Costco Wholesale Corporation vs MasterCard Inc — how do they compare? Costco Wholesale Corporation trades at $921.5 (market cap $408.78B), while MasterCard Inc trades at $539.25 (market cap $475.39B). The key difference: MasterCard Inc is the larger of the two by market cap, and MasterCard Inc pays the higher dividend (0.65%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| COST | MA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $408.78B | $475.39B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $1.09K | $598.96 |
52-Week Low | $849.63 | $471.55 |
Enterprise Value | $396.92B | $486.13B |
Dividend Yield | 0.64% | 0.65% |
Volume | — | 4,635,698 |
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.
Mastercard (MA) trades at $537.70, up 2.08% today, with a bullish technical outlook and strong fundamentals. The stock shows consistent earnings beats, with Q1 2026 EPS of $4.60 exceeding the $4.41 estimate. Revenue grew to $32.79B in 2025, and net income margin remains robust at 45.88%. Analysts maintain a strong buy consensus, with a price target of $634.27, indicating ~18% upside. Recent news highlights institutional accumulation and AI-driven payment innovations.
The outlook for MA is positive, driven by earnings momentum and strategic expansion into digital payments. Key risks include competitive disruption from stablecoins and regulatory scrutiny. With high profitability and institutional support, the stock presents a growth opportunity, though investors should monitor payment industry evolution and macroeconomic factors affecting consumer spending.
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 →Mastercard Incorporated provides financial transaction processing services. The Company offers payment processing services for credit and debit cards, electronic cash, automated teller machines, and travelers checks. Mastercard serves customers worldwide.
Read more on MA →