Costco Wholesale Corporation vs W W Grainger Inc — how do they compare? Costco Wholesale Corporation trades at $949.2 (market cap $418.79B), while W W Grainger Inc trades at $1,305.49 (market cap $61.32B). The key difference: Costco Wholesale Corporation is far larger — about 6.8× W W Grainger Inc's market cap, and W W Grainger Inc pays the higher dividend (0.77%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| COST | GWW | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $418.79B | $61.32B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Technology |
52-Week High | $1.09K | $1.40K |
52-Week Low | $849.63 | $918.18 |
Enterprise Value | $406.93B | $63.53B |
Dividend Yield | 0.62% | 0.77% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Costco (COST) trades at $944.32, down 0.88% on the day, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages but neutral oscillators. The company reported strong March sales growth of 11.3% year-over-year (Business Wire, April 8, 2026) and has consistently beaten earnings expectations in recent quarters. Revenue reached $275.24 billion in 2025 with net income of $8.10 billion, though valuation ratios remain elevated with a P/E of 47.5. Analyst consensus is strongly bullish with 65.5% buy ratings and a $1,120 price target.
Costco's outlook remains positive due to membership fee increases and expanding warehouse footprint, but the stock faces risks from high valuation multiples and competitive retail pressures. The current price sits near key support at $938, with upside potential to resistance at $950. Institutional buying activity continues, though technical indicators suggest near-term consolidation may occur before further gains.
W.W. Grainger (GWW) trades at $1,304.88, up 0.57% today, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages. The company reported strong Q2 2026 results, beating EPS and revenue estimates, and raised its full-year outlook. Revenue grew to $18.8 billion in 2026, with a net income margin of 9.92%. Analyst consensus is a 'Hold' with a $1,320 price target, though institutional sentiment is mixed amid high valuation multiples.
GWW's earnings momentum and market share gains support upside potential, but elevated P/E of 33.19 and bearish technicals pose near-term risks. Investors should weigh robust fundamentals against valuation concerns and macroeconomic pressures affecting industrial demand.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →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 →