Costco Wholesale Corporation vs Lululemon Athletica Inc — how do they compare? Costco Wholesale Corporation trades at $918.06 (market cap $408.78B), while Lululemon Athletica Inc trades at $117.73 (market cap $13.32B). The key difference: Costco Wholesale Corporation is far larger — about 30.7× Lululemon Athletica Inc's market cap, and Costco Wholesale Corporation pays a 0.64% dividend while Lululemon Athletica Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| COST | LULU | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $408.78B | $13.32B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $1.09K | $233.31 |
52-Week Low | $849.63 | $105.43 |
Enterprise Value | $396.92B | $13.94B |
Dividend Yield | 0.64% | — |
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.
Lululemon (LULU) trades at $120.30, up 0.87% today, showing resilience amid a challenging year. The stock has beaten earnings estimates for three consecutive quarters, with Q2 2026 results pending. Fundamentals remain strong with a 17.13% net margin and 32.03% ROE in 2025, though revenue growth is moderating. Technical indicators signal a bullish bias, with the current price near pivot point support at $121. Recent news highlights board stability after a proxy settlement but also ongoing brand controversies.
The outlook is cautiously optimistic. Valuation appears attractive with a P/E of 9.74, below sector averages, and a consensus price target of $130.53 implies upside. Key risks include North American sales weakness, intense competition, and potential brand damage from recent controversies. Earnings execution and international expansion are critical for a sustained recovery.
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 →Lululemon Athletica Inc. designs, distributes, and markets athletic apparel, footwear, and accessories for women, men, and girls. Lululemon offers pants, shorts, tops, and jackets for both leisure and athletic activities such as yoga and running. The company also sells fitness accessories, such as bags, yoga mats, and equipment. Lululemon sells its products through more than 600 company-owned stores in 18 countries, e-commerce, outlets, and wholesale accounts. The company was founded in 1998 and is based in Vancouver, Canada.
Read more on LULU →