Costco Wholesale Corporation vs Packaging Corporation of America — how do they compare? Costco Wholesale Corporation trades at $920 (market cap $410.85B), while Packaging Corporation of America trades at $226.04 (market cap $20.12B). The key difference: Costco Wholesale Corporation is far larger — about 20.4× Packaging Corporation of America's market cap, and Packaging Corporation of America pays the higher dividend (2.66%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| COST | PKG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $410.85B | $20.12B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Technology |
52-Week High | $1.09K | $246.31 |
52-Week Low | $849.63 | $191.41 |
Enterprise Value | $398.99B | $23.95B |
Dividend Yield | 0.63% | 2.66% |
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.
No Aura AI signal available yet.
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 →Packaging Corporation of America is a leading producer of containerboard and corrugated packaging products in North America. The company also produces white papers, which include printing and writing papers. PKG operates as an integrated manufacturer, with a strong focus on high-quality and sustainable packaging solutions for e-commerce, food and beverage, and other industrial and consumer markets.
Read more on PKG →