Costco Wholesale Corporation vs Humana Inc — how do they compare? Costco Wholesale Corporation trades at $949.02 (market cap $418.79B), while Humana Inc trades at $388.83 (market cap $44.77B). The key difference: Costco Wholesale Corporation is far larger — about 9.4× Humana Inc's market cap, and Humana Inc pays the higher dividend (0.95%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| COST | HUM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $418.79B | $44.77B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Health |
52-Week High | $1.09K | $409.42 |
52-Week Low | $849.63 | $163.67 |
Enterprise Value | $406.93B | $52.12B |
Dividend Yield | 0.62% | 0.95% |
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.
Humana (HUM) trades at $388.96, up 0.9% with a neutral technical signal. The stock shows strong revenue growth reaching $129.7B in 2025 but faces margin compression with net income margin declining to 0.88%. Recent earnings beat expectations for three consecutive quarters, while analyst consensus targets $409.93. The company maintains solid cash flow generation and recently announced key leadership appointments to strengthen its Medicaid business.
Humana presents a mixed outlook with robust revenue expansion offset by margin pressures. Investment opportunity lies in Medicare Advantage growth and cost reduction initiatives, while risks include competitive pressures and regulatory changes in healthcare. Wall Street maintains cautious optimism with 39% buy ratings amid margin recovery challenges.
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 →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 →