COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW(COST)Stock Analysis
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Rank #430 of 2,961 stocksTOP 25%
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Rankings refresh quarterly once 80% of peers have filed (~45 days after quarter-end). Next update: ~Nov 14, 2026.
Revenue Growth
Profitability
Balance Sheet
Earnings Quality
Free Cash Flow
Institutional Flow
Revenue Scale
Dilution Risk
COST Stock Analysis & AI Quality Score
Data updated 2026-09-11AI stock analysis and institutional research for COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW (COST), a Consumer Discretionary sector company. 13F Pro's AI-powered ranking engine scores COST at 66.2/100 on a 32-signal composite quality model, placing it at rank #430 of 2,961 stocks — the top 25% of the AI-ranked universe. COST scores in the top quartile across revenue scale (99.5), balance sheet strength (87.2), institutional flow (76.3). Areas of concern include free cash flow (35.7), which score below median versus the broader universe. Based on the latest XBRL financial filings (Q1 2026), COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW reports quarterly revenue of $70.5B, net income of $2.2B, an operating margin of 4.0%. Top institutional holders of COST by reported 13-F value include BlackRock, VANGUARD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, STATE STREET, based on the most recent SEC filings. COST trades on the Nasdaq exchange and files with the SEC under CIK 909832. 13F Pro's AI research platform runs 10 specialized AI analysts — value, growth, momentum, macro, and activist specialists — that debate COST daily and publish AI-generated analysis with cited SEC sources. The platform aggregates historical XBRL financial facts, 10-Q and 10-K filings, insider Form 4 transactions, and institutional 13-F holdings for COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW directly from SEC EDGAR. COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW's 13F Pro composite quality score has ranged between 55 and 66 since 2021, currently 66.2 — an improving long-term trajectory across 67 quarterly and live scoring snapshots.
Revenue
Q1 2026
$70.5B
Net Income
Q1 2026
$2.2B
Free Cash Flow
Q1 2026
$2.0B
Operating Margin
Q1 2026
4.0%
ROIC
Q1 2026
28.7%
D/E Ratio
Q1 2026
0.17
Revenue & Net Income
Earnings Per Share
Key Financials Over Time
Export Financial Table · ProRevenue
+8.2% YoYNet Income
+9.9% YoYOperating Income
+11.8% YoYEPS (Diluted)
+10.0% YoYTotal Assets
+10.4% YoYTotal Debt
-1.8% YoYOp. Cash Flow
+17.6% YoYFree Cash Flow
+18.2% YoY| Metric | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $275.24B +8.2% | $254.45B +5.0% | $242.29B +6.8% | $226.95B +15.8% | $195.93B +17.5% | $166.76B |
| Net Income | $8.10B +9.9% | $7.37B +17.1% | $6.29B +7.7% | $5.84B +16.7% | $5.01B +25.1% | $4.00B |
| Operating Income | $10.38B +11.8% | $9.29B +14.4% | $8.11B +4.1% | $7.79B +16.2% | $6.71B +23.4% | $5.43B |
| EPS (Diluted) | $18.21 +10.0% | $16.56 +16.9% | $14.16 +7.8% | $13.14 +16.6% | $11.27 +24.9% | $9.02 |
| Total Assets | $77.10B +10.4% | $69.83B +1.2% | $68.99B +7.5% | $64.17B +8.3% | $59.27B +6.7% | $55.56B |
| Total Debt | $5.79B -1.8% | $5.90B -8.7% | $6.46B -1.5% | $6.56B -21.3% | $8.33B +7.5% | $7.75B |
| Operating Cash Flow | $13.34B +17.6% | $11.34B +2.4% | $11.07B +49.7% | $7.39B -17.5% | $8.96B +1.1% | $8.86B |
| Free Cash Flow | $7.84B +18.2% | $6.63B -1.7% | $6.75B +92.7% | $3.50B -34.8% | $5.37B -11.3% | $6.05B |
AI Insight: COST Financial Trends
Costco delivered steady operational leverage over two years, with operating margins expanding and debt declining, though revenue growth remains modest.
• Operating margin improved from 3.8% in Q3 2024 to 3.9% in Q2 2026, with op income rising 8% year-over-year in Q2 2026 vs Q2 2025.
• Operating cash flow grew from $2,748M in Q1 2025 to $3,449M in Q2 2026, demonstrating consistent cash generation strength.
• Total debt fell 3.8% from $5,897M in Q3 2024 to $5,670M in Q2 2026, while equity expanded 41.5% to $33,509M.
⚠ Revenue growth stalled; Q2 2026 comp $70.5B vs Q2 2025 $63.2B (+11.6%), but sequential growth decelerating vs prior quarters.
⚠ Net income margin compressed to 3.1% in Q2 2026 from 3.0% in Q1 2026; margin volatility suggests pressure on non-operating items.
AI Insight: COST Ratio Trends
Costco stabilized profitability in Q2 2026 after post-holiday weakness, with leverage declining steadily to a multi-year low.
• Operating margin recovered to 4.0% in Q2 2026 from 3.7% in Q1 2026, matching Q2 2025 levels.
• Debt-to-equity ratio compressed from 0.25 in Q3 2024 to 0.17 in Q2 2026, indicating consistent deleveraging.
• Net profit margin edged higher to 3.1% in Q2 2026, the highest in the dataset.
⚠ ROIC declined from 38.2% in Q3 2025 to 27.5% in Q1 2026, rebounding modestly to 28.7% in Q2 2026.
⚠ ROE volatility persists: dropped from 35.8% in Q3 2025 to 25.4% in Q1 2026, suggesting seasonal or operational swings.
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Available Research
13F Pro tracks comprehensive data for COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW including:
Top Institutional Holders of COST
BlackRock, Inc.
$32.0B34,202,834 shVANGUARD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC
$27.1B28,976,605 shSTATE STREET CORP
$17.2B18,384,951 shInvesco Ltd.
$13.1B13,989,137 shGEODE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
$9.9B10,627,472 shVANGUARD PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT LLC
$9.7B10,402,555 shMORGAN STANLEY
$9.6B10,220,437 shBANK OF AMERICA CORP /DE/
$6.8B7,249,774 shNORGES BANK
$6.1B6,474,767 shFMR LLC
$5.8B6,163,541 sh
| Fund | Value | Shares |
|---|---|---|
| BlackRock, Inc. | $32.0B | 34,202,834 |
| VANGUARD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC | $27.1B | 28,976,605 |
| STATE STREET CORP | $17.2B | 18,384,951 |
| Invesco Ltd. | $13.1B | 13,989,137 |
| GEODE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC | $9.9B | 10,627,472 |
| VANGUARD PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT LLC | $9.7B | 10,402,555 |
| MORGAN STANLEY | $9.6B | 10,220,437 |
| BANK OF AMERICA CORP /DE/ | $6.8B | 7,249,774 |
| NORGES BANK | $6.1B | 6,474,767 |
| FMR LLC | $5.8B | 6,163,541 |
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Similarity is computed from the 8 composite sub-scores and latest-quarter 13F conviction holdings (index-style filers excluded). Refreshed monthly.
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Popular Research
Is COST a good stock to buy?
13F Pro's AI-powered analysis of COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW (COST) draws on SEC EDGAR-sourced fundamentals, institutional 13F holdings, and insider Form 4 transactions in the Consumer Discretionary sector (listed on Nasdaq). The 32-signal AI Quality Score, current rank, and full bull/bear verdict for COST are available on the COST stock profile dashboard — with the same data, AI insights, ratios, and institutional activity refreshed after every 10-K, 10-Q, 13F, and Form 4 filing. COST is classified as a mega company.
Which hedge funds own COST?
Institutional investors are required to disclose their holdings quarterly via SEC Form 13F. 13F Pro aggregates these filings to show which hedge funds, mutual funds, and asset managers are buying or selling COST. Combined with insider transaction data from Form 4 filings and AI-powered analysis from 10 specialized research agents, 13F Pro provides a comprehensive view of COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW's investment landscape.