Costco Wholesale Corporation vs Microsoft — how do they compare? Costco Wholesale Corporation trades at $921.67 (market cap $408.78B), while Microsoft trades at $386 (market cap $2.86T). The key difference: Microsoft is far larger — about 7× Costco Wholesale Corporation's market cap, and Microsoft pays the higher dividend (0.95%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| COST | MSFT | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $408.78B | $2.86T |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Technology |
52-Week High | $1.09K | $542.07 |
52-Week Low | $849.63 | $352.83 |
Enterprise Value | $396.92B | $2.84T |
Dividend Yield | 0.64% | 0.95% |
Volume | — | 36,654,621 |
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.
Microsoft (MSFT) trades at $390.99, up 1.53% today, with a neutral technical signal and strong fundamental performance. The company reported consistent earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q1 2026 EPS of $4.27 exceeding the $4.06 estimate. Revenue growth remains robust at $281.72B for 2025, supported by 68.31% gross margins and $136.16B in operating cash flow. Analyst consensus is overwhelmingly bullish with 80.49% buy ratings and a $552.81 price target, representing 41% upside potential from current levels.
Microsoft's AI leadership and cloud momentum position it for continued growth, though elevated capital expenditures and competitive pressures present near-term headwinds. The stock's current valuation at 23.29 P/E appears reasonable given the company's strong profitability and growth trajectory. Institutional ownership remains substantial, with recent news highlighting Azure's strength and Copilot adoption as key catalysts.
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 →Microsoft Corporation develops, manufactures, licenses, sells, and supports software products. The Company offers operating system software, server application software, business and consumer applications software, software development tools, and Internet and intranet software. Microsoft also develops video game consoles and digital music entertainment devices.
Read more on MSFT →