PSMT vs COST

For growth investors, Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) is the stronger pick with 8.

2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 7. 2% for PriceSmart, Inc. (PSMT). PriceSmart, Inc. (PSMT) offers the better valuation at 33. 2x trailing P/E (29. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) a "Buy" — based on 58 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, PriceSmart, Inc.

(PSMT) is the cheapest at 33. 2x versus Costco Wholesale Corporation at 54. 7x. On forward P/E, PriceSmart, Inc. is actually cheaper at 29. 4x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: PriceSmart, Inc. wins at 2. 16x versus Costco Wholesale Corporation's 3. 23x.

Over the past 5 years, Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) delivered a total return of +169.

6%, compared to +80. 7% for PriceSmart, Inc. (PSMT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: COST returned +624. 5% versus PSMT's +94. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

13β versus PriceSmart, Inc. 's 0. 69β — meaning PSMT is approximately 438% more volatile than COST relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, PriceSmart, Inc. (PSMT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 26% versus 28% for Costco Wholesale Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) is pulling ahead at 8.

2% versus 7. 2% for PriceSmart, Inc. (PSMT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Costco Wholesale Corporation grew EPS 10. 0% year-over-year, compared to 5. 5% for PriceSmart, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, PSMT leads at 9. 0% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) is the more profitable company, earning 2.

9% net margin versus 2. 7% for PriceSmart, Inc. — meaning it keeps 2. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PSMT leads at 4. 5% versus 3. 8% for COST. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PSMT leads at 17. 4%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, PriceSmart, Inc. (PSMT) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 16x versus Costco Wholesale Corporation's 3. 23x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, PriceSmart, Inc. (PSMT) trades at 29. 4x forward P/E versus 48. 7x for Costco Wholesale Corporation — 19. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for COST: 7. 5% to $1070. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

PriceSmart, Inc. (PSMT) offers the highest yield at 0. 8%, versus 0. 5% for Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

13), +624. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (COST: +624. 5%, PSMT: +94. 2%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Consumer Defensive sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

PSMT pays a dividend while COST does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.