Costco Wholesale Corporation vs Williams-Sonoma, Inc. — how do they compare? Costco Wholesale Corporation trades at $921.16 (market cap $408.78B), while Williams-Sonoma, Inc. trades at $216.47 (market cap $25.51B). The key difference: Costco Wholesale Corporation is far larger — about 16× Williams-Sonoma, Inc.'s market cap, and Williams-Sonoma, Inc. pays the higher dividend (1.4%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| COST | WSM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $408.78B | $25.51B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $1.09K | $240.06 |
52-Week Low | $849.63 | $163.62 |
Enterprise Value | $396.92B | $26.35B |
Dividend Yield | 0.64% | 1.4% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Costco (COST) trades at $926.43, up 1.11% with strong fundamentals including 11.3% March sales growth and consistent earnings beats. The stock faces technical headwinds with bearish moving averages but maintains solid profitability with $8.1B net income and expanding margins. Recent membership fee increases and warehouse expansion support long-term growth, though high valuation multiples present near-term pressure.
Outlook remains positive with analyst consensus at $1,120 price target (65% buy ratings), but investors should monitor valuation sustainability amid technical weakness. Key risks include competitive pressures and economic sensitivity, while institutional accumulation and strong cash flow generation provide fundamental support.
Williams-Sonoma (WSM) trades at $216.65, down 2.3% on the day, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages but mixed oscillators. The company demonstrates strong profitability with a 13.81% net margin and 54.01% ROE, though revenue has declined slightly from $8.7B in 2023 to $7.7B in 2025. Recent quarterly earnings have consistently beaten estimates, and the company maintains active brand collaborations and dividend payments.
The stock presents a balanced outlook with solid fundamentals and analyst consensus near the current price, but faces risks from revenue volatility and competitive pressures. Upside potential exists if earnings momentum continues, while macroeconomic headwinds and retail sector challenges pose downside risks.
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 →With a wide retail and direct-to-consumer presence, Williams-Sonoma is a leader in the $300 billion domestic home category, focused on expanding its exposure in the B2B, marketplace, and franchise areas. Namesake Williams-Sonoma (175 stores) offers high-end cooking essentials, while Pottery Barn (189) provides casual home accessories. Brand extensions include Pottery Barn Kids (52) and PBteen. West Elm (121) is an emerging concept for young professionals, and Rejuvenation (9) offers lighting and house parts. Williams-Sonoma also has a business-to-business team that supports projects that range from residential to large-scale commercial.
Read more on WSM →