Intrinsic Value Overview
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST)
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) intrinsic value summary: current price $1,010.79, fair value $652.30, -35% implied move via DCF and relative valuation.
Method Breakdown
Base blend: 60% DCF + 40% RelativeCompany Quality
Good quality — competent with room to improve
Wall St Estimates
Shareholder Returns
Total Return vs S&P 500
Fundamental Analysis
Profitability & Financial HealthProfitability
Returns & MarginsSolvency
Financial HealthGrowth & Margins
Quarterly Trends · 5-Year Window · Hover for detailPiotroski F-Score
Fundamental QualityMonte Carlo Distribution & Risk
10,000 SimulationsModel Observation History
Quantitative Track RecordMonthly model snapshots showing quantitative assessments. High Conviction = model detected notable undervaluation vs peers. Return columns show actual price changes following each observation date for reference purposes only.
| Date | Assessment | Score | Price | 30d | 90d |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 28, 26Latest | Neutral | 0.24 | $1010.79 | — | — |
| Feb 21, 26 | Neutral | 0.24 | $985.27 | — | — |
| Feb 14, 26 | Neutral | 0.24 | $1018.48 | — | — |
| Feb 11, 26 | Neutral | 0.24 | $971.23 | — | — |
| Jan 11, 26 | Neutral | 0.19 | $924.88 | +7.9% | — |
Earnings Surprise History
Last 12 Quarters| Quarter | EPS Est. | EPS Act. | Surprise | EPS | Rev |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q4'25Latest | $4.27 | $4.34 | +1.6% | ||
| Q3'25 | $5.80 | $5.87 | +1.2% | ||
| Q2'25 | $4.24 | $4.28 | +0.9% | ||
| Q1'25 | $4.09 | $4.02 | -1.7% | ||
| Q4'24 | $3.79 | $3.82 | +0.8% | ||
| Q3'24 | $5.08 | $5.29 | +4.1% | ||
| Q2'24 | $3.70 | $3.78 | +2.2% | ||
| Q1'24 | $3.62 | $3.92 | +8.3% |
Peer Valuation Comparison
Discount Stores CohortAnnual Returns vs SPY
Total Return (Price + Dividends)| Year | Stock Return | SPY Return | Alpha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +18.4% | +0.4% | +18.0% |
| 2025 | -4.7% | +16.6% | -21.3% |
| 2024 | +41.5% | +24.0% | +17.5% |
| 2023 | +49.8% | +24.8% | +25.0% |
| 2022Worst | -18.8% | -19.9% | +1.1% |
| 2021Best | +50.1% | +28.8% | +21.4% |
| 2020 | +33.6% | +15.1% | +18.5% |
| 2019 | +44.8% | +28.7% | +16.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
ValuationIs COST a good stock to buy right now?
Based on our multi-model analysis of Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) at $1010.79: Relative valuation verdict: Significantly Overvalued vs industry peers. Fundamental quality score: 64/100 (moderate). Wall Street consensus: Buy from 57 analysts. This is a quantitative summary combining DCF intrinsic value, peer-based relative valuation, quality scoring, and analyst consensus — not a buy/sell recommendation. Always consult a qualified financial advisor before investing.
ValuationWhat is Costco Wholesale Corporation's fair value?
Costco Wholesale Corporation has multiple fair value estimates from different frameworks: Relative fair value: $652.30 (Significantly Overvalued, -35.5% vs current price). Analyst consensus target: $1048.21 (+3.7% upside, 57 analysts). We recommend comparing all three lenses — when DCF, relative, and analyst targets converge, the signal is stronger. When they diverge, investigate what assumptions differ.
QualityIs COST financially healthy?
Costco Wholesale Corporation's financial health as measured by our composite scoring: Overall quality score: 64/100. Piotroski F-Score: 7/9 (strong fundamentals). Altman Z-Score: 10.0 (safe zone — low bankruptcy risk). Return on invested capital: 34.5%. Cash conversion (OCF/NI): 1.65x (earnings are cash-backed). The quality score blends profitability (ROIC, ROE, margins), solvency (leverage, coverage, Z-Score), and growth trajectory into a single 0–100 framework updated end-of-day.
PerformanceHow has COST performed compared to the S&P 500?
Costco Wholesale Corporation's performance profile: 1-year total return: -3.1%. 1-year alpha vs S&P 500: -18.6% (underperforming the benchmark). 5-year CAGR: +25.8%. Maximum drawdown (1Y): -19.6%. Relative Strength rating: 63/99 (average momentum). Beta: 0.44 (less volatile than the market). Total returns include reinvested dividends. Alpha is calculated against the S&P 500 Total Return Index over matching periods.
IncomeDoes COST pay dividends?
Current dividend yield: 0.5%. Annual dividend per share: $4.91. Payout ratio: 27% (well-covered). 5-year dividend CAGR: +8.1%. Total shareholder yield (dividends + buybacks): 0.7%.
EstimatesWhat do Wall Street analysts say about COST?
Wall Street's outlook on Costco Wholesale Corporation: Consensus rating: Buy from 57 covering analysts. Consensus price target: $1048.21 (range: $769.00 to $1171.00). Implied upside from current price: +3.7%. Earnings beat rate: 83% with a 3-quarter consecutive beat streak. Forward P/E: 49.8x. Analyst estimates are blended into our proprietary model with weight based on coverage depth and historical accuracy. We track estimate revisions, beat rates, and grade changes daily.
RiskWhat are the key risks of investing in COST?
Key risks identified for Costco Wholesale Corporation: No significant risk flags detected in the current quantitative assessment. Note: This model does not capture regulatory changes, management decisions, competitive disruption, or geopolitical events. Macro and qualitative risks remain material and should be assessed independently.
LegalDoes this dashboard provide investment advice?
No. This overview dashboard aggregates data from our DCF intrinsic value model, relative peer multiples model, proprietary estimates engine, and third-party analyst consensus feeds. It is strictly for educational and informational purposes. The operator of this platform is not a registered investment advisor (RIA), broker-dealer, or financial planner. All model outputs, fair value estimates, quality scores, and signals are automated quantitative computations and should not be construed as investment recommendations. Consult a qualified, licensed financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Past model performance does not guarantee future results.