Costco Wholesale (COST) Operating Margin: History & Chart

Costco Wholesale Corporation(COST)

Discount Stores · Issaquah, WA

$910.18+0.00 (+0.00%)

Delayed quote: Sep 8, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT

About Costco Wholesale Corporation

Costco Wholesale Corporation, alongside its group entities, operates membership-based retail warehouses across a broad international scope, spanning the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Spain, France, Iceland, China, and Taiwan. These outlets provide customers with an extensive array of both well-known branded and proprietary private-label products. Their vast inventory includes household staples, shelf-stable groceries, confectionery, chilled and frozen items, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and deli selections. Furthermore, the stores stock major appliances, consumer electronics, health and beauty aids, hardware, garden and patio furniture, sporting goods, vehicle tires, toys, seasonal merchandise, office supplies, automotive maintenance products, postage services, event tickets, apparel, small kitchen appliances, home furnishings, domestic textiles, kitchenware, custom-order kiosks, and fine jewelry. Fresh departments offer meat, produce, a service deli, and bakery items. Beyond retail goods, Costco provides in-store amenities such as pharmacies, optical clinics, food courts, hearing aid centers, and tire installation facilities, in addition to managing 636 gas stations. The company also extends its offerings online through business delivery, travel booking, and same-day grocery fulfillment in various countries. As of August 29, 2021, Costco maintained a global network of 815 membership warehouses, with 564 located in the United States and Puerto Rico, 105 in Canada, 39 in Mexico, 30 in Japan, 29 in the United Kingdom, 16 in South Korea, 14 in Taiwan, 12 in Australia, 3 in Spain, and one each in Iceland, France, and China. Digital storefronts facilitate e-commerce operations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and Australia. Founded in 1976, the enterprise was originally known as Costco Companies, Inc. before officially adopting the name Costco Wholesale Corporation in August 1999. Its corporate headquarters are situated in Issaquah, Washington.

Issaquah, WA

341,000 employees

www.costco.com

Consumer Defensive / Discount Stores

Sector: Consumer Defensive
Industry: Discount Stores
CEO: Ron Vachris

View full financials

COST Operating Margin Metrics

OPERATING MARGIN

3.82%

OPERATING MARGIN AVG TTM

3.86%

OPERATING MARGIN AVG 3Y

3.71%

OPERATING MARGIN AVG 5Y

3.58%

OPERATING MARGIN AVG 10Y

3.39%

OPERATING MARGIN AVG 15Y

3.23%

OPERATING MARGIN AVG 20Y

3.07%

CURRENT VS TTM AVG

-0.91%

CURRENT VS 3Y AVG

+3.01%

CURRENT VS 5Y AVG

+6.64%

CURRENT VS 10Y AVG

+12.83%

CURRENT VS 15Y AVG

+18.37%

CURRENT VS 20Y AVG

+24.34%

SECTOR MEDIAN · CONSUMER DEFENSIVE

11.72%

median of 52 covered companies

CURRENT VS SECTOR MEDIAN

-67.42%

vs the sector median at left

NAME	MARKET CAP	OPERATING MARGIN	TTM	3Y	5Y
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST)	$403.65B	3.82%	3.86%	3.71%	3.58%
The Coca-Cola Company (KO)vs ›	$380.17B	29.63%	24.97%	25.01%	25.66%
The Procter & Gamble Company (PG)vs ›	$346.10B	22.69%	23.48%	22.78%	22.83%
Philip Morris International Inc. (PM)vs ›	$287.92B	37.75%	36.06%	35.88%	37.61%
Nestlé S.A. (NSRGY)vs ›	$254.32B	15.94%	16.00%	15.02%	15.17%
PepsiCo, Inc. (PEP)vs ›	$189.12B	14.96%	14.20%	13.71%	13.86%
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (BUD)vs ›	$157.02B	26.38%	26.14%	25.23%	24.48%
British American Tobacco p.l.c. (BTI)vs ›	$118.95B	39.04%	24.81%	7.48%	18.07%
Altria Group, Inc. (MO)vs ›	$113.83B	55.95%	57.37%	57.17%	55.93%
Monster Beverage Corporation (MNST)vs ›	$84.40B	29.16%	27.47%	26.85%	29.22%

NAME

MARKET CAP

OPERATING MARGIN

TTM

Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST)

$403.65B

3.82%

3.86%

3.71%

3.58%

The Coca-Cola Company (KO)vs ›

$380.17B

29.63%

24.97%

25.01%

25.66%

The Procter & Gamble Company (PG)vs ›

$346.10B

22.69%

23.48%

22.78%

22.83%

Philip Morris International Inc. (PM)vs ›

$287.92B

37.75%

36.06%

35.88%

37.61%

Nestlé S.A. (NSRGY)vs ›

$254.32B

15.94%

16.00%

15.02%

15.17%

PepsiCo, Inc. (PEP)vs ›

$189.12B

14.96%

14.20%

13.71%

13.86%

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (BUD)vs ›

$157.02B

26.38%

26.14%

25.23%

24.48%

British American Tobacco p.l.c. (BTI)vs ›

$118.95B

39.04%

24.81%

7.48%

18.07%

Altria Group, Inc. (MO)vs ›

$113.83B

55.95%

57.37%

57.17%

55.93%

Monster Beverage Corporation (MNST)vs ›

$84.40B

29.16%

27.47%

26.85%

29.22%

Operating Margin FAQ

What is the operating margin for Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST)?

The operating margin for COST stock is 3.82%.

Is Costco Wholesale Corporation's operating margin high or low?

The operating margin of 3.82% is in line with its 5-year average of 3.58%, near the high end of its 5-year range (3.13%–4.00%).

What is the TTM average operating margin for Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST)?

The TTM average operating margin for COST stock is 3.86%.

What is the 3Y average operating margin for Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST)?

The 3Y average operating margin for COST stock is 3.71%.

What is the 5Y average operating margin for Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST)?

The 5Y average operating margin for COST stock is 3.58%.

What is the 10Y average operating margin for Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST)?

The 10Y average operating margin for COST stock is 3.39%.

What is the 15Y average operating margin for Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST)?

The 15Y average operating margin for COST stock is 3.23%.

What is the 20Y average operating margin for Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST)?

The 20Y average operating margin for COST stock is 3.07%.

DATE	OPERATING MARGIN
2026-05-10	3.99%
2026-02-15	3.74%
2025-11-23	3.66%
2025-08-31	3.88%
2025-05-11	4.00%
2025-02-16	3.63%
2024-11-24	3.53%
2024-09-01	3.82%
2024-05-12	3.75%
2024-02-18	3.53%
2023-11-26	3.43%
2023-08-31	3.52%
2023-05-07	3.13%
2023-02-12	3.44%
2022-11-20	3.22%
2022-08-31	3.46%
2022-05-08	3.41%
2022-02-13	3.49%
2021-11-21	3.36%
2021-08-31	3.63%
2021-05-09	3.67%
2021-02-14	2.99%
2020-11-22	3.31%
2020-08-31	3.61%
2020-05-10	3.16%
2020-02-16	3.24%
2019-11-24	2.86%
2019-08-31	3.08%
2019-05-12	3.23%
2019-02-17	3.40%
2018-11-25	2.71%
2018-08-31	3.26%
2018-05-13	3.30%
2018-02-18	3.08%
2017-11-26	2.99%
2017-08-31	3.43%
2017-05-07	3.35%
2017-02-12	2.84%
2016-11-20	3.02%
2016-08-31	3.26%
2016-05-08	3.21%
2016-02-14	3.04%
2015-11-22	2.82%
2015-08-31	3.23%
2015-05-10	3.15%
2015-02-15	3.19%
2014-11-23	2.87%
2014-08-31	3.07%
2014-05-11	2.86%
2014-02-16	2.75%
2013-11-24	2.67%
2013-08-31	2.94%
2013-05-12	3.00%
2013-02-17	2.97%
2012-11-25	2.69%
2012-08-31	2.95%
2012-05-06	2.79%
2012-02-12	2.80%
2011-11-20	2.51%
2011-08-31	2.70%
2011-05-08	2.70%
2011-02-13	2.86%
2010-11-21	2.73%
2010-08-31	2.85%
2010-05-09	2.76%
2010-02-14	2.51%
2009-11-22	2.47%
2009-08-31	2.67%
2009-05-10	2.27%
2009-02-15	2.36%
2008-11-23	2.57%
2008-08-31	2.62%
2008-05-11	2.80%
2008-02-17	2.97%
2007-11-25	2.50%
2007-08-31	2.71%
2007-05-13	2.31%
2007-02-18	2.39%
2006-11-26	2.50%
2006-08-31	2.58%
2006-05-07	2.67%
2006-02-12	3.07%
2005-11-20	2.52%
2005-08-31	2.80%
2005-05-08	2.64%
2005-02-13	3.08%
2004-11-21	2.60%
2004-08-31	3.07%
2004-05-09	2.85%
2004-02-15	3.08%
2003-11-23	2.42%
2003-08-31	2.73%
2003-05-11	2.62%
2003-02-16	2.92%
2002-11-24	2.59%
2002-08-31	3.10%

DATE

OPERATING MARGIN

2026-05-10

3.99%

2026-02-15

3.74%

2025-11-23

3.66%

2025-08-31

3.88%

2025-05-11

4.00%

2025-02-16

3.63%

2024-11-24

3.53%

2024-09-01

3.82%

2024-05-12

3.75%

2024-02-18

3.53%

2023-11-26

3.43%

2023-08-31

3.52%

2023-05-07

3.13%

2023-02-12

3.44%

2022-11-20

3.22%

2022-08-31

3.46%

2022-05-08

3.41%

2022-02-13

3.49%

2021-11-21

3.36%

2021-08-31

3.63%

2021-05-09

3.67%

2021-02-14

2.99%

2020-11-22

3.31%

2020-08-31

3.61%

2020-05-10

3.16%

2020-02-16

3.24%

2019-11-24

2.86%

2019-08-31

3.08%

2019-05-12

3.23%

2019-02-17

3.40%

2018-11-25

2.71%

2018-08-31

3.26%

2018-05-13

3.30%

2018-02-18

3.08%

2017-11-26

2.99%

2017-08-31

3.43%

2017-05-07

3.35%

2017-02-12

2.84%

2016-11-20

3.02%

2016-08-31

3.26%

2016-05-08

3.21%

2016-02-14

3.04%

2015-11-22

2.82%

2015-08-31

3.23%

2015-05-10

3.15%

2015-02-15

3.19%

2014-11-23

2.87%

2014-08-31

3.07%

2014-05-11

2.86%

2014-02-16

2.75%

2013-11-24

2.67%

2013-08-31

2.94%

2013-05-12

3.00%

2013-02-17

2.97%

2012-11-25

2.69%

2012-08-31

2.95%

2012-05-06

2.79%

2012-02-12

2.80%

2011-11-20

2.51%

2011-08-31

2.70%

2011-05-08

2.70%

2011-02-13

2.86%

2010-11-21

2.73%

2010-08-31

2.85%

2010-05-09

2.76%

2010-02-14

2.51%

2009-11-22

2.47%

2009-08-31

2.67%

2009-05-10

2.27%

2009-02-15

2.36%

2008-11-23

2.57%

2008-08-31

2.62%

2008-05-11

2.80%

2008-02-17

2.97%

2007-11-25

2.50%

2007-08-31

2.71%

2007-05-13

2.31%

2007-02-18

2.39%

2006-11-26

2.50%

2006-08-31

2.58%

2006-05-07

2.67%

2006-02-12

3.07%

2005-11-20

2.52%

2005-08-31

2.80%

2005-05-08

2.64%

2005-02-13

3.08%

2004-11-21

2.60%

2004-08-31

3.07%

2004-05-09

2.85%

2004-02-15

3.08%

2003-11-23

2.42%

2003-08-31

2.73%

2003-05-11

2.62%

2003-02-16

2.92%

2002-11-24

2.59%

2002-08-31

3.10%

Operating Margin: 3.82%

COST Operating Margin

COST Average Operating Margin Chart

COST Current vs Average Operating Margin Chart

COST Operating Margin Metrics

COST Competitors' Operating Margin

Operating Efficiency

Operating Margin Formula & Definition

Operating Margin FAQ

COST Operating Margin History

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