Costco Wholesale Corporation vs Simon Property Group Inc — how do they compare? Costco Wholesale Corporation trades at $923.48 (market cap $408.78B), while Simon Property Group Inc trades at $222.5 (market cap $71.76B). The key difference: Costco Wholesale Corporation is far larger — about 5.7× Simon Property Group Inc's market cap, and Simon Property Group Inc pays the higher dividend (3.98%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| COST | SPG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $408.78B | $71.76B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Real Estate |
52-Week High | $1.09K | $227.56 |
52-Week Low | $849.63 | $159.93 |
Enterprise Value | $396.92B | $100.24B |
Dividend Yield | 0.64% | 3.98% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Costco (COST) trades at $923.9, down 0.27% with bearish technical signals but strong fundamentals. The stock shows consistent revenue growth, reaching $275.24B in 2025 with net income of $8.10B. Recent March sales surged 11.3% year-over-year to $28.41B, indicating robust business momentum. Analyst consensus remains strongly bullish with 65.5% buy ratings and a $1,120 price target, though valuation metrics appear elevated with P/E at 46.37.
The investment case balances premium valuation against exceptional operational execution. Membership fee increases and expanding warehouse network drive profitability, but high P/E ratio requires sustained growth. Key risks include competitive pressure and economic sensitivity, while institutional accumulation supports long-term confidence.
SPG trades at $219.49, up 0.33% on the day, with a bearish technical signal despite bullish moving averages. The stock shows strong fundamentals with a 72.7% net income margin in 2025 and consistent earnings beats. Recent news highlights robust Q1 2026 results and a 4% dividend yield, though some analysts express caution on valuation. Cash flow trends indicate increased capital expenditures, with net cash flow turning negative in 2025.
Outlook remains mixed: strong leasing activity and raised FFO guidance support upside, but high debt levels and e-commerce risks weigh on sentiment. Analysts are predominantly neutral with a $214.40 consensus target, slightly below current price. Investors should balance income appeal against valuation concerns and macroeconomic sensitivity.
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 →Simon Property Group is the second- largest real estate investment trust in the United States. Its portfolio includes an interest in 207 properties: 119 traditional malls, 69 premium outlets, 14 Mills centers (a combination of a traditional mall, outlet center, and big-box retailers), six lifestyle centers, and five other retail properties. Simon's portfolio averaged $693 in sales per square foot over the 12 months prior to the pandemic. The company also owns a 21% interest in Klepierre, a European retail company with investments in shopping centers in 16 countries, and joint venture interests in 33 premium outlets across 11 countries.
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