COST Costco Wholesale margins

  1. Stocks
  2. Consumer Defensive
  3. NASDAQ: COST
  4. Margins
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Relative Growth: Rel. Growth: 75
Relative Strength: Rel. Strength: 32
Relative Valuation: Rel. Valuation: 43
Relative Profitability: Rel. Profitability: 59
Gross margin
12.9%
Operating margin
3.8%
EBITDA margin
5%
Net margin
3%

Based on the latest figures, Costco Wholesale reports a gross margin of 12.9%, an operating margin of 3.8%, an EBITDA margin of 5%, and a net margin of 3%. Gross margin led the available margin gains with 0.1 percentage points, while the other margins did not change.

COST margin history

Gross, operating, EBITDA and net margin trends

Over the last 3 years, Costco Wholesale recorded average margins of 12.69% gross, 3.67% operating, 4.9% EBITDA, and 2.88% net. The current gross, operating, EBITDA, and net margins are all above their three-year averages.

COST margin expansion

Year-over-year margin changes in percentage points

From the same period last year, gross margin expanded by 0.1 percentage points, EBITDA margin by 0.1 percentage points, and net margin by 0.1 percentage points, while operating margin was unchanged.

Gross margin expansion
0.1pp
Operating margin expansion
0pp
EBITDA margin expansion
0.1pp
Net margin expansion
0.1pp

COST Gross margin

Over the last 3 years, the average gross margin for Costco Wholesale was 12.69%. Costco Wholesale's current gross margin is 12.9% and is 0.2 percentage points above its three-year average. Costco Wholesale's gross margin ranged from a low of 12.4% in Nov 2023 to a high of 12.9% in May 2026.

COST Operating margin

The average operating margin for Costco Wholesale was 3.67% across the past 3 years. Right now, the current operating margin for Costco Wholesale is 3.8%, 0.1 percentage points above its three-year average. The operating margin for Costco Wholesale moved between 3.4% in Nov 2023 and 3.8% in May 2026.

COST EBITDA margin

Across the last 3 years, Costco Wholesale had an average EBITDA margin of 4.9%. Against its three-year average, Costco Wholesale's EBITDA margin is currently 5%, 0.1 percentage points above its three-year average. Looking back over the last 3 years, Costco Wholesale's EBITDA margin reached 5% at its highest point in May 2026 and 4.7% at its lowest in Nov 2023.

COST Net margin

Costco Wholesale recorded an average net margin of 2.88% across the last 3 years. Costco Wholesale currently reports a net margin of 3%, 0.1 percentage points above its three-year average. The net margin for Costco Wholesale moved between 2.7% in Nov 2023 and 3% in May 2026.

COST margin group comparison

Margins compared with peer-group, industry and sector averages

With a gross margin of 12.9%, COST stands lower than the Consumer Defensive sector, the industry and its peers average. Looking at the Consumer Defensive sector average of 36.6%, Costco Wholesale's gross margin is 65% lower.

COST margin peer comparison

Compare margins with selected peers

Frequently asked questions

What is Costco Wholesale's gross margin?

For the period ending May 10, 2026, COST recorded a gross margin of 12.9%.

What is Costco Wholesale's operating margin?

For the period ending May 10, 2026, COST recorded an operating margin of 3.8%.

What is Costco Wholesale's EBITDA margin?

The current EBITDA margin for COST is 5% as of May 10, 2026.

What is Costco Wholesale's net margin?

For the period ending May 10, 2026, COST recorded a net margin of 3%.

What are the average margins of COST?

Across the last 3 years, COST averaged 12.7% gross, 3.7% operating, 4.9% EBITDA, and 2.9% net.

What are the highest historical margins of COST?

Costco Wholesale's highest recorded margins during the past 5 years were 12.9% gross in May 2026, 3.8% operating in May 2026, 5% EBITDA in May 2026, and 3% net in May 2026.

What are the lowest historical margins of COST?

Within the 5-year period, COST recorded its lowest margins at 12% gross in Nov 2022, 3.3% operating in May 2023, 4.5% EBITDA in Nov 2021, and 2.5% net in Nov 2021.