Costco Wholesale Corporation vs Howmet Aerospace Inc — how do they compare? Costco Wholesale Corporation trades at $948.89 (market cap $418.79B), while Howmet Aerospace Inc trades at $282.65 (market cap $112.20B). The key difference: Costco Wholesale Corporation is far larger — about 3.7× Howmet Aerospace Inc's market cap, and Costco Wholesale Corporation pays the higher dividend (0.62%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| COST | HWM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $418.79B | $112.20B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Industrials |
52-Week High | $1.09K | $291.28 |
52-Week Low | $849.63 | $171.00 |
Enterprise Value | $406.93B | $116.30B |
Dividend Yield | 0.62% | 0.2% |
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.
Howmet Aerospace (HWM) trades at $281.63, down 0.73% on the day, with strong technical support at $279 and resistance at $285. The company has consistently beaten earnings estimates, with Q2 2026 EPS of $1.33 exceeding expectations by 7.3%, driven by robust aerospace and defense demand. Analyst consensus remains strongly bullish with 84% buy ratings and a $334.63 price target, representing 19% upside potential.
Outlook remains positive with raised 2026 guidance and strong cash flow generation, though elevated valuation multiples (P/E 60.63) and significant capital expenditures present risks. The stock offers growth exposure to aerospace recovery but faces execution risks amid capacity expansion plans and supply chain 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 →Howmet Aerospace provides advanced engineered solutions for the aerospace and transportation industries. It specializes in jet engine components, aerospace fastening systems, and forged aluminum wheels.
Read more on HWM →