Costco Wholesale Corporation vs Humana Inc — how do they compare? Costco Wholesale Corporation trades at $921.59 (market cap $408.78B), while Humana Inc trades at $409.56 (market cap $48.84B). The key difference: Costco Wholesale Corporation is far larger — about 8.4× Humana Inc's market cap, and Humana Inc pays the higher dividend (0.87%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| COST | HUM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $408.78B | $48.84B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Health |
52-Week High | $1.09K | $409.42 |
52-Week Low | $849.63 | $163.67 |
Enterprise Value | $396.92B | $57.88B |
Dividend Yield | 0.64% | 0.87% |
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.
Humana (HUM) trades at $406.00, up 3.51% with strong technical bullish signals and recent earnings beats. The stock shows robust revenue growth reaching $129.66 billion in 2025, though net margins have compressed to 0.82%. Analyst sentiment is mixed with 32% buy ratings but a consensus price target of $354.33 below current levels. Recent developments include Medicare Advantage margin targets and Illinois Medicaid contract wins.
The outlook remains cautious despite operational strengths. While CenterWell expansion and margin recovery plans offer upside, current valuation at 43x P/E appears stretched relative to earnings growth. Key risks include regulatory scrutiny, healthcare utilization costs, and ongoing insider trading investigations that could pressure shareholder returns.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →Humana is one of the largest private health insurers in the U.S. with a focus on administering Medicare Advantage plans. The firm has built a niche specializing in government-sponsored programs, with nearly all its medical membership stemming from individual and group Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and the military's Tricare program. The firm is also a leader in stand-alone prescription drug plans for seniors enrolled in traditional fee-for-service Medicare. Humana offers employer-based plans primarily for small businesses along with specialty insurance offerings such as dental, vision, and life. Beyond medical insurance, the company provides other healthcare services, including primary-care services, at-home services, and pharmacy benefit management.
Read more on HUM →