COST Stock Price Today (May 2026) — Costco Wholesale Corporation Analysis & Key Metrics 2026-05-22
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) is trading at $1028.24, down 2.11% today (as of May 2026). The stock continues to show sustained strength above key moving averages, attracting attention from investors looking for Consumer Defensive growth opportunities.
- According to consensus analyst estimates, the 1-year price target is $1072.16 (4.3% upside).
- Volatility remains elevated (22.31% annualized), implying wide price swings for short-term traders.
- The fundamental picture, based on the latest financial filings, is nuanced: solid revenue growth (21.50% YoY) alongside significant competitive pressures.
COST Stock Analysis: Key Metrics & Valuation (May 2026)
Concise, actionable data for investors
Costco Wholesale Corporation - Historical Price & Volume
Market Cap
Enterprise Value: $439.86B
P/E Ratio
Forward P/E: 44.28
Revenue Growth
Year over Year
Analyst Target
+4.3% upside potential
Key Investor Questions About COST
What investors need to know before buying
Based on current market data, COST presents a neutral technical setup with caution warranted fundamentals.
- Technicals say: Neutral (RSI 48.78)
- Fundamentals say: Caution warranted (high leverage concerns)
COST's growth trajectory depends on its ability to expand within the Discount Stores sector while managing margin pressures.
- Future growth will depend on performance in core Discount Stores operations.
- The ability to manage competitive pressures will be crucial for sustained growth.
The primary risks for COST investors include debt exposure and competitive dynamics in the Discount Stores industry.
- $10.23B in debt could be a headwind in a high-rate environment.
- Fierce competition from established players in Discount Stores.
52-Week Trading Range
Over the past year, COST stock traded between $844.06 and $1067.08—recovering meaningfully from lows and currently near the higher end. Big swings are likely unless a major catalyst emerges.
Volatility & Risk Profile
With 22.31% annualized volatility and β=0.91, the stock exhibits moderate correlation to market moves—making COST suitable for investors comfortable with active risk management.
Institutional & Insider Ownership
High institutional backing, but elevated short interest signals a potential battleground stock.
Analyst Sentiment & Price Targets
Latest News & Headlines
Recent headlines and coverage
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Costco made a quiet credit card change that cost members money
Costco has treated credit cards differently from most retailers. First, the chain only accepts one single credit card brand at any given time. For 16 years, that was American Express, but in 2016, a change was made. "Costco Wholesale Corp. has started to issue new Visa cards to its customers, who ...
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Earnings season is slowing down, but the stock market uptrend is still showing plenty of signs of life as Wall Street awaits a new round of earnings reports from top stocks like Dell Technologies, Toronto-Dominion Bank, a current holding in the Leaderboard model portfolio, and Costco. Dell stock soared early Friday after Wells Fargo raised Dell's price target substantially to 270 from 180 while maintaining an overweight rating. Dell hasn't looked back after an initial breakout from a cup-with-handle base on March 16.
A Look At Costco Wholesale (COST) Valuation As Shares Trade Near Recent Highs
Costco Wholesale (COST) stock has traded in a relatively tight range recently, giving investors a chance to reassess the warehouse retailer’s valuation and long term return profile based on its latest fundamentals. See our latest analysis for Costco Wholesale. At a share price of $1,050.45, Costco’s 30 day share price return of 4.44% and year to date share price return of 22.93% point to building momentum, backed by a 3 year total shareholder return of 124.72% and a 5 year total shareholder...
Costco pays new members to join in rare offer
Costco’s business model has always been deceptively simple. The warehouse retailer sells groceries, electronics, appliances, and even gold bars at razor-thin margins. It then makes a huge chunk of its profit from membership fees. In its fiscal second-quarter 2026 earnings report, Costco said ...
Frequently Asked Questions
Common investor questions about Costco Wholesale Corporation
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) is currently trading at $1028.24. The RSI (14-day) is at 48.8, indicating neutral territory. Wall Street analysts have a consensus "buy" recommendation. The mean analyst price target of $1072.16 implies 4.3% upside from current levels. Volatility is moderate at 22.3% annualized, meaning price movements are relatively contained. Investors should consider their risk tolerance, investment horizon, and portfolio diversification before making a decision.
Based on current valuation metrics for Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST): The trailing P/E ratio is 51.81, which is above the market average, indicating investors are pricing in higher growth expectations. The forward P/E is 44.28, lower than the trailing P/E, suggesting analysts expect earnings improvement. The PEG ratio is 5.14, above 2.0, suggesting the stock may be overvalued relative to its expected growth. Price-to-Book is 26.71. Price-to-Sales is 1.54. Valuation should be compared to Discount Stores industry peers for context, as different sectors trade at different multiples.
Based on 32 analysts covering COST, the consensus price target is $1072.16. This represents a 4.3% upside from the current price of $1028.24. The range spans from a low target of $650.00 to a high target of $1315.00, reflecting varying levels of optimism among analysts. The consensus recommendation is "buy". Note: Analyst price targets are forward-looking estimates and not guarantees of future performance.
Yes, Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) pays a dividend with a current yield of approximately 50.00%. The annualized dividend rate is $5.20 per share. The payout ratio is 27.0%, which is conservative and suggests the dividend is well-covered by earnings with room for future increases. The most recent ex-dividend date was 2026-05-01.
Key risks for Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) investors include: 1. Broader market and macroeconomic risks (interest rates, inflation, geopolitical events). 2. Discount Stores sector-specific competitive pressures. Investors should diversify and consider their risk tolerance before investing.
Here is Costco Wholesale Corporation's (COST) current debt and financial health profile: Total debt stands at $10.23B. The debt-to-equity ratio is 60.26, which is moderate and generally manageable for most companies. The current ratio is 1.06, indicating adequate short-term liquidity. The quick ratio is 0.54. The company holds $11.13B in cash and equivalents. Free cash flow is positive at $6.69B, providing a cushion for debt servicing and shareholder returns.