Costco Wholesale Corporation vs Prudential Financial Inc — how do they compare? Costco Wholesale Corporation trades at $949.53 (market cap $418.79B), while Prudential Financial Inc trades at $122.48 (market cap $42.20B). The key difference: Costco Wholesale Corporation is far larger — about 9.9× Prudential Financial Inc's market cap, and Prudential Financial Inc pays the higher dividend (4.58%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| COST | PRU | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $418.79B | $42.20B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Financials |
52-Week High | $1.09K | $123.93 |
52-Week Low | $849.63 | $92.00 |
Enterprise Value | $406.93B | $70.98B |
Dividend Yield | 0.62% | 4.58% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) trades at $948.1, down 0.49% on the day, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages but neutral oscillators. The company reported strong revenue growth to $275.24B in 2025 and net income of $8.10B, though it missed Q1 2026 EPS estimates. Recent news highlights March sales up 11.3% year-over-year and institutional buying activity, while the stock remains near its 52-week high of $1,067.08.
Outlook is supported by robust membership fee growth and expansion, but high valuation ratios like a P/E of 47.5 pose risks. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $1,120 price target, though competitive pressures and economic sensitivity could challenge margins. The stock offers long-term growth potential if valuation aligns with earnings momentum.
PRU trades at $122.34, up 0.19% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and support near $122. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat estimates at $4.08 EPS, driven by strong PGIM and international performance. The company maintains a solid net income margin of 6.04% and ROE of 12.46%, with a dividend of $1.40 declared for September 2026. Revenue trends show growth from 2022 lows, reaching $61.0B in 2025.
Outlook is cautiously optimistic with earnings momentum and strategic focus on capital-light operations, but risks include sensitivity to interest rates and China regulatory news. Analysts are mixed with a $113.11 consensus target below current price, suggesting limited upside. Institutional holdings grew, as seen with Assenagon's 379.8% stake increase in Q2 2026.
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 →Prudential Financial is a large, diversified insurance company offering annuities, life insurance, retirement plan services, and asset management products. While it operates in a number of countries, the vast majority of revenue is generated in the United States and Japan. The company's investment management business, PGIM, contributes approximately 15% of its earnings and has over $1.5 trillion in assets under management. The U.S. businesses are responsible for about 45% of earnings and can be classified into Institutional Retirement Strategies, Individual Retirement Strategies, Group Insurance, Individual Life Insurance, and Assurance IQ. Finally, the international business segment of the company contributes approximately 40% of earnings with a strong market position in Japan.
Read more on PRU →