Costco Wholesale (COST) vs Target (TGT)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Target (TGT) has outperformed Costco Wholesale (COST) over the past year, gaining 71.3% versus a gain of 3.5%. Over five years, COST leads with a +109.3% price change compared with -37.7% for TGT. Costco Wholesale is the larger company by market cap ($417.67 billion vs $68.56 billion), about 6.1 times the size.
On valuation, Target trades at a lower forward P/E (15.8x vs 37.7x for Costco Wholesale). Target pays a dividend yielding 3.02%, while Costco Wholesale does not currently pay one. Target converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 3.5% versus 3.0%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | COST | TGT |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $942.25 | $150.92 |
| Market cap | $417.67B | $68.56B |
| 1-day change | +0.70% | -2.21% |
| YTD return | +9.79% | +56.48% |
| 1-year return | +3.49% | +71.35% |
| 5-year return | +109.28% | -37.75% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 45.39 | 15.67 |
| Forward P/E | 37.69 | 15.81 |
| EPS (TTM) | $20.76 | $9.63 |
| Dividend yield | 0.63% | 3.02% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $4.56 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $303.15B | $104.78B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +10.14% | -1.68% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $9.23B | $3.71B |
| Gross margin | 12.82% | 27.93% |
| Operating margin | 3.85% | 4.88% |
| Net margin | 3.04% | 3.54% |
| 52-week high | $1,096.50 | $170.75 |
| 52-week low | $844.06 | $83.44 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -14.07% | -11.61% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +12.28% | +9.12% |
| Average volume | 2.11M | 4.02M |
| Shares outstanding | 443.27M | 454.30M |
| Employees | — | 400,000 |
| Sector | Consumer Defensive | Consumer Defensive |
| Industry | Discount Stores | Discount Stores |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Costco Wholesale is about 6.1 times larger than Target by market value ($417.67B vs $68.56B).
- TGT has outperformed COST by 67.9 percentage points over the past year.
- Costco Wholesale trades at a higher earnings multiple (45.4x vs 15.7x trailing P/E).
- Target offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (3.02% vs 0.63%).
- Costco Wholesale grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+10.14% vs -1.68%).
About Costco Wholesale
COST stock →Costco Wholesale Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the operation of membership warehouses in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Japan, the United Kingdom, Korea, Australia, Taiwan, China, Spain, France, Iceland, New Zealand, and Sweden. It offers merchandise, including sundries, dry groceries, candies, coolers, freezers, deli, liquor, and tobacco; non-food merchandise comprising appliances, small electronics, health and beauty aids, hardware, lawn and garden, sporting goods, tires, toys and seasonal, automotive, stamps, tickets, apparel, furniture, domestics, housewares, special order kiosks, and jewelry; and fresh food, such as meat, produce, service deli, and bakery products.
Consumer Defensive · Discount Stores
About Target
TGT stock →Target Corporation operates as a general merchandise retailer in the United States. It offers apparel for women, men, young adults, kids, toddlers, and babies, as well as jewelry, accessories, and shoes; and beauty products, such as skin and bath care, cosmetics, hair care, oral care, deodorant, and shaving products.
Consumer Defensive · Discount Stores · 400,000 employees
COST vs TGT FAQ
Which is bigger, Costco Wholesale or Target?
Costco Wholesale (COST) is larger, with a market capitalization of $417.67B compared with $68.56B for Target (TGT).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, COST or TGT?
TGT returned +71.35% over the past 12 months, compared with +3.49% for COST (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, COST or TGT?
TGT has the lower trailing P/E at 15.7, versus 45.4 for COST. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Costco Wholesale or Target?
Target has the higher yield at 3.02%, compared with 0.63% for Costco Wholesale.
Are Costco Wholesale and Target in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Discount Stores industry within the Consumer Defensive sector.