Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Target Corporation (TGT) vs Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | COST | 8.2% revenue growth vs TGT's -0.8% |
| Value | TGT | Lower P/E (15.6x vs 49.8x), PEG 2.28 vs 3.30 |
| Quality / Margins | TGT | 3.8% net margin vs COST's 3.0% |
| Stability / Safety | COST | Beta 0.44 vs TGT's 0.98, lower leverage |
| Dividends | TGT | 3.9% yield, 21-year raise streak, vs COST's 0.5% |
| Momentum (1Y) | COST | -3.1% vs TGT's -4.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | COST | 10.0% ROA vs TGT's 6.7%, ROIC 34.5% vs 13.4% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Valuation efficiency (growth/$)
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Target is a large-format general merchandise retailer offering a curated assortment of essentials, apparel, home goods, and groceries at value prices. It generates revenue primarily through in-store sales (~95%) and digital channels (~5%), with additional income from credit card partnerships and in-store services like pharmacies and food courts. The company's competitive advantage lies in its "cheap chic" brand positioning—offering stylish private-label goods at affordable prices—and its efficient omnichannel fulfillment network that integrates stores as local distribution hubs.
Costco operates a global chain of membership warehouse clubs that sell a wide range of merchandise at low prices to members. It generates revenue primarily from membership fees — which account for roughly 70% of operating income — and merchandise sales, with a razor-thin markup on goods. The company's moat lies in its extreme operational efficiency, massive buying power, and fiercely loyal membership base that renews at over 90% rates.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
TGT leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). COST leads in 3 (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
COST is the larger business by revenue, generating $280.4B annually — 2.7x TGT's $105.4B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 3.8% (TGT) to 3.0% (COST). On growth, COST holds the edge at +8.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | TGTTarget Corporation | COSTCostco Wholesale … |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $105.4B | $280.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $8.2B | $13.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $4.0B | $8.3B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $5.5B | $9.0B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +25.5% | +12.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +4.8% | +3.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +3.8% | +3.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +5.2% | +3.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -1.1% | +8.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +13.5% | +11.4% |
Valuation Metrics
At 12.8x trailing earnings, TGT trades at a 77% valuation discount to COST's 55.5x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), TGT offers better value at 1.87x vs COST's 3.68x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | TGTTarget Corporation | COSTCostco Wholesale … |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $51.8B | $448.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $70.8B | $442.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 12.84x | 55.51x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 15.61x | 49.80x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.87x | 3.68x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 8.22x | 34.51x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.49x | 1.63x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.58x | 15.42x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 11.58x | 57.17x |
Profitability & Efficiency
COST delivers a 27.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $27 in annual profit, vs $26 for TGT. COST carries lower financial leverage with a 0.28x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to TGT's 1.36x.
| Metric | TGTTarget Corporation | COSTCostco Wholesale … |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +26.1% | +27.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.7% | +10.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +13.4% | +34.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +15.4% | +27.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.36x | 0.28x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $19.0B | -$6.0B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $869M | $14.2B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $19.9B | $8.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 13.06x | 72.26x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in COST five years ago would be worth $31,542 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $7,238 for TGT. Over the past 12 months, COST leads with a -3.1% total return vs TGT's -4.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors COST at 29.0% vs TGT's -9.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | TGTTarget Corporation | COSTCostco Wholesale … |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +14.3% | +18.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -4.8% | -3.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -24.5% | +114.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -27.6% | +215.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +87.9% | +616.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -9.0% | +29.0% |
Risk & Volatility
COST is the less volatile stock with a 0.44 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than TGT's 0.98 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. COST currently trades 94.7% from its 52-week high vs TGT's 89.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | TGTTarget Corporation | COSTCostco Wholesale … |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.98x | 0.44x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $127.06 | $1067.08 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $83.44 | $846.80 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +89.6% | +94.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 56.6 | 53.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 5.5M | 2.1M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates TGT as "Hold" and COST as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 3.7% upside for COST (target: $1048) vs -9.6% for TGT (target: $103). For income investors, TGT offers the higher dividend yield at 3.89% vs COST's 0.49%.
| Metric | TGTTarget Corporation | COSTCostco Wholesale … |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $102.87 | $1048.21 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 58 | 57 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.9% | +0.5% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 21 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $4.43 | $4.91 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.9% | +0.2% |
Historical Charts
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Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target Corporation (TGT) | 100 | 100.43 | +0.4% |
| Costco Wholesale Co… (COST) | 100 | 313.24 | +213.2% |
Costco Wholesale Co… (COST) returned +215% over 5 years vs Target Corporation (TGT)'s -28%. A $10,000 investment in COST 5 years ago would be worth $31,542 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target Corporation (TGT) | $69.5B | $106.6B | +53.3% |
| Costco Wholesale Co… (COST) | $118.7B | $275.2B | +131.8% |
Costco Wholesale Corporation's revenue grew from $118.7B (2016) to $275.2B (2025) — a 9.8% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target Corporation (TGT) | 3.9% | 3.8% | -2.5% |
| Costco Wholesale Co… (COST) | 2.0% | 2.9% | +48.7% |
Costco Wholesale Corporation's net margin went from 2% (2016) to 3% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target Corporation (TGT) | 12.3 | 15.3 | +24.4% |
| Costco Wholesale Co… (COST) | 30.6 | 47.4 | +54.9% |
Target Corporation has traded in a 12x–25x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~13x. Costco Wholesale Corporation has traded in a 29x–55x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~56x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target Corporation (TGT) | 4.7 | 8.86 | +88.5% |
| Costco Wholesale Co… (COST) | 5.33 | 18.21 | +241.7% |
Costco Wholesale Corporation's EPS grew from $5.33 (2016) to $18.21 (2025) — a 15% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Target Corporation generated $4B FCF in 2024 (-12% vs 2021). Costco Wholesale Corporation generated $8B FCF in 2025 (+46% vs 2021).
TGT vs COST: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is TGT or COST a better buy right now?
Target Corporation (TGT) offers the better valuation at 12.8x trailing P/E (15.6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) a "Buy" — based on 57 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.
02Which has the better valuation — TGT or COST?
On trailing P/E, Target Corporation (TGT) is the cheapest at 12.8x versus Costco Wholesale Corporation at 55.5x. On forward P/E, Target Corporation is actually cheaper at 15.6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Target Corporation wins at 2.28x versus Costco Wholesale Corporation's 3.30x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — TGT or COST?
Over the past 5 years, Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) delivered a total return of +215.4%, compared to -27.6% for Target Corporation (TGT). A $10,000 investment in COST five years ago would be worth approximately $32K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: COST returned +616.5% versus TGT's +87.9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — TGT or COST?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) is the lower-risk stock at 0.44β versus Target Corporation's 0.98β — meaning TGT is approximately 121% more volatile than COST relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 28% versus 136% for Target Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — TGT or COST?
Target Corporation (TGT) is the more profitable company, earning 3.8% net margin versus 2.9% for Costco Wholesale Corporation — meaning it keeps 3.8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TGT leads at 5.3% versus 3.8% for COST. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TGT leads at 25.8%, 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.
06Is TGT or COST more undervalued right now?
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, Target Corporation (TGT) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2.28x versus Costco Wholesale Corporation's 3.30x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Target Corporation (TGT) trades at 15.6x forward P/E versus 49.8x for Costco Wholesale Corporation — 34.2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for COST: 3.7% to $1048.21.
07Which pays a better dividend — TGT or COST?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Target Corporation (TGT) offers the highest yield at 3.9%, versus 0.5% for Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST).
08Is TGT or COST better for a retirement portfolio?
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 0.44), +616.5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (COST: +616.5%, TGT: +87.9%), 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.
09What are the main differences between TGT and COST?
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. In terms of investment character: TGT is a mid-cap deep-value stock; COST is a large-cap quality compounder stock. TGT 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.
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- Sector: Consumer Defensive
- Market Cap > $100B
- Revenue Growth > 5%
- Dividend Yield > 0.5%