Costco Wholesale Corporation vs Macy's Inc — how do they compare? Costco Wholesale Corporation trades at $943 (market cap $422.52B), while Macy's Inc trades at $24.57 (market cap $6.68B). The key difference: Costco Wholesale Corporation is far larger — about 63.3× Macy's Inc's market cap, and Macy's Inc pays the higher dividend (3.02%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| COST | M | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $422.52B | $6.68B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $1.09K | $26.21 |
52-Week Low | $849.63 | $12.73 |
Enterprise Value | $410.66B | $10.50B |
Dividend Yield | 0.62% | 3.02% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Costco (COST) trades at $952.75, up 0.52% with neutral technical signals. The company shows steady revenue growth, reaching $275.24B in 2025, and maintains strong profitability with a 3.01% net margin. Recent earnings beat expectations in Q3 and Q4 2025 but missed in Q1 2026. Analyst sentiment remains bullish with 65.52% buy ratings and a $1,120 consensus price target, while institutional buying activity continues.
Costco's outlook is positive due to membership fee growth and expansion, though high valuation multiples (P/E 47.93) pose risks. Key opportunities include consistent cash flow generation and market share gains, while risks involve competitive pressures and economic sensitivity. The stock offers long-term growth potential but requires monitoring of valuation metrics.
Macy's (M) trades at $25.40, up 1.07% daily, with a bullish technical signal and positive earnings momentum after beating estimates in three consecutive quarters. The stock shows attractive valuation with a P/E of 10.5 and P/S of 0.31, while recent news highlights institutional buying and turnaround progress under the 'Bold New Chapter' strategy.
Outlook is cautiously optimistic with potential upside to the $30 analyst high target, supported by cost discipline and store revamps. Risks include competitive retail pressures and consumer spending volatility, but solid cash flow and low debt provide stability. The stock offers value with a 2.94% net margin and 14.36% ROE.
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 →Founded in 1858 and based in New York City, Macy's operates 570 stores under the Macy's nameplate, 58 stores under the Bloomingdale's nameplate, and 160 freestanding Bluemercury specialty beauty stores (as of the end of fiscal-year 2021). Macy's also operates e-commerce sites and licenses two Bloomingdale's stores in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. Women's apparel, accessories, shoes, cosmetics, and fragrances comprised 59% of Macy's 2021 sales.
Read more on M →