Costco Wholesale Corporation vs Banco Santander SA — how do they compare? Costco Wholesale Corporation trades at $949 (market cap $418.79B), while Banco Santander SA trades at $14.79 (market cap $211.63B). The key difference: Costco Wholesale Corporation is the larger of the two by market cap, and Banco Santander SA pays the higher dividend (1.89%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| COST | SAN | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $418.79B | $211.63B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Financials |
52-Week High | $1.09K | $14.71 |
52-Week Low | $849.63 | $9.37 |
Enterprise Value | $406.93B | — |
Dividend Yield | 0.62% | 1.89% |
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.
Santander (SAN) trades at $14.80, up 0.75% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages. The stock shows strong fundamentals with a 26.25% net income margin and a P/E of 14.4. Recent news includes Federal Reserve approval for its $12 billion acquisition of Webster Bank, expected to close in August 2026, which may enhance its US market presence.
The outlook is positive, supported by analyst consensus (64% buy ratings) and record profitability. Key risks include volatile cash flows, with negative net cash flow in 2024, and integration challenges from the Webster deal. Revenue growth remains a catalyst, but investors should monitor execution risks and macroeconomic pressures on banking sectors.
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 →Santander's focus is on retail and commercial banking. Latin America is geographically the largest operation, with Brazil by far the largest. Its continental European business is still mainly Iberian. Santander's U.K. presence is the result of the acquisition of building society Abbey. In the U.S., Santander operates a vehicle finance business and a regional bank focused on the Northeastern states.
Read more on SAN →