth real and likely to last?
- Momentum — Is the market already moving on this?
High quality, a strong balance sheet and elite growth, but an expensive valuation. Business Quality: Solid; Financial Safety: Fortress; Valuation: Rich; Growth Durability: Compounding; Momentum: Rising.
Price relative to book value is the main valuation drag relative to sector peers.
- quarterly revenue $70.53B (Q3 FY2026, quarter ended May 2026)
- EPS beat 4 of 8
- Altman Z 8.92 · Piotroski F 7
Holding back: a rich price
Helping: business quality, balance-sheet strength, durable growth, positive momentum
What has the MoonshotScore done over time?
| Recorded | Score | Band |
|---|---|---|
| 68 | Strong | |
| 74 | Strong | |
| 74 | Strong | |
| 75 | Strong | |
| 75 | Strong | |
| 74 | Strong |
The score was 74 in the stored Oct 4, 2026 snapshot and remains 74 in the current publication computed Oct 5, 2026 (0); the largest pillar moves were Growth Durability -1; the pillar moves offset under the sector-relative weighting, so the headline score is unchanged.
Calculation uses the most recent completed US trading session. Live price changes do not update the score immediately.
Computed · Educational signal · not a buy or sell recommendation · How the MoonshotScore is computed →
Price & valuation
| Measure | Value | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Latest provided price | $923.52 | |
| Change on the day | +0.31% | |
| 52-week range | $844.06–$1096.50 | |
| Market capitalisation | $410B | |
| Price / earnings (trailing) | 33.32 | |
| Shares traded on the day | 1.95M | |
| Beta (volatility vs the S&P 500) | 0.86 | |
| Dividends per share (last 12 months) | $5.54 | |
| Dividend yield (last 12 months) | 0.60% |
Price & events
Triangles mark reported quarters on the line: pointing up is above the recorded estimate, down is below, a diamond means no estimate on file. Numbers key to the dated list. Point at or tab to any week for its close.
Events behind the price
- · Earnings results · above the recorded estimate
- · Earnings results · above the recorded estimate
- · Earnings results · below the recorded estimate
- · Earnings results · above the recorded estimate
Results dates follow the earnings feed; call dates follow the transcript provider. Nearby dates do not establish that an event caused a price move.
Upcoming events
The provider's estimated date can change.
What to watch nextOther perspectives
Council score for Costco Wholesale (COST): perspectives
Council is a separate blend of available disciplines; MoonshotScore above remains the five-pillar research rating.
5-Factor Breakdown
Legends Council
6 lenses, 0 current
AI simulations built from the named investors' published principles. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or the opinion of these individuals. How these lenses are built
Read on: Sep 29, 2026 · older than the 27 hours refresh window; not a current reading
Munger's Mindset
Balance Sheet & Valuation · historical
Read on: Sep 10, 2026 · older than the 27 hours refresh window; not a current reading
How to read these bars and different assessments
Council is a separate blend of available disciplines; MoonshotScore above remains the five-pillar research rating.
Bars show each model's ordered assessment on its own scale, not a probability or a comparable investment return. The adjacent words give the assessment; more filled segments indicate a stronger model reading.
On Sep 10, 2026, the Munger lens read the price at that time as overvalued against its own estimate of value.
Readings on this page are from Oct 5, 2026, except a card that shows its own read date.
Watch the COST film — every key number, told as a short cinematic story
~2 min · open the film
What is Costco Wholesale (COST), and what does it report?
Short answer · as of
Costco Wholesale Corporation operates warehouses and digital storefronts that sell groceries, fresh food, general merchandise and private-label goods to members.
Research dated 2026-09-13.
Costco Wholesale Corporation operates warehouses and digital storefronts that sell groceries, fresh food, general merchandise and private-label goods to members. Gas stations, pharmacies, optical clinics, food courts, tire services, travel booking and delivery extend the range of purchases attached to that membership relationship.
The reported figures mainly measure merchandise throughput rather than subscription income. Food, sundries, fresh food, non-food goods and other merchandise dwarf the separately disclosed membership line, making Costco a vast retail operation with a membership layer rather than a fee business that happens to sell products.
What do the latest results show for Costco Wholesale (COST)?
Short answer · as of
The most recent reported quarter, Q3 FY2026, carried revenue of $70.53B.
Research dated 2026-09-13.
The latest reported period delivered higher revenue, gross profit, operating profit, net income and diluted earnings than the comparable prior period. Revenue exceeded the external estimate, although diluted earnings finished slightly below its estimate after a run in which reported sales and earnings frequently cleared expectations.
Operating cash flow remained comfortably above capital spending. Management separately moved some planned warehouse openings into the following fiscal period, which changes the timing of network expansion but does not explain the reported profit improvement.
Where is operating spending going?
Revenue alongside research and development, selling, general and administrative expenses, and the FMP standardized operating result.
- Latest quarter · revenue
- $95.72B Aug 30, 2026
- Latest quarter · SG&A
- $8.39B Aug 30, 2026
- Latest quarter · FMP standardized operating result
- $3.80B Aug 30, 2026
| Period end | Revenue | R&D | SG&A | FMP standardized operating result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 30, 2026 | $95.72B | Not available | $8.39B | $3.80B |
| May 10, 2026 | $70.53B | Not available | $6.19B | $2.81B |
| Feb 15, 2026 | $69.60B | Not available | $6.27B | $2.61B |
| Nov 23, 2025 | $67.31B | Not available | $6.33B | $2.46B |
USD. The operating result is the FMP-standardized value supplied by FMP; it may differ from a filing’s GAAP loss from operations when the provider classifies separately presented items differently. It is not net income or cash flow.
Did results meet expectations?
Reported earnings and revenue alongside the estimates recorded by the provider.
- Latest report · revenue
- $93.87B Sep 24, 2026
- Latest report · revenue estimate
- $94.97B Sep 24, 2026
- Latest report · revenue vs estimate
- Below estimate Sep 24, 2026
- Latest report · EPS vs estimate
- Above estimate Sep 24, 2026
| Report date | Revenue · reported | Revenue · estimate | EPS · reported | EPS · estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 24, 2026 | $93.87B | $94.97B | $6.7500 | $6.5400 |
| May 28, 2026 | $70.53B | $69.83B | $4.9300 | $5.0000 |
| Mar 5, 2026 | $69.60B | $69.29B | $4.5800 | $4.5500 |
| Dec 11, 2025 | $67.31B | $67.14B | $4.5000 | $4.2700 |
Dates are report dates, not fiscal period ends. Revenue is in USD; EPS is USD per share, rounded to four decimals. The earnings feed does not establish a basic, diluted or adjusted basis. Earnings-feed EPS may differ from statement EPS; the two series are not combined.
Quarterly income statement — 4 quarters
| Period | Revenue | Net income | EPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q3 FY2026 | $70.53B | $2.19B | $4.93 (diluted) |
| Q2 FY2026 | $69.60B | $2.04B | $4.58 (diluted) |
| Q1 FY2026 | $67.31B | $2.00B | $4.50 (diluted) |
| Aug 2025 | $86.16B | $2.61B | $5.87 (diluted) |
What are the financial strengths and risks for Costco Wholesale (COST)?
Short answer
Cash and short-term investments were $21.30B at the Aug 30, 2026 balance-sheet date. Operating cash flow was $4.69B for the quarter ended Aug 30, 2026, meaning operations generated cash. These figures do not establish a cash runway.
Research dated 2026-09-13.
Cash and short-term investments exceed total debt, leaving Costco in a net-cash position. The liquidity balance has risen throughout the displayed history, while operating cash flow has exceeded capital spending in every reported period shown.
That strength sits beside a working-capital profile with little current-ratio cushion and a quick ratio below coverage of current liabilities. Costco also operates with narrow gross, operating and net margins, so softer merchandise volume or higher selling and administrative expense can reach earnings quickly; the elevated earnings and book-value multiples would make such deterioration more consequential for shareholders.
How much cash does the business generate or use?
Quarterly operating cash flow shows cash generated or used by operations.
- Latest quarter · operating cash flow
- $4.69B Aug 30, 2026
- Previous quarter · operating cash flow
- $3.45B May 10, 2026
| Period end | Operating cash flow | Capital expenditure (reported) |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 30, 2026 | $4.69B | −$2.21B |
| May 10, 2026 | $3.45B | −$1.41B |
| Feb 15, 2026 | $3.00B | −$1.29B |
| Nov 23, 2025 | $4.69B | −$1.53B |
Operating cash-flow bars share one scale and show magnitude; negative values mean cash used.
USD. Negative operating cash flow means cash used. Capital expenditure keeps the provider’s reported sign; it is not added here to estimate free cash flow or runway.
What should you watch next at Costco Wholesale (COST)?
Short answer · as of
The next earnings report is expected on Dec 10, 2026.
Research dated 2026-09-13.
The upcoming earnings release should be read across revenue, diluted earnings, gross profit and selling and administrative expense. The latest period paired an above-estimate sales result with a below-estimate earnings result, making expense absorption and operating-profit conversion more informative than sales alone.
Cash generation after capital spending should remain visible as Costco carries out its revised warehouse-opening schedule. Published forecasts assume continued revenue and earnings expansion across the available horizon, so execution against that schedule, preservation of cash conversion and further growth in the liquidity balance are practical checks on those expectations.
How does Costco Wholesale compare with its peers?
Short answer
Costco Wholesale's score ranks 8th of 13 in the bounded comparison shown, against 12 same-model peers. These are company scores, not expected investment returns. The set lists named competitors first, then companies in the same data-provider industry classification closest in market value; that classification is the provider's, not our judgment of business similarity.
Research dated 2026-09-13.
Costco is not a conventional discount retailer with an optional loyalty card. Membership governs access to the warehouse model, membership fees appear as a distinct revenue line, and the vast majority of reported revenue still comes from moving food, fresh goods, non-food merchandise and other products.
Gas, pharmacies, optical care, food courts, tire installation, travel, business delivery and grocery fulfillment broaden the purchasing occasions within that relationship. The result is a retail model with a separate fee stream but economics still dominated by high merchandise throughput and narrow margins.
| Company | Price | Market value | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| $86.51 Oct 5, 2026 | $369B | 93 5-pillar Oct 5, 2026 | |
| $189.53 Oct 5, 2026 | $292B | 90 5-pillar Oct 5, 2026 | |
| $215.93 Oct 5, 2026 | $12.0B | 88 5-pillar Oct 5, 2026 | |
| $113.19 Oct 5, 2026 | $21.8B | 86 5-pillar Oct 5, 2026 | |
| $145.94 Oct 5, 2026 | $347B | 82 5-pillar Oct 5, 2026 | |
| $86.85 Oct 5, 2026 | $5.32B | 82 5-pillar Oct 5, 2026 | |
| $152.99 Oct 5, 2026 | $69.5B | 80 5-pillar Oct 5, 2026 | |
| Costco Wholesale (COST) — this page | $923.52 | $410B | 74 |
| $119.32 Oct 5, 2026 | $26.3B | 73 5-pillar Oct 5, 2026 | |
| $93.82 Oct 5, 2026 | $12.1B | 73 5-pillar Oct 5, 2026 | |
| $171.81 Oct 5, 2026 | $5.36B | 71 5-pillar Oct 5, 2026 | |
| $105.07 Oct 5, 2026 | $830B | 67 5-pillar Oct 5, 2026 | |
| $53.87 Oct 5, 2026 | $6.10B | 30 5-pillar Oct 5, 2026 |
Only 5-pillar scores are ranked together. Other models are not directly comparable. Price and score dates are shown separately; market-value dates are unavailable.
The records behind this page
Analyst targets & estimates
What analysts have on file
- Price target, low to high
- $955.00 – $1275.00
- Consensus target
- $1092.67
- Median target
- $1089.50
Consensus record · Captured .
Measured against a quoted price of $923.52 (as of Oct 5, 2026).
Insider activity
Form 4 records via FMP · Of the newest 15 records, those within the last 180 days, newest dated Sep 29, 2026
- Transactions
- 14
- Identified insiders
- 7
- Purchases
- 0
- Sales
- 2
- Other transactions
- 12
Purchases and sales use the reported transaction category. Other transactions include awards, exercises, gifts, withholding and unclassified activity; an acquisition or disposition alone is not a purchase or sale. These records do not establish intent.
Who holds the shares?
Institutional ownership reported through 13F filings.
- Institutional ownership
- 73.5% Period end Jun 30, 2026
- Previous quarter · ownership
- 71.2% Prior to period end Jun 30, 2026
- Reporting holders
- 4,373 Period end Jun 30, 2026
- Previous quarter · holders
- 4,388 Prior to period end Jun 30, 2026
| Holders in provider snapshot | Shares |
|---|---|
| Blackrock, INC. | 34,202,834 |
| Vanguard Capital Management LLC | 28,976,605 |
| State Street Corp | 18,384,951 |
| Invesco Ltd. | 13,989,137 |
| Geode Capital Management, LLC | 10,627,472 |
Quarterly filings lag the period end. Holder rows are names in the provider snapshot, not a verified ranking; individual filing dates are not supplied. Related managers may appear separately, so these positions are not summed. Holder snapshot as of Jun 30, 2026.
What has been published about Costco Wholesale (COST)?
Costco Wholesale Consumer Defensive Stock: Key Questions Answered
Research dated 2026-09-13; the answers below are from that research, and the full attribution is under Sources. The last 3 questions are answered from this page's own dated data, not from the research.
What does a Costco membership contribute to reported revenue?
Membership fees form a distinct reported segment, but merchandise categories account for far more revenue. Costco therefore remains economically dependent on member purchasing activity, not fee income alone.
Why do Costco warehouse opening delays matter?
New warehouses add selling capacity and extend the membership model into additional locations. Management shifted some planned openings into the following fiscal period, delaying that portion of network expansion rather than cancelling the broader strategy.
Does Costco produce cash after warehouse investment?
Operating cash flow exceeded capital spending throughout the displayed history. Cash and short-term investments also rose across the same sequence of reported periods.
Did Costco's latest sales result produce an earnings beat?
Revenue finished above the external estimate, while diluted earnings came in slightly below its estimate. Even so, operating profit and net income improved from the comparable prior period.
What is the COST stock price today?
The last price recorded on this page for Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) is $923.52, as of the Oct 5, 2026 trading session (source: Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) · quote). It is a provider snapshot, not a live exchange feed, so check a brokerage quote before you trade.
What is the COST price target?
The analyst consensus price target for Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) is $1092.67 (range $955.00 to $1275.00, median $1089.50), per FMP data captured Oct 5, 2026. Targets are analyst opinions and change often; they are not a Stock Expert AI forecast.
Does COST pay a dividend?
Yes. Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) shows a trailing 12-month dividend yield of 0.60%, as of Oct 5, 2026, in the data on this page. Payout ratio and cash-flow coverage decide whether it can last, and past dividends do not guarantee future payments.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Always do your own research and consult a financial advisor.
Research written by Codex (gpt-5.6-sol) on 2026-09-13. AI-authored analysis; source dates are shown with each answer. Editorial oversight is systemic, not page-by-page. Editorially accountable: Sedat ANAK, Founder and Editor-in-Chief.
Sources — records for every figure on this page (81 figures)
The 81 rows below are exactly the facts the evidence-backed sections of this page printed — the 10-second verdict, the MoonshotScore, price and market value, the five questions with their receipts, and the records behind this page. Known dates and sources are recorded on their own rows; an em dash or UNRECORDED tier preserves a stored observation without inventing either. The quarterly income statement is provider-standardized (FMP) under one row, and scale definitions — a 0-100 rating, the band ladder, the Piotroski 0–9 range — are fixed rather than measured. No number in those sections was generated by a model. The register does not cover quoted third-party headlines, the dated council readings, or the Frequently Asked Questions; each of those says where it came from where it stands.
"As of" is the date the value is true for where the source carries one — a quarter end, a filing date, a price close, the day the score was computed. A cached observation with no source date remains undated; the page publication date is not used as a substitute.
OFFICIAL — 1 fact from SEC filings and earnings calls
| Fact ID | Fact | Value as shown | As of | Tier | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
id.hq | SEC filing business address | 999 Lake Drive, Issaquah, WA, 98027- | OFFICIAL | SEC EDGAR filer business address — The SEC filer business address. Our market-data provider separately lists "999 Lake Drive, Issaquah, WA, 98027, US". |
FMP — 70 facts from Financial Modeling Prep endpoint families
| Fact ID | Fact | Value as shown | As of | Tier | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
earn.next | Next earnings date | Dec 10, 2026 | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) earnings calendar — The date is our provider's estimate until the company confirms it. | |
px.last | Latest provided price | $923.52 | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) · quote — Dated to the US trading session the price belongs to, derived from the quote record's timestamp (weekend and pre-open reads roll back to the previous weekday; exchange holidays are not modelled). The record does not establish an exchange execution time. Retrieved 2026-10-05T21:54:44.253Z. | |
px.change | Change on the day | +0.31% | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) · quote | |
px.mcap | Market capitalization | $410B | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) quote — Provider market cap uses the share class it prices; a company with more than one class may show a larger total elsewhere. Market cap record date: 2026-10-05. Source capture time was not supplied. No share-count basis is inferred; this page preserves the reported amount instead of recalculating it from shares. | |
px.change_abs | Change on the day, in dollars | +$2.87 | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) · quote | |
fin.q_revenue | Revenue, Q3 FY2026 | $70.53B | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) · income statement (quarterly) | |
px.range52 | 52-week range | $844.06–$1096.50 | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) quote | |
px.pe | Price / earnings (trailing) | 33.32 | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) · quote | |
px.volume | Shares traded on the day | 1.95M | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) · quote | |
px.beta | Beta | 0.86 | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) company profile | |
id.ceo | Chief executive | Ron Vachris | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) key executives (proxy-derived) — Titles and pay come from the company's proxy statement as our provider parsed it. | |
id.employees | Employees | 341,000 | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) employee count, from the company's filing | |
fin.annual | Revenue and net result by fiscal year | 5 fiscal years, FY2022 through FY2026: FY2022 revenue $226.95B, net result $5.84B; FY2023 revenue $242.29B, net result $6.29B; FY2024 revenue $254.45B, net result $7.37B; FY2025 revenue $275.24B, net result $8.10B; FY2026 revenue $303.15B, net result $9.23B | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP), from the company's 10-K income statements | |
fin.rev_mix | Reported revenue segments | Other $51.17B · Non-Foods $71.19B · Fresh Food $37.99B · Membership $5.32B · Food and Sundries $109.56B | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) revenue segmentation, from the company's 10-K | |
fin.gross_margin | Gross margin (trailing twelve months) | 12.8% | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) key-metrics-ttm + ratios-ttm — A ratio our provider could not compute is absent rather than shown as zero. | |
fin.q_table.depth.2026-08-30.revenue_k | Revenue — period end 2026-08-30 | $95.72B | Period end · | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP), from the company's 10-Q and 10-K income statements — Quarterly statement note |
fin.q_table.depth.2026-08-30.sga_k | SG&A — period end 2026-08-30 | $8.39B | Period end · | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP), from the company's 10-Q and 10-K income statements — Quarterly statement note |
fin.q_table.depth.2026-08-30.operating_result_k | FMP standardized operating result — period end 2026-08-30 | $3.80B | Period end · | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP), from the company's 10-Q and 10-K income statements — Quarterly statement note |
fin.q_table.depth.2026-05-10.revenue_k | Revenue — period end 2026-05-10 | $70.53B | Period end · | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP), from the company's 10-Q and 10-K income statements — Quarterly statement note |
fin.q_table.depth.2026-05-10.sga_k | SG&A — period end 2026-05-10 | $6.19B | Period end · | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP), from the company's 10-Q and 10-K income statements — Quarterly statement note |
fin.q_table.depth.2026-05-10.operating_result_k | FMP standardized operating result — period end 2026-05-10 | $2.81B | Period end · | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP), from the company's 10-Q and 10-K income statements — Quarterly statement note |
fin.q_table.depth.2026-02-15.revenue_k | Revenue — period end 2026-02-15 | $69.60B | Period end · | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP), from the company's 10-Q and 10-K income statements — Quarterly statement note |
fin.q_table.depth.2026-02-15.sga_k | SG&A — period end 2026-02-15 | $6.27B | Period end · | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP), from the company's 10-Q and 10-K income statements — Quarterly statement note |
fin.q_table.depth.2026-02-15.operating_result_k | FMP standardized operating result — period end 2026-02-15 | $2.61B | Period end · | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP), from the company's 10-Q and 10-K income statements — Quarterly statement note |
fin.q_table.depth.2025-11-23.revenue_k | Revenue — period end 2025-11-23 | $67.31B | Period end · | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP), from the company's 10-Q and 10-K income statements — Quarterly statement note |
fin.q_table.depth.2025-11-23.sga_k | SG&A — period end 2025-11-23 | $6.33B | Period end · | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP), from the company's 10-Q and 10-K income statements — Quarterly statement note |
fin.q_table.depth.2025-11-23.operating_result_k | FMP standardized operating result — period end 2025-11-23 | $2.46B | Period end · | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP), from the company's 10-Q and 10-K income statements — Quarterly statement note |
earn.history.depth.2026-09-24.revenue_actual | Revenue · reported — report date 2026-09-24 | $93.87B | Report date · | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) earnings — Earnings-history note |
earn.history.depth.2026-09-24.revenue_estimated | Revenue · estimate — report date 2026-09-24 | $94.97B | Report date · | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) earnings — Earnings-history note |
earn.history.depth.2026-09-24.eps_actual | EPS · reported — report date 2026-09-24 | $6.7500 | Report date · | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) earnings — Earnings-history note |
earn.history.depth.2026-09-24.eps_estimated | EPS · estimate — report date 2026-09-24 | $6.5400 | Report date · | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) earnings — Earnings-history note |
earn.history.depth.2026-05-28.revenue_actual | Revenue · reported — report date 2026-05-28 | $70.53B | Report date · | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) earnings — Earnings-history note |
earn.history.depth.2026-05-28.revenue_estimated | Revenue · estimate — report date 2026-05-28 | $69.83B | Report date · | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) earnings — Earnings-history note |
earn.history.depth.2026-05-28.eps_actual | EPS · reported — report date 2026-05-28 | $4.9300 | Report date · | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) earnings — Earnings-history note |
earn.history.depth.2026-05-28.eps_estimated | EPS · estimate — report date 2026-05-28 | $5.0000 | Report date · | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) earnings — Earnings-history note |
earn.history.depth.2026-03-05.revenue_actual | Revenue · reported — report date 2026-03-05 | $69.60B | Report date · | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) earnings — Earnings-history note |
earn.history.depth.2026-03-05.revenue_estimated | Revenue · estimate — report date 2026-03-05 | $69.29B | Report date · | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) earnings — Earnings-history note |
earn.history.depth.2026-03-05.eps_actual | EPS · reported — report date 2026-03-05 | $4.5800 | Report date · | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) earnings — Earnings-history note |
earn.history.depth.2026-03-05.eps_estimated | EPS · estimate — report date 2026-03-05 | $4.5500 | Report date · | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) earnings — Earnings-history note |
earn.history.depth.2025-12-11.revenue_actual | Revenue · reported — report date 2025-12-11 | $67.31B | Report date · | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) earnings — Earnings-history note |
earn.history.depth.2025-12-11.revenue_estimated | Revenue · estimate — report date 2025-12-11 | $67.14B | Report date · | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) earnings — Earnings-history note |
earn.history.depth.2025-12-11.eps_actual | EPS · reported — report date 2025-12-11 | $4.5000 | Report date · | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) earnings — Earnings-history note |
earn.history.depth.2025-12-11.eps_estimated | EPS · estimate — report date 2025-12-11 | $4.2700 | Report date · | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) earnings — Earnings-history note |
fin.q_table | Quarterly income statement | 4 quarters through Q3 FY2026 | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) · income statement (quarterly), as filed | |
fin.cash_investments | Cash and short-term investments | $21.30B | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP), from the company's balance sheet — Long-term investments are shown separately; their marketability is not established by the provider field. The cash and short-term investment balance does not establish unrestricted availability. Long-term investments are excluded and remain unclassified. Restrictions on cash and short-term investments require separate review. | |
fin.opcf_latest | Latest-quarter operating cash flow | $4.69B | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP), from the company's 10-Q cash-flow statements — Period end: 2026-08-30. Negative operating cash flow means cash used. This figure is not a cash-runway estimate. | |
fin.long_term_investments | Long-term investments (classification unverified) | $0.00 | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP), from the company's balance sheet — Long-term investments are shown separately; their marketability is not established by the provider field. The cash and short-term investment balance does not establish unrestricted availability. | |
fin.total_debt | Total debt | $8.58B | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP), from the company's balance sheet — Long-term investments are shown separately; their marketability is not established by the provider field. The cash and short-term investment balance does not establish unrestricted availability. | |
fin.price_to_book | Price to book value | 11.45× | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) key-metrics-ttm + ratios-ttm — A ratio our provider could not compute is absent rather than shown as zero. | |
fin.opcf.depth.2026-08-30.operating_cash_flow_m | Operating cash flow — period end 2026-08-30 | $4.69B | Period end · | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP), from the company's 10-Q cash-flow statements — Cash-flow note |
fin.opcf.depth.2026-05-10.operating_cash_flow_m | Operating cash flow — period end 2026-05-10 | $3.45B | Period end · | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP), from the company's 10-Q cash-flow statements — Cash-flow note |
fin.opcf.depth.2026-08-30.capex_m | Capital expenditure (reported) — period end 2026-08-30 | −$2.21B | Period end · | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP), from the company's 10-Q cash-flow statements — Cash-flow note |
fin.opcf.depth.2026-05-10.capex_m | Capital expenditure (reported) — period end 2026-05-10 | −$1.41B | Period end · | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP), from the company's 10-Q cash-flow statements — Cash-flow note |
fin.opcf.depth.2026-02-15.operating_cash_flow_m | Operating cash flow — period end 2026-02-15 | $3.00B | Period end · | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP), from the company's 10-Q cash-flow statements — Cash-flow note |
fin.opcf.depth.2026-02-15.capex_m | Capital expenditure (reported) — period end 2026-02-15 | −$1.29B | Period end · | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP), from the company's 10-Q cash-flow statements — Cash-flow note |
fin.opcf.depth.2025-11-23.operating_cash_flow_m | Operating cash flow — period end 2025-11-23 | $4.69B | Period end · | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP), from the company's 10-Q cash-flow statements — Cash-flow note |
fin.opcf.depth.2025-11-23.capex_m | Capital expenditure (reported) — period end 2025-11-23 | −$1.53B | Period end · | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP), from the company's 10-Q cash-flow statements — Cash-flow note |
earn.pt_range | Analyst price target, low to high | $955.00 – $1275.00 | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) · price-target consensus — Captured Oct 5, 2026 · Coverage not supplied | |
earn.pt_consensus | Consensus analyst price target | $1092.67 | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) · price-target consensus — Captured Oct 5, 2026 · Coverage not supplied | |
earn.pt_median | Median analyst price target | $1089.50 | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) · price-target consensus — Captured Oct 5, 2026 · Coverage not supplied | |
own.insiders | Insider transactions via FMP | 14 transactions · 0 purchases, 2 sales, 12 other transactions · 7 identified insiders · of the newest 15 records, those within the last 180 days, newest dated Sep 29, 2026 | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP), carrying Form 4 transaction records — Purchases and sales use the reported transaction category. Other transactions include awards, exercises, gifts, withholding and unclassified activity; an acquisition or disposition alone is not a purchase or sale. These records do not establish intent. | |
own.institutions.depth.ownership_pct | Institutional ownership | 73.5% | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) institutional ownership summary, from 13F filings — 13F filings are quarterly and lag the quarter end by up to 45 days. Period end Jun 30, 2026 | |
own.institutions.depth.ownership_pct_previous_quarter | Previous quarter · ownership | 71.2% | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) institutional ownership summary, from 13F filings — 13F filings are quarterly and lag the quarter end by up to 45 days. Prior to period end Jun 30, 2026 | |
own.institutions.depth.holders | Reporting holders | 4,373 | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) institutional ownership summary, from 13F filings — 13F filings are quarterly and lag the quarter end by up to 45 days. Period end Jun 30, 2026 | |
own.institutions.depth.holders_previous_quarter | Previous quarter · holders | 4,388 | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) institutional ownership summary, from 13F filings — 13F filings are quarterly and lag the quarter end by up to 45 days. Prior to period end Jun 30, 2026 | |
own.top_holders.depth.holder_0.shares | Blackrock, INC. — shares in provider snapshot | 34,202,834 | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) institutional holders, from 13F filings — Provider snapshot as of 2026-06-30; individual filing date not supplied. | |
own.top_holders.depth.holder_1.shares | Vanguard Capital Management LLC — shares in provider snapshot | 28,976,605 | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) institutional holders, from 13F filings — Provider snapshot as of 2026-06-30; individual filing date not supplied. | |
own.top_holders.depth.holder_2.shares | State Street Corp — shares in provider snapshot | 18,384,951 | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) institutional holders, from 13F filings — Provider snapshot as of 2026-06-30; individual filing date not supplied. | |
own.top_holders.depth.holder_3.shares | Invesco Ltd. — shares in provider snapshot | 13,989,137 | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) institutional holders, from 13F filings — Provider snapshot as of 2026-06-30; individual filing date not supplied. | |
own.top_holders.depth.holder_4.shares | Geode Capital Management, LLC — shares in provider snapshot | 10,627,472 | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) institutional holders, from 13F filings — Provider snapshot as of 2026-06-30; individual filing date not supplied. |
UNRECORDED — 2 facts from stored observations whose source was not recorded
| Fact ID | Fact | Value as shown | As of | Tier | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
earn.history | Reported versus estimated, recent quarters | EPS beat 4 of 8 | UNRECORDED | Stored earnings-history observation — Captured 2026-10-01 · Expired observation | |
fin.scores | Distress and quality screens | Altman Z 8.92 · Piotroski F 7 | UNRECORDED | Stored financial-scores observation — Captured 2026-10-04 · Expired observation |
COMPUTED — 5 facts from our arithmetic, formula restated
| Fact ID | Fact | Value as shown | As of | Tier | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
fin.mcap_to_cash | Market value per dollar of cash and short-term investments | 19.25× | — | COMPUTED | Computed on this page from the figures above — The market capitalisation printed on this page divided by cash and short-term investments of $21.30B at Aug 30, 2026. Long-term investments are excluded and remain unclassified. Restrictions on cash and short-term investments require separate review. Market cap record date: 2026-10-05. Balance-sheet reference date: 2026-08-30. The inputs do not establish a single common source date for this ratio. |
div.ttm_per_share | Dividends per share, last 12 months (split-adjusted) | $5.54 | COMPUTED | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) split-adjusted dividend history — Sum of 4 split-adjusted declared dividends with an ex-date in the 365 days to 2026-10-05, per current share. Ex-dates are not payment dates; special dividends are included. Not a declared annual rate. | |
div.ttm_yield | Dividend yield, last 12 months | 0.60% | COMPUTED | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) split-adjusted dividend history and quote — Split-adjusted dividends with ex-dates in the trailing 365-day window divided by the packet price, on the same current-share basis. Price date follows the quote, latest price bar or packet-build day when unstamped. Not a forecast or declared annual rate. | |
earn.history.depth.2026-09-24.revenue_actual.comparison | Latest report · revenue vs estimate | Below estimate | Report date · | COMPUTED | Computed from Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) earnings — Earnings-history note — Method: compare reported revenue ($93.87B) with the recorded estimate ($94.97B) at displayed precision. Equal displayed values are in line. This compares reported results with recorded estimates, not investment returns. |
earn.history.depth.2026-09-24.eps_actual.comparison | Latest report · EPS vs estimate | Above estimate | Report date · | COMPUTED | Computed from Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) earnings — Earnings-history note — Method: compare reported EPS ($6.7500) with the recorded estimate ($6.5400) at displayed precision. Equal displayed values are in line. This compares reported results with recorded estimates, not investment returns. |
OURS — 3 facts from Stock Expert AI's own score and rank
| Fact ID | Fact | Value as shown | As of | Tier | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ours.moonshot | MoonshotScore v2 | 74 of 100 · Strong · pillars 69 / 89 / 24 / 88 / 68 | OURS | Stock Expert AI MoonshotScore v2 engine | |
ours.valuation_driver | Recorded valuation score driver | Price relative to book value is the main valuation drag relative to sector peers. | OURS | Stock Expert AI MoonshotScore v2 engine · stored factor contributions | |
ours.moonshot_change | MoonshotScore movement | 74 (stored snapshot Oct 4, 2026) → 74 (current publication computed Oct 5, 2026) (0) | OURS | Stock Expert AI current score publication and immutable score snapshots |
Fact-family notes
- Quarterly statement note. Source series as of 2026-08-30. USD. The operating result is the FMP-standardized value supplied by FMP; it may differ from a filing’s GAAP loss from operations when the provider classifies separately presented items differently. It is not net income or cash flow. Applies to Fact IDs:
fin.q_table.depth.2026-08-30.revenue_k,fin.q_table.depth.2026-08-30.sga_k,fin.q_table.depth.2026-08-30.operating_result_k,fin.q_table.depth.2026-05-10.revenue_k,fin.q_table.depth.2026-05-10.sga_k,fin.q_table.depth.2026-05-10.operating_result_k,fin.q_table.depth.2026-02-15.revenue_k,fin.q_table.depth.2026-02-15.sga_k,fin.q_table.depth.2026-02-15.operating_result_k,fin.q_table.depth.2025-11-23.revenue_k,fin.q_table.depth.2025-11-23.sga_k,fin.q_table.depth.2025-11-23.operating_result_k. - Earnings-history note. Source series as of 2026-09-24. Dates are report dates, not fiscal period ends. Revenue is in USD; EPS is USD per share, rounded to four decimals. The earnings feed does not establish a basic, diluted or adjusted basis. Earnings-feed EPS may differ from statement EPS; the two series are not combined. Applies to Fact IDs:
earn.history.depth.2026-09-24.revenue_actual,earn.history.depth.2026-09-24.revenue_estimated,earn.history.depth.2026-09-24.revenue_actual.comparison,earn.history.depth.2026-09-24.eps_actual.comparison,earn.history.depth.2026-09-24.eps_actual,earn.history.depth.2026-09-24.eps_estimated,earn.history.depth.2026-05-28.revenue_actual,earn.history.depth.2026-05-28.revenue_estimated,earn.history.depth.2026-05-28.eps_actual,earn.history.depth.2026-05-28.eps_estimated,earn.history.depth.2026-03-05.revenue_actual,earn.history.depth.2026-03-05.revenue_estimated,earn.history.depth.2026-03-05.eps_actual,earn.history.depth.2026-03-05.eps_estimated,earn.history.depth.2025-12-11.revenue_actual,earn.history.depth.2025-12-11.revenue_estimated,earn.history.depth.2025-12-11.eps_actual,earn.history.depth.2025-12-11.eps_estimated. - Cash-flow note. Source series as of 2026-08-30. USD. Negative operating cash flow means cash used. Capital expenditure keeps the provider’s reported sign; it is not added here to estimate free cash flow or runway. Applies to Fact IDs:
fin.opcf.depth.2026-08-30.operating_cash_flow_m,fin.opcf.depth.2026-05-10.operating_cash_flow_m,fin.opcf.depth.2026-08-30.capex_m,fin.opcf.depth.2026-05-10.capex_m,fin.opcf.depth.2026-02-15.operating_cash_flow_m,fin.opcf.depth.2026-02-15.capex_m,fin.opcf.depth.2025-11-23.operating_cash_flow_m,fin.opcf.depth.2025-11-23.capex_m.
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Sources used for research written 2026-09-13
Historical evidence preserved with this analysis. Current figures are listed separately above.
| Evidence | Captured value | Source date | Source type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business description | Costco Wholesale Corporation, alongside its group entities, operates membership-based retail warehouses across a broad international scope, spanning the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Spain, France, Iceland, China, and Taiwan. These outlets provide customers with an extensive array of both well-known branded and proprietary private-label products. Their vast inventory includes household staples, shelf-stable groceries, confectionery, chilled and frozen items, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and deli selections. Furthermore, the stores stock major appliances, consumer electronics, health and beauty aids, hardware, garden and patio furniture, sporting goods, vehicle tires, toys, seasonal merchandise, office supplies, automotive maintenance products, postage services, event tickets, apparel, small kitchen appliances, home furnishings, domestic textiles, kitchenware, custom-order kiosks, and fine jewelry. Fresh departments offer meat, produce, a service deli, and bakery items. Beyond retail goods, Costco provides in-store amenities such as pharmacies, optical clinics, food courts, hearing aid centers, and tire installation facilities, in addition to managing 636 gas stations. The company also extends its offerings online through business delivery, travel booking, and same-day grocery fulfillment in various countries. As of August 29, 2021, Costco maintained a global network of 815 membership warehouses, with 564 located in the United States and Puerto Rico, 105 in Canada, 39 in Mexico, 30 in Japan, 29 in the United Kingdom, 16 in South Korea, 14 in Taiwan, 12 in Australia, 3 in Spain, and one each in Iceland, France, and China. Digital storefronts facilitate e-commerce operations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and Australia. Founded in 1976, the enterprise was originally known as Costco Companies, Inc. before officially adopting the name Costco Wholesale Corporation in August 1999. Its corporate headquarters are situated in Issaquah, Washington. | 2026-09-13 | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) company profile |
| Revenue by segment | Other: $51.17B; Non-Foods: $71.19B; Fresh Food: $37.99B; Membership: $5.32B; Food and Sundries: $109.56B | 2025-08-31 | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) revenue segmentation, from the company's 10-K |
| Annual revenue and net result (USD millions) | Captured record · 5 entries
| 2025-08-31 | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP), from the company's 10-K income statements |
| Trailing twelve-month ratio set | Quick ratio: 0.61; Current ratio: 1.07; Debt to equity: 0.25; Net margin: 3%; Gross margin: 12.9%; Operating margin: 3.8%; Return on assets: 10.2%; Return on equity: 28.3% Price-based multiples captured at research time are not repeated here; the page shows each once, from current figures with their own dates. A ratio our provider could not compute is absent rather than shown as zero. | 2026-09-13 | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) key-metrics-ttm + ratios-ttm |
| Legal name | COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW Our market-data provider lists the name as "Costco Wholesale Corporation"; the filer's own record is used here. | 2025-10-08 | OFFICIAL | SEC EDGAR — 10-K filed 2025-10-08 |
| Ticker / exchange | COST on Nasdaq | 2026-09-13 | OFFICIAL | SEC EDGAR filer record |
| Sector / industry (provider taxonomy) | Consumer Defensive / Discount Stores The company's SEC filings classify it under SIC 5331 — Retail-Variety Stores. | 2026-09-13 | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) company profile |
| Employees | Count: 341,000 | 2025-08-31 | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) employee count, from the company's filing |
| Quarterly income statement (USD thousands) | Captured record · 8 entries
| 2026-05-10 | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP), from the company's 10-Q and 10-K income statements |
| Operating cash flow by quarter (USD millions) | Captured record · 8 entries
| 2026-05-10 | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP), from the company's 10-Q cash-flow statements |
| Reported versus estimated, last 8 quarters | Captured record · 8 entries
| 2026-05-28 | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) earnings |
| Management outlook — dated call excerpts | Captured record · 1 entry
Selected verbatim statements from the latest available call, dated by the transcript provider. Management expectations, not completed milestones or guarantees. Relative dates retain the speaker's wording. | 2026-05-28 | OFFICIAL | Company earnings call, transcript via Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) |
| Cash, investments and debt | Total debt: $8.23B; Liquidity basis: cash and short-term investments; Total liabilities: $52.92B; Cash and short-term investments: $20.00B; Cash and investments: $20.00B; Long-term investments: $0; Long-term investments classification: unclassified Long-term investments are shown separately; their marketability is not established by the provider field. The cash and short-term investment balance does not establish unrestricted availability. | 2026-05-10 | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP), from the company's balance sheet |
| Cash and investment components | Total basis: cash short and long-term investments; Total: $20.00B; Cash and short-term investments: $20.00B; Long-term investments: $0; Long-term investments classification: unclassified Sums the balance sheet's cash and short-term investments with its long-term investments.; The long-term investment field does not establish marketability; the sum is not a measure of available liquidity.; These provider fields do not establish investment access restrictions or explain differences from third-party cash figures. | 2026-05-10 | COMPUTED | Computed from the balance sheet |
| Cash and short-term investments over time (USD millions) | Captured record · 8 entries
| 2026-05-10 | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP), from the company's quarterly balance sheets |
| Cash against market value | As of: 2026-05-10; Cash basis: cash and short-term investments; Net cash: $11.76B; Total debt: $8.23B; Cash and investments: $20.00B Price-based multiples captured at research time are not repeated here; the page shows each once, from current figures with their own dates. Cash is the latest reported cash and short-term investment balance; long-term investments are excluded. Market capitalization is the latest provider value.; The reported balance does not establish unrestricted availability or liquidation value.; The two are measured on different dates — the balance sheet is a quarter-end, the market cap is a recent close.; Debt is total debt as reported, including operating lease liabilities where the filer includes them. | 2026-05-10 | COMPUTED | Computed from the balance sheet and the latest market capitalization |
| Distress and quality screens | Altman Z-score: 8.87; Piotroski F-score: 7 Altman Z below 1.8 is the conventional distress zone. The screen is built for manufacturers and industrials; for banks, insurers and property companies it is not a meaningful reading. | 2026-09-13 | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) financial scores |
| Next earnings report | Date: 2026-09-24; EPS estimate: $6.55 per share; Revenue estimate: $94.83B The date is our provider's estimate until the company confirms it. | 2026-09-13 | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) earnings calendar |
| Analyst revenue and earnings estimates (average) | Captured record · 4 entries
| 2026-09-13 | FMP | Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) analyst estimates |
| Most recent periodic reports | 2026-06-03 | OFFICIAL | SEC EDGAR filer submissions |
Data provided for informational purposes only.
ETFs that hold COST
Funds in our ETF coverage that list COST among the top 10 holdings on their fund page, largest weight first. Each weight is the fund's reported holding weight as of the date in its row.
| ETF | Weight | Holdings as of |
|---|---|---|
| FSTA ETF | 11.74% | |
| First Trust Nasdaq Retail ETF (FTXD) | 6.61% | |
| DVGR ETF | 4.40% | |
| iShares U.S. Consumer Discretionary ETF (IYC) | 4.16% | |
| Blackrock Future U.S. Themes ETF (BTHM) | 2.96% | |
| ENHU ETF | 1.59% |