Compare Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) vs W W Grainger Inc (GWW) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Costco Wholesale Corporation vs W W Grainger Inc — how do they compare? Costco Wholesale Corporation trades at $920.5 (market cap $408.78B), while W W Grainger Inc trades at $1,364.98 (market cap $64.73B). The key difference: Costco Wholesale Corporation is far larger — about 6.3× W W Grainger Inc's market cap, and W W Grainger Inc pays the higher dividend (0.68%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| COST | GWW | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $408.78B | $64.73B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Technology |
52-Week High | $1.09K | $1.39K |
52-Week Low | $849.63 | $918.18 |
Enterprise Value | $396.92B | $66.82B |
Dividend Yield | 0.64% | 0.68% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Costco (COST) trades at $921.73, down 0.51% on the day, with a bearish technical signal but strong fundamental growth. Revenue reached $275.24B in 2025 with net income of $8.10B, and March 2026 sales grew 11.3% year-over-year. The stock carries premium valuations (P/E 46.37, P/S 1.4) while maintaining steady margin expansion. Analyst consensus remains strongly bullish with a $1,120 price target, though recent earnings miss in Q1 2026 highlights execution risks amid high expectations.
Outlook: Costco's membership fee increase and warehouse expansion support long-term growth, but elevated valuation requires flawless execution. Risks include competitive pressures and macroeconomic sensitivity. Institutional accumulation continues, with 65% analyst buy ratings signaling confidence in the company's resilient business model and cash flow generation.
GWW trades at $1,391.68, up 1.16% today, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and strong momentum. The company reported Q1 2026 EPS of $11.65, beating estimates, and raised its full-year guidance. Revenue growth remains steady, with 2026 revenue projected at $18.4B, while profitability metrics like ROE of 48.1% and net margin near 10% highlight operational strength. Positive analyst sentiment and recent dividend declarations reinforce investor confidence amid a favorable market backdrop.
The outlook for GWW is positive, driven by earnings beats and raised guidance, though valuation multiples like a P/E of 36.87 suggest premium pricing. Risks include economic sensitivity and competitive pressures, but institutional buy ratings and technical support near $1,380 provide a cushion for upward momentum if execution continues.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
About Costco Wholesale Corporation
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 →About W W Grainger Inc
Grainger is a leading broad-line distributor of maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) products. It serves millions of customers worldwide through an integrated network of branches and digital platforms.
Read more on GWW →
