# Costco Wholesale Corp (COST) — Stock CV

Costco Wholesale Corp is a $419B consumer staples company. Revenue grew 10.1% over the last year, and it keeps 3¢ of every dollar of sales as profit. It trades at 45.5× earnings — around the middle of its own history.

> Founded in 1983, Costco Wholesale now operates a global chain of membership-based warehouse clubs, delivering high-quality goods and services at consistently low prices.

## Identity

- **Ticker**: COST
- **Sector**: Consumer Defensive
- **Industry**: Discount Stores
- **Headquarters**: ISSAQUAH, WA
- **Employees**: 341 000
- **Website**: https://www.costco.com
- **Market cap**: $419B
- **Last price**: $946.00
- **Financial profile**: Mixed

## Vitals (TTM)

- **Revenue**: $303B
- **Net income**: $9.23B
- **Free cash flow**: $9.38B
- **P/E**: 45.5
- **Revenue growth (YoY)**: 10.1%

## Skills (profile scores, 0–100)

| Pillar | Score |
|---|---|
| Valuation | 47 |
| Growth | 64 |
| Profitability | 36 |
| Health | 37 |
| Quality | 94 |
| Moat | 62 |

## Qualifications (beginner checklist) — 9 of 11 passed

- [x] Revenue growing — +10.1% YoY
- [x] Profitable — $9.23B TTM
- [x] Profit growing — +13.6% YoY
- [x] Generates cash — $9.38B TTM
- [ ] Debt under control — current ratio 1.06
- [x] Established company — $419B market cap
- [x] Not printing shares — +0.0% shares over ~5y
- [x] Proven track record — 11/11 profitable years
- [ ] Financially stable — health score 37/100
- [x] Pays a dividend — yield 0.59%
- [x] Valuation not extreme — P/E 45.5

## Experience (career milestones)

- **FY2026** — Best year on record: $9.23B net income
- **2023** — In some international markets, Costco also offers sushi that is made in-house
- **2020** — Costco announced the acquisition of Innovel, a logistics company, for one billion dollars
- **FY2018** — Became debt-free: cash now exceeds total debt
- **2017** — Costco launched same-day and two-day grocery delivery options for members
- **FY2016** — Profitable every year on record: 11 consecutive profitable years in our data
- **FY2016** — Revenue already above $100B: $119B in first reported year
- **FY2016** — Positive free cash flow every year since: 11-year streak
- **Apr 1, 2016** — In the US, Citigroup became the exclusive issuer of Costco's branded credit cards
- **2005** — The first Costco warehouse in Seattle was replaced with a new building on an adjacent lot to the north in March 2005
- **1998** — The company launched Costco Online, its online shopping site
- **1997** — PriceCostco officially reverted to using the Costco name and stock symbol in February 1997
- **1995** — Kirkland Signature: the private label that became a $50B+ brand of its own
- **Oct 21, 1993** — PriceCostco merger: the two warehouse pioneers combine
- **Dec 5, 1985** — IPO: went public two years after the first warehouse
- **Sep 15, 1983** — First Costco warehouse: Jim Sinegal and Jeffrey Brotman in Seattle
- **Jul 12, 1976** — Price Club opens in San Diego: Sol Price invents the members-only warehouse

## Strengths

- Revenue growing 10.1% year over year
- Interest covered 91.3× by operating earnings
- Piotroski F-Score 7/9 — fundamentally strong checklist

## Watch-outs

- None stand out in the data.

## Track record

| Year | Revenue | Net income | Free cash flow |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2022 | $227B | $5.84B | $3.50B |
| FY2023 | $242B | $6.29B | $6.75B |
| FY2024 | $254B | $7.37B | $6.63B |
| FY2025 | $275B | $8.10B | $7.84B |
| FY2026 | $303B | $9.23B | $9.38B |

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Source: https://stockcv.com/COST — derived from company filings; may be delayed or incomplete. Information, not investment advice.