Costco Wholesale Corporation vs Gartner Inc — how do they compare? Costco Wholesale Corporation trades at $921.65 (market cap $408.78B), while Gartner Inc trades at $132.89 (market cap $8.90B). The key difference: Costco Wholesale Corporation is far larger — about 45.9× Gartner Inc's market cap, and Costco Wholesale Corporation pays a 0.64% dividend while Gartner Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| COST | IT | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $408.78B | $8.90B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Technology |
52-Week High | $1.09K | $363.58 |
52-Week Low | $849.63 | $125.68 |
Enterprise Value | $396.92B | $10.49B |
Dividend Yield | 0.64% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
COST trades at $926.43, up 1.11% today, with a bearish technical signal but strong fundamentals. Revenue grew to $275.24B in 2025, with net income up to $8.10B, and March 2026 sales surged 11.3% year-over-year (Costco report, April 8, 2026). Valuation ratios are elevated, with a P/E of 46.6, while analyst consensus is bullish with a $1,120 price target. Recent membership fee hikes and institutional buying support growth prospects.
Outlook remains positive due to steady revenue growth and high membership renewal rates, but risks include rich valuations and competitive pressures. The stock offers long-term value if pullbacks occur, with earnings momentum key for upside. Bearish technicals suggest near-term caution, though fundamentals underpin investor confidence.
Gartner (IT) trades at $141.31, up 6.06% today, with a bullish technical signal and strong earnings beats in recent quarters. The company shows robust profitability with a 68.99% gross margin and 11.44% net margin, though 2025 net income declined to $729 million. Recent news highlights its leadership in AI platforms, but an ongoing legal investigation poses a near-term risk.
Outlook remains positive with a consensus price target of $157.60, suggesting 11.5% upside. Key opportunities include sustained demand for IT research and consulting, while risks involve heightened competition and the February 2025 legal probe. Institutional sentiment is mixed with 27.8% buy ratings amid cost pressures.
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 →Based in Stamford, Conn., Gartner provides independent research and analysis on information technology and other related technology industries. Its research is delivered to clients' desktops in the form of reports, briefings, and updates. Typical clients are chief information officers and other business executives who help plan companies' IT budgets. Gartner also provides consulting services and hosted nearly 80 IT conferences across the globe in 2007.
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