AES Corp vs Costco Wholesale Corporation — how do they compare? AES Corp trades at $14.7 (market cap $10.51B), while Costco Wholesale Corporation trades at $943.35 (market cap $422.52B). The key difference: Costco Wholesale Corporation is far larger — about 40.2× AES Corp's market cap, and AES Corp pays the higher dividend (4.78%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AES | COST | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $10.51B | $422.52B |
Sector | Utilities | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $17.28 | $1.09K |
52-Week Low | $12.51 | $849.63 |
Enterprise Value | $40.77B | $410.66B |
Dividend Yield | 4.78% | 0.62% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AES trades at $14.73, up 0.2% on the day, with a bullish technical signal supported by moving averages. The company reported strong profitability with a net income margin of 14.34% and ROE of 45.05% for 2025, though Q2 2026 EPS missed expectations. A pending $33.4 billion acquisition by a consortium led by Global Infrastructure Partners and EQT, approved by stockholders, dominates recent developments, alongside a consistent dividend payout.
The acquisition offers a near-term catalyst with a capped upside at the buyout price of $15 per share, presenting a low-risk arbitrage opportunity. Risks include deal completion uncertainty amid shareholder complaints and regulatory scrutiny. Analyst consensus is mixed with 43% buy ratings, reflecting cautious optimism tied to the acquisition's successful closure and the company's strategic shift toward renewable energy investments.
Costco (COST) trades at $944.32, down 0.37% on the day, with strong fundamental performance including 11.3% March sales growth and consistent earnings beats in recent quarters. The stock shows neutral technical signals with key support at $933 and resistance at $949, while maintaining robust revenue growth and expanding profit margins. Recent membership fee increases and strong renewal rates support the company's profit engine.
The outlook remains positive with analyst consensus at Buy (65.5%) and $1,120 price target, though elevated P/E of 47.9x presents valuation risk. Key catalysts include continued warehouse expansion and digital growth, while risks include competitive pressures and potential consumer spending slowdown.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
AES is a global power company operating across 14 countries and 4 continents. Its current generation portfolio as of year-end 2021 consists of over 31 gigawatts of generation, with the generation mix composed of renewables (43%), gas (32%), coal (23%), and oil (2%). The company has 3.5 gigawatts of generation under construction. AES has majority ownership and operates six electric utilities distributing power to 2.6 million customers.
Read more on AES →The leading warehouse club, Costco has 815 stores worldwide (at the end of fiscal 2021), with most sales derived in the United States (72%) and Canada (14%). It sells memberships that allow customers to shop in its warehouses, which feature low prices on a limited product assortment. Costco mainly caters to individual shoppers, but roughly 20% of paid members carry business memberships. Food and sundries accounted for 40% of fiscal 2021 sales, with non-food merchandise 29%, warehouse ancillary and other businesses (such as fuel and pharmacy) nearly 17%, and fresh food 14%. Costco's warehouses average around 146,000 square feet
Read more on COST →