Costco Wholesale Corporation vs Advanced Drainage Systems Inc — how do they compare? Costco Wholesale Corporation trades at $921.51 (market cap $408.78B), while Advanced Drainage Systems Inc trades at $147.16 (market cap $11.57B). The key difference: Costco Wholesale Corporation is far larger — about 35.3× Advanced Drainage Systems Inc's market cap, and Costco Wholesale Corporation pays the higher dividend (0.64%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| COST | WMS | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $408.78B | $11.57B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Industrials |
52-Week High | $1.09K | $175.38 |
52-Week Low | $849.63 | $110.89 |
Enterprise Value | $396.92B | $13.14B |
Dividend Yield | 0.64% | 0.53% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
COST trades at $926.43, up 1.11% over 24h, with a bearish technical signal but strong fundamentals. Revenue grew to $275.24B in 2025, with net income of $8.10B, though Q1 2026 EPS missed expectations. The stock's valuation is elevated with a P/E of 46.37, while analyst consensus remains bullish with a $1,120 price target. Recent news highlights membership fee hikes and March sales growth of 11.3% year-over-year, indicating resilient consumer demand.
Outlook is mixed: robust membership model and sales trends support growth, but high valuation and technical bearishness pose near-term risks. Investors should weigh strong cash flow and analyst optimism against potential pullbacks from current levels. Key risks include competitive pressures and macroeconomic sensitivity, though institutional buying signals confidence.
WMS trades at $147.62, down 1.89% on the day, with a bullish technical signal and strong fundamentals including a 24.02% ROE and consistent earnings beats. Recent news includes a dividend increase and investor day, while cash flow dipped in 2025 but is projected to recover. The stock shows robust profitability with a 13.98% net margin and trades below the consensus price target of $184.43.
Outlook is positive with analyst support and operational strength, but risks include a high P/E of 27.09 and mixed sentiment from recent Strong Sell ratings. Upside potential exists if earnings momentum continues, though investors should monitor debt levels and competitive pressures in the water management sector.
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 →Advanced Drainage Systems Inc is engaged in designing, manufacturing, and marketing thermoplastic corrugated pipe and related water management products in North and South America, and Europe. The company's operating segment includes Pipe
Read more on WMS →