Trailing Dividend / Share
$4.91
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) Dividend History
Income profile from 2004 to 2026 with payout safety and yield-on-cost trend
Dividend Yield
0.5%
Payout Ratio
27.0%
Sustainable
Dividend Streak
22 years
COST Dividend Income Check
Safety
27.0% payout ratio with sustainable safety profile.
Consistency
22 straight years of dividend increases.
Income Trend
Yield on cost is 1.3% and trend is falling.
COST Dividend Scorecard
Yield & Income
Dividend Yield0.5%
Trailing DPS$4.91
FrequencySemi-Annual
Payments / 12M4
Payout Safety
Earnings Payout27.0%
Earnings SafetySustainable
FCF Payout24.7%
FCF SafetyWell Covered
Piotroski F-Score7/9
Growth
Growth Streak22 years
3Y CAGR13.2%
5Y CAGR-16.9%
Yield on Cost (5Y)1.3%
YOC Trendfalling
Total Returns
Buyback Yield0.2%
Total Shareholder Yield0.7%
1Y Total Return-1.9%
5Y Total Return159.3%
Div Contribution (5Y)9.5%
Estimated $10K growth (return + dividends):
5Y ago$25,93510Y ago$64,96820Y ago$193,938
Uses precomputed total return metrics from screening data (not lot-by-lot dividend reinvestment transactions). Different time windows can produce different outcomes depending on market regime and entry point.
COST Income Growth Story
Dividend per share and yield on cost over time (23 years of payments)
COST Dividend Safety Story
EPS is the container — dividend is what's drawn out
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Monthly dividend calendar — upcoming ex-dates for stocks you follow.
Dividend Analysis
Payout Safety
Costco Wholesale Corporation distributes 27.0% of earnings as dividends (Sustainable). When measured against free cash flow—a stricter test—the payout ratio stands at 24.7%, rated "Well Covered".
Piotroski F-Score: 7/9 — strong financial health.
Growth Track Record
COST has raised its dividend for 22 consecutive years, with a 3-year CAGR of 13.2% and 5-year CAGR of -16.9%.
Total Shareholder Returns
Beyond cash dividends, COST returns capital through share repurchases. The combined picture: 0.5% dividend yield, 0.2% buyback yield, 0.7% total shareholder yield.
Income Trend & Total Return
Yield on cost (5-year basis) has reached 1.3% and is currently falling. The 5-year total return is 159.3%, with dividends contributing 9.5% of that performance.
DRIP Growth
A $10,000 investment made 10 years ago with dividends reinvested would have grown to approximately $64,968 today.
COST Recent Dividend Payments
Last 20 payments · Semi-Annual
TTM Total$35.57
Avg/Payment$1.7785
Latest Change+13.1%
| Ex-Date | Amount | Change | Yield % | Payment Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2026Latest | $1.4700 | ↑ +13.1% | 53.08% | May 15, 2026 |
| Jan 30, 2026 | $1.3000 | — | 55.30% | Feb 13, 2026 |
| Oct 31, 2025 | $1.3000 | — | 55.52% | Nov 14, 2025 |
| Aug 1, 2025 | $1.3000 | — | 51.65% | Aug 15, 2025 |
| May 2, 2025 | $1.3000 | ↑ +12.1% | 47.41% | May 16, 2025 |
| Feb 7, 2025 | $1.1600 | — | 44.45% | Feb 21, 2025 |
| Nov 1, 2024 | $1.1600 | — | 2.22% | Nov 15, 2024 |
| Jul 26, 2024 | $1.1600 | — | 2.37% | Aug 9, 2024 |
COST Dividend vs Peers
Comparable companies in the same industry
#6 yield in peer group
Div Yield
0.5%
#6 of 6
Safety
Sustainable
27.0% payout
Streak
22Y
-16.9% 5Y CAGR
Total Shareholder
0.7%
#6 of 6
| Company | Mkt Cap | Yield | Payout | Streak | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COSTCostco Wholesale Cor… | $421.9B | 0.5% | 27.0% | 22 | Sustainable |
 WMTWalmart Inc. | $934.0B | 0.8% | 34.3% | 52 | Sustainable |
2nd  TGTTarget Corporation | $59.4B | 3.4% | 55.4% | 43 | Sustainable |
3rd  KRThe Kroger Co. | $34.9B | 2.4% | 87.1% | 19 | At Risk |
1st  ACIAlbertsons Companies… | $6.9B | 3.8% | 30.8% | 1 | Sustainable |
 WMKWeis Markets, Inc. | $1.9B | 1.8% | 37.5% | 0 | Sustainable |
COST Annual Dividend History (1989–2026)
38 years of dividend data
GrowthDecline
| Year | DPS | YoY | Pmts | EPS | Payout | Coverage | YOC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | $2.77 | — | 2 | — | — | — | 0.7% |
| 2025 | $5.06 | 12.4% | 4 | $18.21 | 27.8% | 3.60x | 1.3% |
| 2024 | $4.50 | -76.3% | 4 | $16.56 | 27.2% | 3.68x | 1.2% |
| 2023 | $18.96 | 443.3% | 5 | $14.16 | 133.9% | 0.75x | 5.0% |
| 2022 | $3.49 | 13.7% | 4 | $13.14 | 26.6% | 3.77x | 0.9% |
| 2021 | $3.07 | -75.9% | 4 | $11.27 | 27.2% | 3.67x | 0.8% |
| 2020 | $12.75 | 406.0% | 5 | $9.02 | 141.4% | 0.71x | 3.4% |
| 2019 | $2.52 | 14.0% | 4 | $8.26 | 30.5% | 3.28x | 0.7% |
| 2018 | $2.21 | -75.3% | 4 | $7.09 | 31.2% | 3.21x | 0.6% |
| 2017 | $8.95 | 411.4% | 5 | $6.08 | 147.2% | 0.68x | 2.4% |
Consensus-Based Analysis Tools
Full Stock Analysis
Deep dive into COST consensus models and risk factors.
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Should I Buy COST?
Wall Street verdict, signals, and target summaries.
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Intrinsic Valuation
DCF models, multiple analysis, and analyst estimates.
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Historical Returns
22+ years return with dividends reinvested.
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DCA Calculator
See how regular investing compounds over time.
Run Numbers
Peer Comparison
Compare growth, multiples, and margins vs sector.
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COST — Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying COST stock.
How much dividend does COST pay per share?
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) pays a trailing 12-month dividend of $4.91 per share, with a current dividend yield of +0.5%. Payments are made Semi-Annual.
When is COST's next ex-dividend date?
COST's most recent ex-dividend date is N/A. You must own shares before the ex-dividend date to receive the next payment. COST typically pays dividends Semi-Annual.
Is COST's dividend safe?
COST's dividend safety is rated "Sustainable" based on an earnings payout ratio of +27.0% and FCF payout ratio of +24.7%. With 22 consecutive years of dividend growth, the track record supports sustainability.
Is COST a Dividend Achiever?
Yes, Costco Wholesale Corporation is classified as a Dividend Achiever with 22 consecutive years of dividend increases. The 5-year dividend CAGR is -16.9%, demonstrating modest dividend growth.
How often does COST pay dividends?
Costco Wholesale Corporation pays dividends Semi-Annual. The trailing 12-month total is $4.91 per share. Dividend data on this page covers 22+ years from 2004 to 2026.
How much would $10,000 invested in COST grow with dividend reinvestment?
With dividends reinvested (DRIP), $10,000 invested in COST five years ago would be worth approximately $25,935 today. This includes both price appreciation and compounded dividend reinvestment. Use the DRIP calculator above for other time periods.
What is COST's yield on cost for long-term holders?
COST's yield on cost — the current dividend divided by the original purchase price — is +1.3% for a 5-year holding period. This means long-term holders earn a higher effective yield than today's +0.5% market yield, thanks to the lower original cost basis.