Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) P/E Ratio History
Fairly ValuedTrading at 52.2x, near 5Y avg of 46.5x · 75th percentile · In line with own history · Data 1990–2026
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P/E Ratio Analysis
As of June 22, 2026, Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 52.2x, with a stock price of $951.45 and trailing twelve-month earnings per share of $19.89.
The current P/E is 12% above its 5-year average of 46.5x. Over the past five years, COST's P/E has ranged from a low of 36.7x to a high of 62.6x, placing the current valuation at the 75th percentile of its historical range.
Compared to the Consumer Defensive sector median P/E of 18.9x, COST trades at a 176% premium to its sector peers. The sector includes 151 companies with P/E ratios ranging from 0.0x to 193.7x.
The PEG ratio of 3.46 (P/E divided by 10% EPS growth) suggests the stock may be expensive relative to its earnings growth. Peter Lynch popularized the rule that a PEG below 1.0 indicates an attractive entry point.
Relative to the broader market, COST commands a significant premium over the S&P 500 median P/E of 24.4x. Investors should consider the company's growth prospects, competitive position, and earnings quality when evaluating whether the current valuation is justified.
For a comprehensive intrinsic value estimate using discounted cash flow analysis, see our COST DCF Valuation Calculator →
Note: P/E ratio is just one valuation metric. It does not account for balance sheet strength, cash flow quality, or growth sustainability. Always conduct comprehensive due diligence before making investment decisions.
COST Cross-Benchmark Valuation
How does the current P/E compare to sector peers and the broader market?
COST P/E vs Peers
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters peers sorted by market cap
| Company | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | PEG Ratio | EPS Growth (1Y) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $934B | 42.9 | 3.90 | +13% | |
| $59B | 16.1 | - | -8% | |
| $11B | 19.5 | 2.54 | +10% | |
| $35B | 36.8 | - | -58% | |
| $7B | 8.2Lowest | 0.53Best | -26% | |
| $8B | 15.2 | 0.90 | +42%Best | |
| $2B | 21.0 | - | -11% | |
| $351B | 23.1 | 4.13 | +8% | |
| $342B | 26.1 | 2.34 | +24% |
Lower P/E can signal a discount or weaker growth expectations; PEG adds growth context.
COST Historical P/E Data (1990–2026)
Quarterly P/E ratios calculated from closing price and TTM EPS
| Quarter | Period End | Price | TTM EPS | P/E Ratio | vs Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 Q3 | May 10 2026 | $1008.79 | $19.88 | 50.7x | +77% |
| FY2026 Q2 | Feb 15 2026 | $1018.48 | $19.23 | 53.0x | +85% |
| FY2026 Q1 | Nov 23 2025 | $899.01 | $18.67 | 48.2x | +68% |
| FY2025 Q4 | Aug 31 2025 | $943.32 | $18.21 | 51.8x | +81% |
| FY2025 Q3 | May 11 2025 | $1008.09 | $17.63 | 57.2x | +100% |
| FY2025 Q2 | Feb 16 2025 | $1071.85 | $17.13 | 62.6x | +119% |
| FY2025 Q1 | Nov 24 2024 | $964.01 | $17.03 | 56.6x | +98% |
| FY2024 Q4 | Sep 01 2024 | $892.38 | $16.57 | 53.9x | +88% |
| FY2024 Q3 | May 12 2024 | $787.19 | $16.14 | 48.8x | +70% |
| FY2024 Q2 | Feb 18 2024 | $723.99 | $15.29 | 47.4x | +65% |
| FY2024 Q1 | Nov 26 2023 | $591.36 | $14.67 | 40.3x | +41% |
| FY2023 Q4 | - | $549.28 | $14.16 | 38.8x | +36% |
| FY2023 Q3 | May 07 2023 | $499.06 | $13.50 | 37.0x | +29% |
| FY2023 Q2 | Feb 12 2023 | $499.99 | $13.61 | 36.7x | +28% |
| FY2023 Q1 | Nov 20 2022 | $523.67 | $13.23 | 39.6x | +38% |
| FY2022 Q4 | Aug 31 2022 | $522.10 | $13.14 | 39.7x | +39% |
| FY2022 Q3 | May 08 2022 | $503.36 | $12.70 | 39.6x | +38% |
| FY2022 Q2 | Feb 13 2022 | $509.67 | $12.41 | 41.1x | +44% |
| FY2022 Q1 | Nov 21 2021 | $533.79 | $11.63 | 45.9x | +60% |
| FY2021 Q4 | - | $455.49 | $11.27 | 40.4x | +41% |
| FY2021 Q3 | May 09 2021 | $384.32 | $10.64 | 36.1x | +26% |
| FY2021 Q2 | Feb 14 2021 | $352.75 | $9.78 | 36.1x | +26% |
| FY2021 Q1 | Nov 22 2020 | $381.12 | $9.74 | 39.1x | +37% |
| FY2020 Q4 | Aug 31 2020 | $347.66 | $9.02 | 38.5x | +35% |
| FY2020 Q3 | May 10 2020 | $305.94 | $8.36 | 36.6x | +28% |
| FY2020 Q2 | Feb 16 2020 | $318.31 | $8.52 | 37.4x | +31% |
| FY2020 Q1 | Nov 24 2019 | $299.31 | $8.43 | 35.5x | +24% |
| FY2019 Q4 | Aug 31 2019 | $294.76 | $8.26 | 35.7x | +25% |
| FY2019 Q3 | May 12 2019 | $247.02 | $8.15 | 30.3x | +6% |
| FY2019 Q2 | Feb 17 2019 | $216.47 | $7.80 | 27.8x | -3% |
| FY2019 Q1 | Nov 25 2018 | $220.06 | $7.38 | 29.8x | +4% |
| FY2018 Q4 | Aug 31 2018 | $233.13 | $7.10 | 32.8x | +15% |
| FY2018 Q3 | May 13 2018 | $195.76 | $6.82 | 28.7x | +0% |
| FY2018 Q2 | Feb 18 2018 | $191.56 | $6.71 | 28.5x | -0% |
| FY2018 Q1 | Nov 26 2017 | $171.62 | $6.29 | 27.3x | -5% |
| FY2017 Q4 | - | $156.74 | $6.08 | 25.8x | -10% |
| FY2017 Q3 | May 07 2017 | $180.20 | $5.77 | 31.2x | +9% |
| FY2017 Q2 | Feb 12 2017 | $172.00 | $5.42 | 31.7x | +11% |
| FY2017 Q1 | Nov 20 2016 | $150.36 | $5.49 | 27.4x | -4% |
| FY2016 Q4 | Aug 31 2016 | $162.09 | $5.34 | 30.4x | +6% |
| FY2016 Q3 | May 08 2016 | $146.44 | $5.30 | 27.6x | -3% |
| FY2016 Q2 | Feb 14 2016 | $148.65 | $5.23 | 28.4x | -1% |
| FY2016 Q1 | Nov 22 2015 | $163.10 | $5.34 | 30.5x | +7% |
| FY2015 Q4 | Aug 31 2015 | $140.05 | $5.37 | 26.1x | -9% |
| FY2015 Q3 | May 10 2015 | $145.88 | $5.22 | 27.9x | -2% |
| FY2015 Q2 | Feb 15 2015 | $147.10 | $5.12 | 28.7x | +0% |
| FY2015 Q1 | Nov 23 2014 | $139.72 | $4.82 | 29.0x | +1% |
| FY2014 Q4 | Aug 31 2014 | $121.08 | $4.66 | 26.0x | -9% |
| FY2014 Q3 | May 11 2014 | $115.39 | $4.48 | 25.8x | -10% |
| FY2014 Q2 | Feb 16 2014 | $116.10 | $4.45 | 26.1x | -9% |
| FY2014 Q1 | Nov 24 2013 | $125.21 | $4.64 | 27.0x | -6% |
| FY2013 Q4 | Aug 31 2013 | $111.87 | $4.63 | 24.2x | -16% |
| FY2013 Q3 | May 12 2013 | $109.99 | $4.53 | 24.3x | -15% |
| FY2013 Q2 | Feb 17 2013 | $102.17 | $4.37 | 23.4x | -18% |
| FY2013 Q1 | Nov 25 2012 | $97.92 | $4.03 | 24.3x | -15% |
| FY2012 Q4 | Aug 31 2012 | $97.87 | $3.81 | 25.7x | -10% |
| FY2012 Q3 | May 06 2012 | $83.39 | $3.59 | 23.2x | -19% |
| FY2012 Q2 | Feb 12 2012 | $84.20 | $3.44 | 24.5x | -14% |
| FY2012 Q1 | Nov 20 2011 | $81.72 | $3.33 | 24.5x | -14% |
| FY2011 Q4 | Aug 31 2011 | $78.54 | $3.31 | 23.7x | -17% |
| FY2011 Q3 | May 08 2011 | $80.45 | $3.20 | 25.1x | -12% |
| FY2011 Q2 | Feb 13 2011 | $75.04 | $3.15 | 23.8x | -17% |
| FY2011 Q1 | Nov 21 2010 | $66.56 | $3.03 | 22.0x | -23% |
| FY2010 Q4 | - | $56.50 | $2.92 | 19.3x | -32% |
| FY2010 Q3 | May 09 2010 | $57.31 | $2.80 | 20.5x | -28% |
| FY2010 Q2 | Feb 14 2010 | $59.28 | $2.60 | 22.8x | -20% |
| FY2010 Q1 | Nov 22 2009 | $60.06 | $2.48 | 24.2x | -15% |
| FY2009 Q4 | Aug 31 2009 | $50.98 | $2.48 | 20.6x | -28% |
| FY2009 Q3 | May 10 2009 | $46.60 | $2.53 | 18.4x | -36% |
| FY2009 Q2 | Feb 15 2009 | $42.76 | $2.72 | 15.7x | -45% |
| FY2009 Q1 | Nov 23 2008 | $46.71 | $2.91 | 16.1x | -44% |
| FY2008 Q4 | Aug 31 2008 | $67.06 | $2.90 | 23.1x | -19% |
| FY2008 Q3 | May 11 2008 | $71.44 | $2.83 | 25.2x | -12% |
| FY2008 Q2 | Feb 17 2008 | $63.92 | $2.65 | 24.1x | -16% |
| FY2008 Q1 | Nov 25 2007 | $66.97 | $2.45 | 27.3x | -4% |
| FY2007 Q4 | Aug 31 2007 | $61.75 | $2.37 | 26.1x | -9% |
| FY2007 Q3 | May 13 2007 | $54.97 | $2.29 | 24.0x | -16% |
| FY2007 Q2 | Feb 18 2007 | $57.80 | $2.29 | 25.2x | -12% |
| FY2007 Q1 | Nov 26 2006 | $53.51 | $2.37 | 22.6x | -21% |
| FY2006 Q4 | - | $46.79 | $2.31 | 20.3x | -29% |
| FY2006 Q3 | May 07 2006 | $56.70 | $2.28 | 24.9x | -13% |
| FY2006 Q2 | Feb 12 2006 | $49.74 | $2.22 | 22.4x | -22% |
| FY2006 Q1 | Nov 20 2005 | $49.81 | $2.22 | 22.4x | -22% |
| FY2005 Q4 | Aug 31 2005 | $43.40 | $2.17 | 20.0x | -30% |
| FY2005 Q3 | May 08 2005 | $42.88 | $2.06 | 20.8x | -27% |
| FY2005 Q2 | Feb 13 2005 | $46.44 | $2.05 | 22.7x | -21% |
| FY2005 Q1 | Nov 21 2004 | $47.48 | $1.91 | 24.9x | -13% |
| FY2004 Q4 | - | $41.17 | $1.85 | 22.3x | -22% |
| FY2004 Q3 | May 09 2004 | $35.66 | $1.74 | 20.5x | -28% |
| FY2004 Q2 | Feb 15 2004 | $37.61 | $1.65 | 22.8x | -20% |
| FY2004 Q1 | Nov 23 2003 | $34.11 | $1.56 | 21.9x | -24% |
| FY2003 Q4 | Aug 31 2003 | $32.25 | $1.53 | 21.1x | -26% |
| FY2003 Q3 | May 11 2003 | $35.30 | $1.55 | 22.8x | -20% |
| FY2003 Q2 | Feb 16 2003 | $28.92 | $1.50 | 19.3x | -33% |
| FY2003 Q1 | Nov 24 2002 | $31.57 | $1.52 | 20.8x | -27% |
| FY2002 Q4 | Aug 31 2002 | $33.41 | $1.49 | 22.4x | -22% |
| FY2002 Q3 | May 12 2002 | $40.30 | $1.37 | 29.4x | +3% |
| FY2002 Q2 | Feb 17 2002 | $45.89 | $1.32 | 34.8x | +21% |
| FY2002 Q1 | Nov 25 2001 | $42.13 | $1.29 | 32.7x | +14% |
| FY2001 Q4 | Aug 31 2001 | $37.41 | $1.29 | 29.0x | +1% |
| FY2001 Q3 | May 13 2001 | $35.49 | $1.31 | 27.1x | -5% |
| FY2001 Q2 | Feb 18 2001 | $42.69 | $1.34 | 31.9x | +11% |
| FY2001 Q1 | Nov 26 2000 | $35.44 | $1.35 | 26.3x | -8% |
| FY2000 Q4 | - | $34.44 | $1.35 | 25.5x | -11% |
| FY2000 Q3 | May 07 2000 | $48.81 | $1.25 | 39.0x | +36% |
| FY2000 Q2 | Feb 13 2000 | $51.69 | $1.22 | 42.4x | +48% |
| FY2000 Q1 | Nov 21 1999 | $42.69 | $1.16 | 36.8x | +29% |
| FY1999 Q4 | - | $37.38 | $0.85 | 44.0x | +54% |
| FY1999 Q3 | May 09 1999 | $39.47 | $0.85 | 46.4x | +62% |
| FY1999 Q2 | Feb 14 1999 | $39.13 | $0.81 | 48.3x | +69% |
| FY1999 Q1 | Nov 22 1998 | $30.84 | $0.76 | 40.6x | +42% |
| FY1998 Q4 | Aug 31 1998 | $23.53 | $1.01 | 23.3x | -19% |
| FY1998 Q3 | May 10 1998 | $28.38 | $0.94 | 30.2x | +5% |
| FY1998 Q2 | Feb 15 1998 | $22.75 | $0.91 | 25.0x | -13% |
| FY1998 Q1 | Nov 23 1997 | $21.91 | $0.86 | 25.5x | -11% |
| FY1997 Q4 | Aug 31 1997 | $18.03 | $0.72 | 25.0x | -12% |
| FY1997 Q3 | May 11 1997 | $16.00 | $0.67 | 23.9x | -17% |
| FY1997 Q2 | Feb 16 1997 | $13.44 | $0.62 | 21.7x | -24% |
| FY1997 Q1 | Nov 24 1996 | $11.13 | $0.57 | 19.5x | -32% |
| FY1996 Q4 | Aug 31 1996 | $9.94 | $0.62 | 16.0x | -44% |
| FY1996 Q3 | May 12 1996 | $9.94 | $0.58 | 17.1x | -40% |
| FY1996 Q2 | Feb 18 1996 | $8.88 | $0.56 | 15.9x | -45% |
| FY1996 Q1 | Nov 26 1995 | $8.25 | $0.34 | 24.4x | -15% |
| FY1995 Q4 | - | $8.44 | $0.32 | 26.6x | -7% |
| FY1994 Q3 | May 08 1994 | $7.19 | $0.89 | 8.1x | -72% |
| FY1994 Q2 | Feb 13 1994 | $8.81 | $0.90 | 9.8x | -66% |
| FY1994 Q1 | Nov 21 1993 | $9.00 | $0.85 | 10.6x | -63% |
| FY1993 Q4 | - | $9.19 | $1.15 | 8.0x | -72% |
| FY1993 Q3 | May 31 1993 | $8.75 | $0.55 | 15.9x | -44% |
| FY1993 Q2 | Feb 28 1993 | $10.00 | $0.60 | 16.7x | -42% |
| FY1993 Q1 | Nov 30 1992 | $13.25 | $0.61 | 21.7x | -24% |
| FY1992 Q4 | Aug 31 1992 | $12.00 | $0.62 | 19.4x | -32% |
| FY1992 Q3 | May 31 1992 | $17.38 | $0.63 | 27.6x | -4% |
| FY1992 Q2 | Feb 29 1992 | $19.08 | $0.61 | 31.3x | +9% |
| FY1992 Q1 | Nov 30 1991 | $16.08 | $0.64 | 25.1x | -12% |
| FY1991 Q4 | Aug 31 1991 | $16.17 | $0.63 | 25.7x | -10% |
| FY1991 Q3 | May 31 1991 | $14.83 | $0.62 | 23.9x | -16% |
| FY1991 Q2 | - | $9.92 | $0.61 | 16.3x | -43% |
| FY1991 Q1 | Nov 30 1990 | $7.92 | $0.60 | 13.2x | -54% |
| FY1990 Q4 | Aug 31 1990 | $5.92 | $0.58 | 10.2x | -64% |
Average P/E for displayed period: 28.6x
Full Stock Analysis
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Should I Buy COST?
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Intrinsic Valuation
DCF models, multiple analysis, and analyst estimates.
Historical Returns
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Peer Comparison
Compare growth, multiples, and margins vs sector.
COST — Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying COST stock.
What is COST's P/E ratio?
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) trailing twelve-month P/E ratio is 52.2x, based on TTM diluted EPS of $19.89. The 5-year average P/E is 46.5x and the historical range spans 36.7x to 62.6x.
Is COST stock overvalued or undervalued?
COST trades at 52.2x P/E, near its 5-year average of 46.5x. The 75th percentile ranking within the 36.7x–62.6x historical range places valuation within normal bounds.
Is COST stock expensive?
COST is fairly valued relative to its own history. The current P/E of 52.2x is near the 5-year average of 46.5x (75th percentile of historical range).
What is COST's historical P/E range?
Over the past 5 years, COST's P/E ratio has ranged from 36.7x to 62.6x, with a median of 47.4x and an average of 46.5x. The current P/E of 52.2x places the stock at the 75th percentile of this range. Full historical data spans 1990–2026.
How does COST's P/E compare to the S&P 500?
COST trades at 52.2x P/E versus the S&P 500 median of 24.4x. The 114% premium to the market typically reflects higher expected earnings growth or quality.
How does COST's valuation compare to Consumer Defensive peers?
Costco Wholesale Corporation P/E of 52.2x compares to the Consumer Defensive sector median of 18.9x. The premium reflects expected growth above peers or stronger fundamentals. See the peer comparison table on this page for ticker-by-ticker P/E and PEG.
What is COST's PEG ratio?
COST PEG ratio is 3.46, based on a P/E of 52.2x and EPS growth of 10.0%. A PEG above 2.0 indicates a premium valuation relative to earnings growth — typically considered expensive.
What is COST's earnings yield?
COST earnings yield is 1.91%, the inverse of its 52.2x P/E ratio. Earnings yield represents the percentage of each dollar invested that the company earns. It can be compared directly to bond yields to assess relative attractiveness of stocks versus fixed income.