Costco Wholesale (COST) Gross Profit Margin: History & Chart

Costco Wholesale Corporation(COST)

Discount Stores · Issaquah, WA

$902.26-7.92 (-0.87%)

Delayed quote: Sep 9, 2026, 11:10 AM 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 Gross Margin Metrics

GROSS MARGIN

12.88%

GROSS MARGIN AVG TTM

12.90%

GROSS MARGIN AVG 3Y

12.72%

GROSS MARGIN AVG 5Y

12.54%

GROSS MARGIN AVG 10Y

12.87%

GROSS MARGIN AVG 15Y

12.79%

GROSS MARGIN AVG 20Y

12.73%

CURRENT VS TTM AVG

-0.14%

CURRENT VS 3Y AVG

+1.22%

CURRENT VS 5Y AVG

+2.71%

CURRENT VS 10Y AVG

+0.09%

CURRENT VS 15Y AVG

+0.71%

CURRENT VS 20Y AVG

+1.18%

SECTOR MEDIAN · CONSUMER DEFENSIVE

37.93%

median of 52 covered companies

CURRENT VS SECTOR MEDIAN

-66.04%

vs the sector median at left

NAME	MARKET CAP	GROSS MARGIN	TTM	3Y	5Y
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST)	$399.97B	12.88%	12.90%	12.72%	12.54%
The Coca-Cola Company (KO)vs ›	$377.44B	61.89%	61.34%	60.09%	59.99%
The Procter & Gamble Company (PG)vs ›	$339.16B	50.18%	50.67%	50.15%	49.88%
Philip Morris International Inc. (PM)vs ›	$285.35B	67.51%	65.97%	64.84%	65.68%
Nestlé S.A. (NSRGY)vs ›	$248.63B	45.59%	46.27%	45.96%	46.80%
PepsiCo, Inc. (PEP)vs ›	$186.51B	53.96%	54.35%	53.99%	54.02%
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (BUD)vs ›	$153.76B	55.93%	55.59%	54.88%	55.85%
British American Tobacco p.l.c. (BTI)vs ›	$117.49B	83.50%	83.17%	82.76%	82.65%
Altria Group, Inc. (MO)vs ›	$112.62B	70.99%	71.24%	70.25%	68.30%
Monster Beverage Corporation (MNST)vs ›	$82.55B	55.55%	54.95%	53.33%	54.78%

NAME

MARKET CAP

GROSS MARGIN

TTM

Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST)

$399.97B

12.88%

12.90%

12.72%

12.54%

The Coca-Cola Company (KO)vs ›

$377.44B

61.89%

61.34%

60.09%

59.99%

The Procter & Gamble Company (PG)vs ›

$339.16B

50.18%

50.67%

50.15%

49.88%

Philip Morris International Inc. (PM)vs ›

$285.35B

67.51%

65.97%

64.84%

65.68%

Nestlé S.A. (NSRGY)vs ›

$248.63B

45.59%

46.27%

45.96%

46.80%

PepsiCo, Inc. (PEP)vs ›

$186.51B

53.96%

54.35%

53.99%

54.02%

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (BUD)vs ›

$153.76B

55.93%

55.59%

54.88%

55.85%

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

$117.49B

83.50%

83.17%

82.76%

82.65%

Altria Group, Inc. (MO)vs ›

$112.62B

70.99%

71.24%

70.25%

68.30%

Monster Beverage Corporation (MNST)vs ›

$82.55B

55.55%

54.95%

53.33%

54.78%

Gross Margin FAQ

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

The gross margin for COST stock is 12.88%.

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

The gross margin of 12.88% is in line with its 5-year average of 12.54%, near the high end of its 5-year range (11.84%–13.07%).

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

The TTM average gross margin for COST stock is 12.90%.

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

The 3Y average gross margin for COST stock is 12.72%.

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

The 5Y average gross margin for COST stock is 12.54%.

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

The 10Y average gross margin for COST stock is 12.87%.

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

The 15Y average gross margin for COST stock is 12.79%.

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

The 20Y average gross margin for COST stock is 12.73%.

DATE	GROSS MARGIN
2026-05-10	12.77%
2026-02-15	12.76%
2025-11-23	13.07%
2025-08-31	12.91%
2025-05-11	12.99%
2025-02-16	12.52%
2024-11-24	12.94%
2024-09-01	12.68%
2024-05-12	12.55%
2024-02-18	12.49%
2023-11-26	12.70%
2023-08-31	12.31%
2023-05-07	12.07%
2023-02-12	12.38%
2022-11-20	12.25%
2022-08-31	11.84%
2022-05-08	11.87%
2022-02-13	12.31%
2021-11-21	12.73%
2021-08-31	12.67%
2021-05-09	12.95%
2021-02-14	12.71%
2020-11-22	13.31%
2020-08-31	13.08%
2020-05-10	13.46%
2020-02-16	12.84%
2019-11-24	12.98%
2019-08-31	13.03%
2019-05-12	12.97%
2019-02-17	13.21%
2018-11-25	12.68%
2018-08-31	12.92%
2018-05-13	13.07%
2018-02-18	12.92%
2017-11-26	13.18%
2017-08-31	13.25%
2017-05-07	13.48%
2017-02-12	12.90%
2016-11-20	13.56%
2016-08-31	13.43%
2016-05-08	13.47%
2016-02-14	13.14%
2015-11-22	13.22%
2015-08-31	13.09%
2015-05-10	13.08%
2015-02-15	12.96%
2014-11-23	12.96%
2014-08-31	12.63%
2014-05-11	12.56%
2014-02-16	12.40%
2013-11-24	12.76%
2013-08-31	12.53%
2013-05-12	12.64%
2013-02-17	12.48%
2012-11-25	12.60%
2012-08-31	12.44%
2012-05-06	12.46%
2012-02-12	12.31%
2011-11-20	12.47%
2011-08-31	12.41%
2011-05-08	12.39%
2011-02-13	12.65%
2010-11-21	12.90%
2010-08-31	12.85%
2010-05-09	12.86%
2010-02-14	12.52%
2009-11-22	12.82%
2009-08-31	12.81%
2009-05-10	12.84%
2009-02-15	12.30%
2008-11-23	12.92%
2008-08-31	12.13%
2008-05-11	12.43%
2008-02-17	12.54%
2007-11-25	12.56%
2007-08-31	12.43%
2007-05-13	12.15%
2007-02-18	12.31%
2006-11-26	12.46%
2006-08-31	12.16%
2006-05-07	12.34%
2006-02-12	12.46%
2005-11-20	12.36%
2005-08-31	12.26%
2005-05-08	12.45%
2005-02-13	12.66%
2004-11-21	12.49%
2004-08-31	12.61%
2004-05-09	12.45%
2004-02-15	12.53%
2003-11-23	12.37%
2003-08-31	12.43%
2003-05-11	12.41%
2003-02-16	12.59%
2002-11-24	12.50%
2002-08-31	12.55%

DATE

GROSS MARGIN

2026-05-10

12.77%

2026-02-15

12.76%

2025-11-23

13.07%

2025-08-31

12.91%

2025-05-11

12.99%

2025-02-16

12.52%

2024-11-24

12.94%

2024-09-01

12.68%

2024-05-12

12.55%

2024-02-18

12.49%

2023-11-26

12.70%

2023-08-31

12.31%

2023-05-07

12.07%

2023-02-12

12.38%

2022-11-20

12.25%

2022-08-31

11.84%

2022-05-08

11.87%

2022-02-13

12.31%

2021-11-21

12.73%

2021-08-31

12.67%

2021-05-09

12.95%

2021-02-14

12.71%

2020-11-22

13.31%

2020-08-31

13.08%

2020-05-10

13.46%

2020-02-16

12.84%

2019-11-24

12.98%

2019-08-31

13.03%

2019-05-12

12.97%

2019-02-17

13.21%

2018-11-25

12.68%

2018-08-31

12.92%

2018-05-13

13.07%

2018-02-18

12.92%

2017-11-26

13.18%

2017-08-31

13.25%

2017-05-07

13.48%

2017-02-12

12.90%

2016-11-20

13.56%

2016-08-31

13.43%

2016-05-08

13.47%

2016-02-14

13.14%

2015-11-22

13.22%

2015-08-31

13.09%

2015-05-10

13.08%

2015-02-15

12.96%

2014-11-23

12.96%

2014-08-31

12.63%

2014-05-11

12.56%

2014-02-16

12.40%

2013-11-24

12.76%

2013-08-31

12.53%

2013-05-12

12.64%

2013-02-17

12.48%

2012-11-25

12.60%

2012-08-31

12.44%

2012-05-06

12.46%

2012-02-12

12.31%

2011-11-20

12.47%

2011-08-31

12.41%

2011-05-08

12.39%

2011-02-13

12.65%

2010-11-21

12.90%

2010-08-31

12.85%

2010-05-09

12.86%

2010-02-14

12.52%

2009-11-22

12.82%

2009-08-31

12.81%

2009-05-10

12.84%

2009-02-15

12.30%

2008-11-23

12.92%

2008-08-31

12.13%

2008-05-11

12.43%

2008-02-17

12.54%

2007-11-25

12.56%

2007-08-31

12.43%

2007-05-13

12.15%

2007-02-18

12.31%

2006-11-26

12.46%

2006-08-31

12.16%

2006-05-07

12.34%

2006-02-12

12.46%

2005-11-20

12.36%

2005-08-31

12.26%

2005-05-08

12.45%

2005-02-13

12.66%

2004-11-21

12.49%

2004-08-31

12.61%

2004-05-09

12.45%

2004-02-15

12.53%

2003-11-23

12.37%

2003-08-31

12.43%

2003-05-11

12.41%

2003-02-16

12.59%

2002-11-24

12.50%

2002-08-31

12.55%

Gross Margin: 12.88%

COST Gross Margin

COST Average Gross Margin Chart

COST Current vs Average Gross Margin Chart

COST Gross Margin Metrics

COST Competitors' Gross Margin

Gross Margin Analysis

Gross Margin Formula & Definition

Gross Margin FAQ

COST Gross Margin History

Related Metrics