Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (BUD) vs Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST)
BUD leads on 13 of 17 compared metrics.
A side-by-side comparison of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV and Costco Wholesale Corporation across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 13, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).
BUD
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV
$82.91Consumer Defensive
COST
Costco Wholesale Corporation
$982.35Consumer Defensive
Total return — BUD vs COST
growth of $100 · last 17yBUD +115.4%COST +2045.3%COST compounded faster
Log scale — wide-divergence pair
BUD COST
BUD vs COST: by the numbers
- •COST is the larger company ($435.65B vs $160.41B market cap).
- •BUD trades at the lower earnings multiple (13.57 vs 49.41 P/E).
- •BUD converts more revenue to profit (10.14% vs 3.01% net margin).
- •COST grew revenue faster over the past five years (9.48% vs 3.94% CAGR).
- •BUD pays the higher dividend yield (1.63% vs 0.55%).
Which is better, BUD or COST?
Metric tally: BUD 13 · COST 4It depends on what you're optimizing for:
ValueBUD(lower P/E)
GrowthCOST(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)
IncomeBUD(higher dividend yield)
QualityCOST(higher ROIC)
Valuation
| Metric | BUD | COST |
|---|---|---|
| P/E ratio | 13.57● | 49.41 |
| Forward P/E | 17.10● | 43.40 |
| P/S ratio | 1.36● | 1.49 |
| P/B ratio | 1.88● | 13.03 |
| PEG ratio | 1.00● | 5.23 |
| EV / EBITDA | 6.41● | 29.43 |
| FCF yield | 13.64%● | 2.02% |
Profitability
| Metric | BUD | COST |
|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | 55.67%● | 12.88% |
| Operating margin | 31.82%● | 3.82% |
| Net margin | 10.14%● | 3.01% |
| ROE | 13.99% | 26.38%● |
| ROIC | 6.32% | 19.44%● |
Dividends
| Metric | BUD | COST |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield | 1.63%● | 0.55% |
| Payout ratio | 38.95% | 29.44% |
Growth (annualized)
| Metric | BUD | COST |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue CAGR (5Y) | 3.94% | 9.48%● |
| EPS CAGR (5Y) | 37.66%● | 15.04% |
| FCF CAGR (5Y) | 10.48%● | 4.95% |
| Total return CAGR (5Y) | 2.64% | 21.56%● |
Frequently asked
- Which is better, BUD or COST?
- It depends on your goal. value: BUD (lower P/E); growth: COST (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: BUD (higher dividend yield); quality: COST (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, BUD leads 13 to 4.
- Is BUD or COST cheaper?
- On trailing earnings, BUD is cheaper: BUD trades at a 13.57 P/E and COST at 49.41.
- Which has grown faster, BUD or COST?
- Over the past five years, COST grew revenue faster — BUD at a 3.94% CAGR versus COST at 9.48%.
- Does BUD or COST pay a bigger dividend?
- BUD yields 1.63% and COST yields 0.55% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
- Is BUD or COST more profitable?
- BUD runs the higher net margin — BUD at 10.14% versus COST at 3.01%.
- Which has been the better investment, BUD or COST?
- Over the past 10-year, COST delivered the higher annualized total return — BUD at -2.09% versus COST at 21.26%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.
Go deeper
Dig into the metrics
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV P/E ratioCostco Wholesale P/E ratioAnheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV dividend yieldCostco Wholesale dividend yieldAnheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV ROECostco Wholesale ROEAnheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV operating marginCostco Wholesale operating marginAnheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV revenue growthCostco Wholesale revenue growthAnheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV free cash flowCostco Wholesale free cash flow
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV & Costco Wholesale appear in these rankings
Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified June 13, 2026.