Costco Wholesale Corporation vs Medpace Holdings Inc — how do they compare? Costco Wholesale Corporation trades at $923.47 (market cap $408.78B), while Medpace Holdings Inc trades at $533.33 (market cap $15.31B). The key difference: Costco Wholesale Corporation is far larger — about 26.7× Medpace Holdings Inc's market cap, and Costco Wholesale Corporation pays a 0.64% dividend while Medpace Holdings Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| COST | MEDP | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $408.78B | $15.31B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Technology |
52-Week High | $1.09K | $620.59 |
52-Week Low | $849.63 | $308.88 |
Enterprise Value | $396.92B | $14.78B |
Dividend Yield | 0.64% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) trades at $923.76, down 0.29% on the day, as technical indicators signal a bearish trend with the price near pivot point support. Fundamentally, the company shows consistent revenue growth, reaching $275.24B in 2025, and strong cash flow generation of $13.34B from operations, though valuation metrics like a P/E of 46.37 appear elevated. Recent news highlights a March sales surge of 11.3% year-over-year and the first membership fee increase in seven years, which analysts view positively for future profit growth.
The investment outlook balances strong business fundamentals against a high valuation and near-term technical weakness. Upside potential is supported by robust membership renewal rates, expanding margins, and a consensus price target of $1,120. Key risks include sensitivity to consumer spending, competitive pressures in retail, and the stock's premium valuation requiring sustained execution to justify further gains.
MEDP trades at $530.19, down 1.49% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages but neutral oscillators. The company reported strong earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q2 2026 results expected on July 22, 2026. Fundamentals show robust profitability with a 17.19% net income margin and 77.25% ROE, though valuation ratios like P/E of 33.74 are elevated. Recent news highlights volatility and a class action lawsuit filed in June 2026.
Outlook is mixed; earnings momentum and high profitability support upside, but high valuation and legal overhang pose risks. Analyst consensus is cautious with a $497 price target below current levels, suggesting limited near-term gains. Investors should weigh strong operational performance against valuation concerns and litigation risks.
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 →Medpace Holdings, Inc. is a full-service clinical contract research organization (CRO) that provides comprehensive and scientifically-driven clinical development services to the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical device industries. The company specializes in conducting global clinical trials for new drug and medical device approvals. Medpace's model emphasizes therapeutic expertise and a highly integrated approach to accelerate the clinical development process for its clients.
Read more on MEDP →