Costco Wholesale Corporation vs Philip Morris International Inc. — how do they compare? Costco Wholesale Corporation trades at $921.67 (market cap $408.78B), while Philip Morris International Inc. trades at $176.5 (market cap $274.23B). The key difference: Costco Wholesale Corporation is the larger of the two by market cap, and Philip Morris International Inc. pays the higher dividend (3.34%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| COST | PM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $408.78B | $274.23B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $1.09K | $191.86 |
52-Week Low | $849.63 | $144.33 |
Enterprise Value | $396.92B | $320.73B |
Dividend Yield | 0.64% | 3.34% |
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.
Philip Morris International (PM) trades at $175.95, down 3.12% on the day, amid a recent profit forecast revision. The stock shows a bullish technical signal with key support at $175 and resistance at $183. Fundamentally, the company reported strong 2025 results with $40.65B revenue and $11.35B net income, though a $500M impairment charge and cost pressures prompted a lowered 2026 outlook. Analyst sentiment remains positive with a $194 consensus price target and 68% buy ratings.
The outlook is cautiously optimistic; earnings growth and the IQOS brand strength offer upside, but regulatory risks and illicit market pressures pose challenges. The current price presents a potential entry point below the analyst target, though investors must weigh margin pressures from energy costs and currency swings noted in recent company guidance.
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 →Philip Morris International is an international tobacco company with a product portfolio primarily consisting of cigarettes and reduced-risk products, including heat-not-burn, vapor and oral nicotine products, which are sold in markets outside the United States. The company diversified away from nicotine products with the acquisition of Vectura, a provider of innovative inhaled drug delivery solutions, in 2021.
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