Costco Wholesale Corporation vs Waste Management, Inc. — how do they compare? Costco Wholesale Corporation trades at $946.03 (market cap $420.05B), while Waste Management, Inc. trades at $209.45 (market cap $83.98B). The key difference: Costco Wholesale Corporation is far larger — about 5× Waste Management, Inc.'s market cap, and Waste Management, Inc. pays the higher dividend (1.8%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Costco Wholesale Corporation for 132 Days and Waste Management, Inc. for 130 Days on average.
| COST | WM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $420.05B | $83.98B |
Volume | 2,087,565 | 2,182,180 |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Industrials |
52-Week High | $1.09K | $246.51 |
52-Week Low | $849.63 | $196.77 |
Typical Hold Time | 132 Days | 130 Days |
Enterprise Value | $407.33B | $106.78B |
Dividend Yield | 0.62% | 1.8% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Costco (COST) trades at $942.25, up 0.7% on the day, showing strong operational momentum with a 28.4% ROE and 11.3% March sales growth. The stock is near its 52-week high, supported by bullish moving averages, though RSI levels indicate potential overbought conditions. Recent membership fee hikes and robust cash flow generation underscore its resilient business model.
Outlook remains positive given analyst consensus and a $1,090 price target, but elevated P/E of 45.66 poses valuation risk. Key catalysts include sustained membership growth and expansion, while risks involve competitive pressures and macroeconomic sensitivity.
WM trades at $208.94, up 0.51% today, with a bearish technical signal but strong fundamentals including 11.12% net income margin and 29.83% ROE. Recent earnings show beats in Q1 and Q2 2026, while Q4 2025 missed estimates. Revenue grew to $25.20B in 2025, and cash flow from operations remains robust at $6.04B. Analyst sentiment is positive with 54% buy ratings and no sell recommendations.
The outlook is supported by steady revenue growth and high profitability, but risks include elevated debt levels and competitive pressures. The stock's valuation at a P/E of 29.72 may limit near-term upside, though institutional backing and dividend payments provide stability. Investors should weigh solid cash generation against debt concerns and market volatility.
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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 →Waste Management ranks as the largest integrated provider of traditional solid waste services in the United States, operating approximately 260 active landfills and about 340 transfer stations. The company serves residential, commercial, and industrial end markets and is also a leading recycler in North America.
Read more on WM →