Costco Wholesale Corporation vs United Airlines Holdings Inc — how do they compare? Costco Wholesale Corporation trades at $921.77 (market cap $408.78B), while United Airlines Holdings Inc trades at $120.65 (market cap $39.06B). The key difference: Costco Wholesale Corporation is far larger — about 10.5× United Airlines Holdings Inc's market cap, and Costco Wholesale Corporation pays a 0.64% dividend while United Airlines Holdings Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| COST | UAL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $408.78B | $39.06B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Industrials |
52-Week High | $1.09K | $136.11 |
52-Week Low | $849.63 | $84.57 |
Enterprise Value | $396.92B | $55.87B |
Dividend Yield | 0.64% | — |
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.
United Airlines (UAL) trades at $121.16, down 3.84% amid sector volatility, with strong fundamentals including a P/E of 10.84 and net income margin of 6.06%. Recent earnings beats and a bullish analyst consensus (66% buy ratings) support a $160.88 price target. Cash flow trends show operational strength despite net outflows, while technical indicators signal near-term support at $120.
Outlook remains positive with projected revenue growth to $60.5B in 2026, though risks include fuel cost spikes and competitive pressures. The stock offers value with low valuation multiples and consistent earnings outperformance, positioning it for recovery if macroeconomic headwinds ease.
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 →United Airlines is a major U.S. network carrier. United's hubs include San Francisco, Chicago, Houston, Denver, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, and Washington, D.C. United operates a hub-and-spoke system that is more focused on international travel than legacy peers.
Read more on UAL →