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Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) Stock Analysis

Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) stock analysis covering valuation, fundamentals, technical indicators, risk, AIQ Momentum, analyst catalysts, dividends, and the current AIQ Score.

COST Stock Analysis Summary

Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) currently has an AIQ Score of 62/100, indicating a neutral setup. Momentum is the strongest factor at 95/100. Value is the weakest current factor at 32/100. Technical, fundamental, catalyst, dividend, and risk evidence should be read together at the latest market-close snapshot.

Updated Oct 21, 2026 · Market-close data

COST at a Glance

Crawlable current metrics from the latest market-close stock snapshot.

MetricCurrent
Price$998.31
AIQ Score62/100
Overall ViewNeutral
Technical Analysis ConsensusStrong Buy
Market Cap$416.85B
P/E Ratio (TTM)47.21
Forward P/E—
EPS (quarter ended 2026-08-30)$13.60
Revenue (quarter ended 2026-08-30)$95.72B
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.59%
Beta0.86
Volume1.51M
52-week range$844.06-$1,096.50
RSI 1487.66
50-Day SMA$936.66
200-Day SMA$968.10
Analyst Price Target$1,111.24
Next EarningsDec 10, 2026
As of Oct 21, 2026 · Market close

COSTCostco Wholesale Corporation

Consumer Defensive / Discount Stores

Relative Leader / Watch

Strong Relative Position

NeutralEdge 9/10
$998.31+$3.70 (+0.37%)

Latest quote

  • Momentum
    95
  • Value
    32
  • Quality
    60
  • Risk resilience
    71
  • Sentiment
    62
algovestiq.comScore data as of Oct 21, 2026

COST Stock Analysis Summary

Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) currently has an AIQ Score of 62/100, indicating a neutral setup. Momentum is the strongest factor at 95/100. Value is the weakest current factor at 32/100. Technical, fundamental, catalyst, dividend, and risk evidence should be read together at the latest market-close snapshot.

Updated Oct 21, 2026 · Market-close data
AIQ Composite Posture: Mixed

In a neutral regime, COST has AIQ Score of 62/100 with Momentum base of 95/100 and fading Value at 32/100. Wait for component alignment before adding exposure.

Signal Conflict Detected

Momentum (95/100) leads while Value (32/100) lags. This cross-factor spread creates entry timing uncertainty.

Consumer Defensive · 0.37% stock move · COST classified in Discount Stores.

Current Evidence

NeutralCOST is in a neutral AIQ regime; Momentum is the strongest visible factor at 95/100.
Core coverage reflects visible evidence only

AlgovestIQ Evidence Summary

Current consensus, supporting evidence, recent changes, and what would strengthen or weaken the view.

Is COST Bullish or Bearish Right Now?

COST currently has a neutral overall setup. Momentum is the strongest factor at 95/100, while Value is weakest at 32/100. The current evidence suggests a mixed rather than strongly bullish or bearish setup.

Bull Case
  • - Quality is supportive at 60/100.
  • - Momentum is constructive at 95/100.
  • - Risk Resilience is supportive at 71/100.
  • - Price is +6.58% above its 50-day SMA.
  • - Analyst target implies +11.31% upside from the latest quote.
Bear Case
  • - Value is the current constraint at 32/100.

Current Consensus

COST's Technical Analysis Consensus is currently Strong Buy, with 36 buy, 0 neutral, and 9 sell votes. COST's 14-day RSI is 87.66, which places the stock in an overbought momentum range. COST's beta is 0.86, indicating market sensitivity broadly in line with the market.

Signal Confidence
High agreement

What Changed in COST?

The largest recent change in COST is AIQ Score moving up by 0.0 points over the available 7-day comparison window. Momentum remains the strongest visible factor.

AIQ Score
+0.0
Momentum
+0.0
Quality
+0.0
Risk
+0.0

What Would Change the COST Outlook?

The current neutral outlook could improve if AIQ moves above 70, momentum recovers, earnings revisions strengthen, and price confirms a stronger trend above the 50-day and 200-day moving averages. It would weaken if AIQ falls below 40, price loses long-term moving-average support, analyst expectations deteriorate, or risk evidence worsens.

Bullish confirmation

AIQ > 70, RSI above 55, price above SMA-50/SMA-200, and positive catalyst or estimate-revision evidence.

Bearish deterioration

AIQ below 40, RSI below 45, loss of SMA-200, negative revisions, or rising volatility and drawdown risk.

COST Decision Framework

Public evidence layers, setup checks, and risk context for Costco Wholesale Corporation.

Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) Stock Analysis

Costco Wholesale Corporation has an AIQ Score of 62/100 in a Neutral regime. Momentum is strongest at 95/100. Beta is 0.87, below market sensitivity. Review the supporting stock factors together before drawing a conclusion from any single score.

Evidence LayerPublic Evidence
Regime ContextCOST is in a Neutral AIQ regime with score 62/100.
Signal ConflictThe primary conflict is that momentum leads at 95/100 while value lags at 32/100.
Factor EvidenceMomentum 95/100 · Value 32/100 · Quality 60/100 · Risk 71/100 · Sentiment 62/100
PersistenceCurrent snapshot evidence is shown; historical persistence remains in AIQ Pro.

Current Setup Checklist

Factor strengthPass

Momentum is the strongest factor at 95/100.

TimingPass

Momentum is 95/100 and RSI (14) is 87.7.

Regime fitWait

COST is in a Neutral regime at 62/100.

Risk controlPass

Risk factor is 71/100 with beta 0.87 and annual volatility 19.68%.

ConflictWait

Current conflict: momentum leads at 95/100 while value lags at 32/100.

AIQ Score
62/100
Price
$998.31
Beta
0.87
RSI (14)
87.7

COST Research Cluster

Ticker-specific paths for valuation, technical analysis, catalysts, dividends, financials, risk, and news.

COST Fundamentals

COST valuation, profitability, growth, margins, balance-sheet strength, and free cash flow.

Revenue
$95.72B
Net income
$3B
Free cash flow
$2.49B
View full COST fundamental analysis

COST Technical Analysis

COST technical setup based on RSI, MACD, moving averages, AIQ Momentum, volume, trend, volatility, and pivots.

Technical Analysis Consensus
Strong Buy
RSI 14
87.66
Price vs SMA-50
+6.58%
View full COST technical analysis

COST Stock Catalysts

Track COST earnings, analyst ratings, price targets, estimate revisions, stock news, and upcoming events.

Next earnings
Dec 10, 2026
Analyst target
$1,111.24
News items
3
View COST earnings and stock catalysts

COST Dividend Analysis

COST dividend yield, annual dividend, payout ratio, payment history, and income reliability context.

Dividend yield
0.55%
Annual dividend
$5.54
Payout ratio
26.10%
View COST dividend history and analysis

COST Financial Data

COST revenue, earnings, income statement, balance sheet, cash flow, valuation ratios, and stock metrics.

Quarter revenue
$95.72B
EPS
$13.60
Periods
4
View COST financials

COST Risk Analysis

COST volatility, beta, drawdown, Sharpe ratio, VaR, and downside resilience.

Beta
0.86
Risk score
71/100
1Y volatility
19.68%
View COST risk analysis

COST Stock News

COST stock news, market tone, recent headlines, and catalyst context.

News items
3
Updated
Oct 21, 2026
Sentiment
62/100
Read COST stock news

COST vs Large-Cap Retail Peers

Current peer cohort: COST · WMT · TGT · AMZN · XLP. Compare AIQ, factor scores, Sharpe ratio and 1-year volatility in one indexable view.

PeerAIQValueMomentumRiskSharpe1Y VolatilityCompare
COST
Current stock
62/10032/10095/10071/1000.2319.68%Current
WMT
Walmart
53/10035/10075/10055/1000.3526.24%COST vs WMT
TGT
Target
53/10058/10041/10063/1001.730.47%COST vs TGT
AMZN
Amazon
61/10035/10076/10054/1000.6134.65%COST vs AMZN
XLP
Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR
62/10039/10080/10064/1000.4114.87%COST vs XLP
Pairwise Compare links: WMT · TGT · AMZN · XLPCOST vs WMTCOST vs TGTCOST vs AMZNCOST vs XLPCompare cohort

Peer cohort is resolved dynamically from the AlgovestIQ universe taxonomy and Compare relationship graph. Data as of Oct 21, 2026.

How COST scores against the names it is most often compared with.

About the AIQ Score

Methodology for the current stock evidence.

As of Oct 21, 2026 · Market close

The AlgovestIQ AIQ Score combines multiple dimensions of stock evidence, including momentum, valuation exposure, quality, risk resilience, sentiment context, and timing signals. It is a descriptive research score, not a guarantee of future performance or a personalized recommendation.

View AIQ methodology

Factor Diagnostics

A compact bridge from the AIQ score to the evidence tabs.

Calculator
Calculate a COST stock return scenario

Open the return calculator with stock context while purchase price, shares, dates and fees remain user inputs.

Calculate stock return

AIQ Component Profile

Compare the five component scores on one consistent 0–100 scale.

Catalyst preview

Review earnings timing, revisions, news pressure, and prior event reactions in one place.

Open catalysts
Quarterly evidence

4 recent quarterly periods are available for review.

Checked Oct 21, 2026

AIQ Pro

Explore factor drivers, conflicts, persistence, and scenario sensitivity in the advanced workspace.

Fundamentals Verdict

Current snapshot fields are separate from reported-quarter statement tables.

Current TTM P/E
47.21
As of Oct 21, 2026
Revenue growth
—
Gross margin
12.88%
Current debt / equity
0.25
Latest quarterly evidence

Latest period Aug 30, 2026.

Review fundamentals
Quarter revenue
$95.72B
Quarter net income
$3B
Quarter free cash flow
$2.49B

Market Confirmation

Technicals are summarized first, with the indicator library behind it.

Trend
Mixed
Momentum
Bullish
RSI 14
87.66
MACD
19.5

Risk Alignment

Higher resilience is stronger; exposure metrics stay separate.

Resilience
71/100
Beta
0.87
Annual volatility
19.68%
Max drawdown
-18.33%

COST Stock FAQ

What is COST stock price today?

Costco Wholesale Corporation's current stock price is $998.31. Use the live quote with AIQ Score, news, and risk context rather than treating price alone as a decision signal.

Is COST bullish or bearish right now?

COST's bullish or bearish read depends on the current AIQ Score, factor alignment, technical analysis consensus, valuation, risk, and catalyst evidence. A mixed setup should be treated differently from a broad confirmation across those signals.

What is COST's market cap?

COST's market cap is $416.85B based on the latest completed market-close snapshot from Oct 21, 2026. Use it with P/E ratio, revenue, and growth metrics to frame company size, valuation, and peer comparisons.

What is COST's current P/E ratio?

COST's current P/E ratio is 47.21 based on the latest completed market-close snapshot from Oct 21, 2026. Read it with revenue growth, margins, EPS, cash flow, and peer valuation rather than using P/E alone.

What is COST's RSI?

COST's 14-day RSI is 87.66 based on the latest completed market-close snapshot from Oct 21, 2026. RSI should be interpreted with MACD, moving averages, volume, volatility, and price trend.

Is COST above its 50-day and 200-day moving averages?

COST is 6.58% from its 50-day SMA and 3.12% from its 200-day SMA based on the latest completed market-close snapshot from Oct 21, 2026. Moving-average position should be read with momentum and broader AIQ evidence.

When is COST's next earnings date?

COST's next earnings date is currently listed as Dec 10, 2026. Earnings can reset revenue, EPS, price target, analyst rating, and catalyst expectations.

Does COST pay a dividend?

COST's dividend yield is 0.59% based on the latest completed market-close snapshot from Oct 21, 2026. Dividend yield should be read with payout ratio, free cash flow, growth, and balance-sheet strength.